POTHOS FOETIDUS – A multicentric double blind Homoeopathic Pathogenetic Trial

Abstract

Objective: To elicit the pharmacodynamic response of the drug Pothos foetidus on healthy human beings in non-toxic doses. Methodology: Drug was proved through a double-blind method. The study was conducted at two centres. The drug was proved in three potencies (6C, 30C and 200C) on 25 volunteers who were selected and declared apparently healthy during their pre-trial medical examination by specialists and through their routine pathological investigations. The volunteers consumed 56 doses (four doses per day for fourteen days) of each potency (6C, 30C and 200C) in three stages for a varying period. The symptoms generated during the trial period were noted by the volunteers and elaborated and cross examined by the Proving Masters. The data obtained from both the centers was compiled at proving-cum-data processing cell at CCRH headquarters after de-coding. Observations: Out of the 18 provers who were on actual drug trial, 11 manifested symptoms. Drug was able to produce symptoms in each potency more or less on every part of the body. Only a few symptoms appeared in more than one prover. Some of the symptoms have been reproved which are mentioned in the fragmentary provings published in different literatures. Conclusion: Pharmacodynamic responses, elicited (new and reproved) during the proving trial will add to the literature available on the drug and benefit the research scholars and clinicians. This also needs verification through clinical trials.