A homoeopathic drug proving of Sutherlandia frutescens and a subsequent comparison to those remedies producing the highest numerical values and total number of rubrics on repertorisation of the proving symptoms

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effect of Sutherlandia frutescens 30CH on healthy provers, and to record the signs and symptoms produced, so that it may be prescribed according to the Law of Similars. A further aim of the investigation was to compare those remedies yielding the highest numerical value and total number of rubrics on repertorisation of the proving symptoms to Sutherlandia frutescens. It was hypothesised that the 30CH potency of Sutherlandia frutescens would produce clearly observable signs and symptoms in healthy provers, and that the comparison of Sutherlandia frutescens to those remedies yielding the highest numerical value and total number of rubrics on repertorisation of the proving symptoms would highlight differences and similarities between the remedy symptoms so that confusion as to indication is erased. It was hypothesised that a fuller understanding of Sutherlandia frutescens and its relationship to other remedies would be gained following this comparison. III A double blind, placebo controlled proving of Sutherlandia frutescens 30CH was conducted on twenty-four healthy volunteers who met the inclusion criteria. Six of the twenty-four provers randomly received placebo, with neither prover nor researcher knowing who was on placebo. Provers had a homoeopathic case history taken and physical examination performed on them before commencement of the proving. The provers recorded their signs and symptoms before, during and after administration of the remedy, by means of a journal. On completion of the proving, the information was correlated and assessed by the four researchers, the symptoms elicited translated into Materia Medica and Repertory language, and a homoeopathic picture of the remedy formulated. Data from the case histories, physical examinations and group discussion were also considered.