An evaluation of the homoeopathic drug proving of Suiherlandia fruiescens in the light of a doctrine of signatures analysis

Abstract

The first objective was to investigate the effect of Sutherlandia frutescens 30CH on healthy provers and to record the signs and symptoms produced, so that it could be prescribed according to the Law of Similars, as required by homoeopathy. The second objective was to analyze the symptoms obtained from this proving according to the doctrine of signatures. It was hypothesized that Sutherlandia frutescens 30CH would produce observable signs and symptoms in healthy volunteers which would correlate to a doctrine of signatures analysis of the plant. A double blind proving of Sutherlandia frutescens 30CH was conducted. 24 provers were selected and randomly divided into two groups, the first consisted of 18 provers who received medicated powders and the second consisted of the remaining six who received placebo. The subjects were unaware of the nature of the substance that they took nor the potency thereof as an added control measure. Provers were examined and kept journals before, during and after administration of the remedy so as to serve as their own control. This information, along with data collected by the researchers from case histories and physical examination, was then assessed on completion of the proving. The researchers then translated the symptoms elicited into Materia Medica and repertory language and formulated a homoeopathic picture of this remedy. Data was analyzed by qualitative methods, as the data was not amenable to standard