A comparative analysis of the proving symptomatology of Malus domestica with existing remedies from the Rosacea family

Abstract

Introduction Over the years there has been an increase in the number of homoeopathic drug provings. This has in turn, led to an increase in the number of available homoeopathic remedies and, consequently, an expansion of the materia medica. The increase in the number of available homoeopathic remedies is a massive milestone in the field of homoeopathy. However, some practitioners acknowledge that finding a homoeopathic similimum is rather daunting due to the excessive volume of data. A system of prescribing that would make the process of finding a similimum logical is necessary. Numerous homoeopaths have developed methods to analyse and classify remedies. The Doctrine of Signatures, miasmatic theory developed by Samuel Hahnemann, the homoeopathic repertories and group analysis are but some of the developments that have been implemented to assist homoeopathic practitioners and students grasp the excessive content that exists in the materia medicae and the field of homoeopathy as a whole. These methods have also made prescribing for both students and homoeopaths logical and much easier. Innovative homoeopathic authors like Sankaran (2005a), Scholten (1993) and Mangialavori (2010) have developed systems of studying remedies in groups or kingdoms, now famously known as group analysis. Group analysis offers a valuable tool for studying and prescribing homoeopathic remedies with accuracy. Aim This is a non-empirical correlational, theoretical study with the aim of studying and comparing the proving symptomatology of Malus domestica with the following selected plant remedies within the Rosaceae plant family: Crataegus oxyacantha, Hydrocyanicum acidum, Laurocerasus, Prunus spinosa and Rosa damascene. This study also aimed to expand the knowledge of the Rosaceae family and by so doing improve the application of the remedies in a clinical context. A MacRepertory® search was conducted to choose remedies belonging to the Rosaceae family with the greatest number of rubrics hence the above-mentioned remedies were selected as the sample for this study. A good representation of the remedy in the materia medica and the number of successful clinical cases available were other factors that were considered on selecting sample remedies. Objectives 1. Describe and organise symptomatology of selected remedies of the Rosaceae plant family and tabulate their respective symptomatology in order to derive homoeopathic themes. 2. Determine homoeopathic symptomatology, rubrics and themes of Malus domestica in order to enable family contextualisation. 3. Compare the themes and sensations that emerge with existing themes and sensations of Malus domestica and the selected Rosaceae plant family remedies. Methodology To fulfil the purposes of this study the proving symptomatology of Malus domestica was thoroughly studied and interrogated. A computer repertory search was conducted using MacRepertory® to extract all the rubrics of the study remedies. The sources that were used included the documented proving of Malus domestica 30CH, materia medicae and MacRepertory®, which is an electronic database consisting of repertories, materia medica, books and journal articles. The symptomatology, themes, sensations, and rubrics were visually analysed and compared with each other in the form of tables for easy reference and to identify existing commonalities and differences. The collected themes and sensations were subsequently analysed. The emerging sensations were then compared with those proposed by Sankaran. Results The Rosaceae remedies yielded numerous themes and sensations, especially those relating to the mental sphere, chest, respiratory, heart and circulation, extremities and the head. The following sensations were noted: tightness, spasms, oppression, suffocation, paralysis, constriction, disconnection and pressure (inwards and outwards). A few polarities were noted in the mental themes. The polarity that exists between some of the themes are: • Calmness and quietness vs Nervousness, anxiety, restlessness, and fear; • Increased memory and concentration levels vs Mental weakness, mental dullness, loss of memory and mental exhaustion. The comparative analysis of the proving symptomatology of Malus domestica and existing Rosaceae plant remedies namely, Crataegus oxyacantha, Hydrocyanicum acidum, Laurocerasus, Prunus spinosa and Rosa damascene exhibited numerous commonalities. Conclusion The study established clearly discernable commonalities between Malus domestica 30CH and existing Rosaceae plant remedies, with the majority of these commonalities relating to the mind, head, chest, respiratory, extremities, heart and circulation and the abdomen. This study demonstrated that group analysis can validate and expand provings, hence expanding knowledge and clinical application of these remedies.