Prescription trends of sulphur as an anti-psoric in a homoeopathic community clinic in eThekwini

Abstract

Brief background In homoeopathy patients are treated miasmatically and this mode of prescribing is especially relevant in the case of chronic diseases. Miasms can be defined as dynamic, chronic disease producing agents. According to Hahnemann they are the fundamental causes of all natural chronic diseases (Kent, 2007). The Durban University of Technology (DUT) established its first satellite Homoeopathic Community Health Centre; Ukuba Nesibindi Homoeopathic Community Health Centre (UNHCHC), in 2004. UNHCHC provides a free homoeopathic primary healthcare service on the third floor of the Lifeline building in Warwick Junction, Durban, an area which is classified as being underprivileged. The clinic gives 4th and 5th year homoeopathic students the opportunity to treat patients under the supervision of a qualified homoeopathic practitioner and is funded solely by the Department of Homoeopathy (Smillie, 2010). Aim of the study

The study aimed to determine the prescription trends of Sulphur as an anti-psoric in a homoeopathic community health centre in eThekwini for the period 2015-2016. Data from the study was analysed to determine the number of cases, the demographics and clinical conditions and guiding symptoms which led to the administration of Sulphur. The study was further analysed and a comparison of the guiding symptoms to that of Sulphur documented in various existing materia medica was conducted. The researcher evaluated the prescriptions in each case against psoric miasm prescribing criteria. Methodology

A retrospective chart review of patient case files at UNHCHC was conducted for the period 2015-2016. Data was collected from patient files in which Sulphur was prescribed in the initial consultation according to a standardised rubric (Appendix A). Relevant information was extracted to document the demographics, clinical diagnosis, homoeopathic guiding symptoms and posology for the initial prescription of Sulphur. Each outline of the rubric was analysed collectively against the

prescriptions of Sulphur. A thematic analysis was conducted and prescription trends were revealed upon coding of recurring themes for the prescription of Sulphur. These were then documented and subsequently compared to the various existing materia medica of Sulphur. A sample size of 80 patient files where Sulphur was prescribed in the period 2015- 2016 was obtained for this research. All patients signed consent forms prior to the consultation whereby patients gave permission for their information to be used for research purposes (Appendix B). Only initial administration of Sulphur was recorded and taken into account to determine prescription trends. Demographic descriptive statistics were conducted and illustrated using graphical presentations. Themes were drawn based on the data that emerged from the symptoms and rubrics. Prescription trends were documented after themes and prescription patterns were identified. Thereafter, a comparison to the various existing materia medica was conducted by comparing the arising symptomatology upon which the prescription of Sulphur was based, with that of the various existing materia medica. A comparison of the prescribing symptoms of Sulphur with that of the various existing materia medica, fulfilled the underlying rationale of clinical verification of the homoeopathic prescription of Sulphur in a community health Centre setting, where a wide range of clinical conditions are managed. Finally, prescriptions for each case were evaluated against the psoric miasm prescribing criteria. Results

This research determined that Sulphur was prescribed as a first prescription to 80 patients at UNHCHC during 2015-2016. Twenty-five patients (31.3%) were seen in 2015 and 55 patients (68.8%) were seen in 2016. The age range was from 3 years old to 76 years old. The majority of patients (55, 68.8%) were in the age range 21-40 years. Of the 80 patients, 48 (60%) were female and 32 (40%) were male. The results show that symptoms that emerged during the initial consultations where Sulphur was presribed correspond with the symptoms in the existing materia medica, although some cases revealed symptoms that were not documented in the materia

medica. The data documented was further analysed and evaluated against the psoric miasm prescribing criteria, as per the criteria set out by Choudhury (2015). The prescription trends of Sulphur at UNHCHC indicated that Sulphur was prescribed remedy across age, gender and pathology. As an anti-psoric remedy, Sulphur was prescribed for, typically, the complaints of psora, such as skin conditions. Thus, the results show that the decision to treat symptoms that correspond with Sulphur in the materia medica, may also address the underlying psoric miasm. This further reinforces the role of Sulphur as an important anti-psoric remedy. The documenting of the prescription trends of Sulphur as an anti-psoric has assisted in providing formal clinical data demonstrating the utilisation of Sulphur in homoeopathic care and in a primary healthcare setting. It has also provided further information on Sulphur as an anti-psoric remedy.