A double-blind homoeopathic drug proving of Curcuma longa 30CH with the subsequent comparison to the Ayurvedic and phytotherapeutic indications thereof

Abstract

Introduction The purpose of this study was to determine the therapeutic potential of Curcuma longa 30CH when administered to healthy individuals, thus revealing the materia medica of the substance. It was also the aim of this study to compare the existing therapeutic indications of the substance to the proving symptomatology. Methodology The proving took the form of a double-blind placebo controlled study and was conducted by two Master’s in Technology: Homoeopathy students using 30 healthy subjects. Twenty four provers were given the active medication and six provers were given the placebo. The remedy was manufactured according to the German Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia in 30CH potency. The proving ran for a period of six weeks. Results The symptoms extracted from the proving were placed in different sections according to the repertory and was compared to the Ayurvedic and Phytotherapeutic indications of Curcuma longa. There were 202 symptoms produced as a result of the remedy, 141 rubrics were formulated using these symptoms. The largest number of rubrics i ii was allocated to the mind, head and dreams section of the repertory, other smaller sections of prominence included the eye, ear, nose and throat sections. A wealth of information was gained once the comparison was made between Curcuma longa 30CH and the Phytotherapeutic and Ayurvedic indications of use. Similarities between the materia medica of Curcuma longa and the Phytotherapeutic indications of use were found to exist with respect to sections such as eye, nose, face, stomach, stool, respiration, back, extremities, skin and generals. Conclusion The administration of Curcuma longa 30C to healthy provers according to the methodological protocol of this study resulted in the production of a variety of defined proving symptoms which comprise the materia medica thereof (first objective of the study). The subsequent comparison of the proving symptoms with the existing indications of Turmeric as an Ayurvedic and Phytotherapeutic medicine (second objective of the study) revealed clear correlations in a variety of defined areas.