A comparison of the results of a triple blind proving of Strychnos henningsii 30CH with the materia medica of existing remedies showing repertorial similarity

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effect of Strychnos henningsii 30CH on healthy provers, and to compare these signs and symptoms to a selection of remedies sharing commonality with prominent rubrics. It was hypothesised that the 30CH potency of Strychnos henningsii would produce clearly observable signs and symptoms in healthy provers. It was further hypothesised that a comparison of Strychnos henningsii 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 Strychnos henningsii and other existing homoeopathic remedies so that confusion as to its therapeutic indication is reduced. METHODOLOGY A mixed-method, triple-blind, placebo-controlled proving of Strychnos henningsii 30CH was conducted on thirty-two healthy volunteers who met specific inclusion criteria. Sixteen of the thirty-two provers received independently assigned placebo, with neither researcher nor prover knowing who was on placebo. A homoeopathic case history was taken and a thorough physical examination performed on provers before commencement of the proving. Data collection was in the form of a journal. On completion of the proving, the information from each journal was collated and assessed by the four researchers. The symptoms elicited were then translated into materia medica and repertory language, and a homoeopathic picture of the remedy emerged. Data from the case histories, physical examinations and group discussions were also considered. A repertorisation of 37 rubrics chosen to represent the essence of Strychnos henningsii was done using Radar 9.0. Exclusion repertorisation then followed, in order to identify those remedies producing the highest numerical value and total number of rubrics within the animal, mineral and plant kingdoms, and Loganiaceae family respectively. iii RESULTS A total number of 877 rubrics were produced. Exclusion repertorisation yielded the basis for comparison to the remedies from the animal kingdom namely Sepia which repertorised the highest, followed closely by Calcarea carbonica. Exclusion repertorisation of remedies from the mineral kingdom showed basis for comparison with Natrum carbonicum, Arsenicum album and Causticum, and from the plant kingdom, Lycopodium clavatum, China officinalis, Staphysagria and Rhus toxicodendron. Within the Loganiaceae family Nux vomica and Ignatia amara repertorised the highest, although Spigelia anthelmia, Gelsemium sempervirens and Strychninum also shared striking similarities with Strychnos henningsii. CONCLUSION The investigation clearly supported the hypothesis that Strychnos henningsii 30CH would produce observable signs and symptoms in healthy provers. The subsequent comparison of Strychnos henningsii proving symptoms to the materia medica of Sepia, Calcarea carbonica, Natrum carbonicum, Arsenicum album, Causticum, Lycopodium clavatum, China officinalis, Staphysagria, Rhus toxicodendron, Nux vomica, Ignatia amara, Spigelia anthelmia, Gelsemium sempervirens and Strychininum highlighted the similarities and differences between these remedies and Strychnos henningsii.