A double blind placebo controlled proving and comparative material medica of Ubiquinone

Abstract

INTRODUCTION Homoeopathy is based on the law of similars meaning the medicine that produces symptoms in a healthy individual will cure the same symptoms in a sick individual (Sankaran, 1991:5). AIM Conducting a proving on Ubiquinone 30CH will lead to an establishment of its therapeutic potential through the application of the law of similars thus adding to the Materia Medica and advancing Homoeopathy (Vithoulkas, 2002). It was hypothesised that the 30CH potency of Ubiquinone would clearly produce observable signs and symptoms in healthy prover’s. It was further hypothesised that a comparison of Ubiquinone to those remedies yielding the highest numerical value and total number of rubrics on repertorisation of the proving symptoms would elucidate differences and similarities between Ubiquinone and other Homoeopathic remedies to clarify its therapeutic indications. It was hypothesised that in this manner a better understanding of Ubiquinone and its relationship to other Homoeopathic remedies would be gained. Methodology The proving of Ubiquinone 30CH was a randomised, double blind placebo controlled study, using the 30th centesimal potency and a total of 26 participants who met the inclusion criteria. Each prover was provided with a journal to record their symptoms daily. The data extracted from the journals were added to the case histories and physical examinations to compile a proving profile. The identity of the substance was revealed and the information was correlated after completion of the proving. The symptoms found were translated into Materia Medica and repertory language. Once the proving was concluded, a comparison to the remedies yielding the highest numerical value and total number of rubrics on repertorisation - which is the technique of using a repertory to identify the Homoeopathic medicines whose Materia Medica corresponds most closely to the clinical picture of the patient and from amongst which a simillimum may be chosen (Swayne, 2000:183) - was compared to the proving symptoms. Results The remedy’s main influence was on the mental and physical state. The most prominent symptoms seen in the mental sphere were extreme irritability and exhaustion. There was a sense of emotional fragility with a desire to be alone. On the physical side, headaches were common and weakening pains of the extremities were experienced. It can be concluded that the 30CH potency of Ubiquinone, if used precisely according to Homoeopathic principles, can be applied to a clinical setting, as the extensive range of symptoms produced during the proving suggests an equally wide array of application of the remedy Ubiquinone. Conclusion One of the downfalls of Homoeopathy is the limited number of provings being done, (Vithoulkas, 2002). Vithoulkas (2002:143) maintains that in order for Homoeopathy to advance, it is necessary to perform provings on new substances to expand the Homoeopathic armamentarium. Increasing the number of remedies in the Materia Medica facilitates greater accuracy and individualisation when treating patients (Wright, 1999). According to Herrick (1998) numerous cases cannot be solved because many of the most important remedies have not yet been developed. The purpose of this study was to increase the knowledge of drug substances due to the limited amount of information in our current Materia Medicas, by investigating the therapeutic potential of Ubiquinone 30CH. The investigation supported the hypothesis that Ubiquinone would produce clearly observable signs and symptoms in healthy volunteers. It is essential that the proving symptoms be verified and expanded through clinical use and with further proving of Ubiquinone in various potencies so that it becomes a well utilised remedy in the future.