Drug Proving is the systematic process of acquiring knowledge of the instruments intended for the cure of the natural diseases

1. HOMOEOPATHI C DRUG PROVI NG
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2. DEFINITION
It is the process of acquiring a knowledge of instruments
intended for the cure of the natural diseases (Aph: 105).
It is the systematic & orderly way of investigating the
pathogenetic power of the medicine.
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3. Objectives
a) To know the pathogenetic effect i.e. disease producing
effect of drug upon healthy human being.
b) To observe & note the alterations of the normal
sensations by the production of subjective symptoms.
c) To observe & note derivations in the appearance on the
surface, changes in the tissue, organs, changes in the
physiological functions, etc.
d) To bring out the characteristics of the drug as they
manifest in the diseased states.
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4. General Scheme for Testing Drugs
It involves three basic components of Proving:
I. The Test Drug
II. The Proving Team
III. The Procedure
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5. Test Drug
Qualities
1. Pure, free from mixtures & other drugs & possess all its
active properties
2. To administer indigenous plants in the form of freshly
expressed juice, mixed with little alcohol
3. To prepare exotic vegetable substances in the form of
powder / tincture with alcohol when in fresh state, & later
mixed with little water
4. To dissolve salts & gums in water just before takenwww.experthomeo.com

6. Test Drug
Qualities
5. To make infusion of dry & weak medicinal substances &
swallow whilst still warm
6. To use strong & heroic substances in small doses
7. To use milder medicines in more considerable qtys
8. To prove very weakest medicines on delicate, irritable, &
sensitive persons
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7. Test Drug
Qualities
9. To prove medicinal substance in high dilutions
10. To prove poison, venom, heavy metals only in the
potentized form
Dose
11. To give medicine to the experimenter on an empty
stomach, daily 4-6 very small globules of 30th potency
12. If the effects are slight, a few more globules may be
taken daily www.experthomeo.com

8. Test Drug
Dose
13. To carry out the proving of the drug with different range
of potencies
14. To administer Placebo of the same colour & texture in
the same way in an experimental group
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9. Proving Team
It consists of :
I. The Project Director / Master Prover
II. The Advisor / Expert
III.The Proving Supervisors / Panel of Investigators
IV.The Provers
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10. Project Director / Master Prover
• A well-experienced hom. physician well versed with the
methodology of proving can be the Project Director.
• He makes plan for the entire proving, determines the
quality of the test substance, its dose, selection of
provers, involvement of other team members.
• He works in recording & analysis of proving data,
ensures highest standards of proving, co-ordinates with
the people involved in proving, ensures the safety of
provers, & takes overall view of the project.
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11. Advisor / Expert
• A qualified botanist, zoologist, chemist, microbiologist, or
a physician can be the Advisor.
• He provides the characteristic detail of the test
substance, assists the Project Director & provides
information about the pharmacological action of the test
substance & its biological study on lab. animals.
• He certifies the health of the prover & conducts
necessary exam. & investigation before, during & after
proving.
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12. Proving Supervisors / Panel of Investigators
• Qualified & experienced homoeopaths can be the
Proving Supervisors / Panel of Investigators.
• He is preferred to have experience in previous proving.
• He should be unprejudiced, having sound senses & keen
observer.
• He establishes the communication between provers &
the Project Director.
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13. Proving Supervisors / Panel of Investigators
• He ensures that the symptoms of proving are recorded
properly in the provers’ day books.
• He needs to notify the co-ordinator of any changes in the
health of the provers.
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14. Prover
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• Healthy human being
• Intelligent
• Sensitive
 Ideal Prover
• Delicate
• Irritable
• Trustworthy

15. Prover
• Must be of both sexes, of all ages & of various
constitutions
• Must not be sick persons, because:
a) Symptoms of natural disease & medicines mixed up
b) Sick persons may be hyper-/hypo-sensitive & so intensity of
symptoms may vary
c) Chance of cure/relief possible
d) If drug is dissimilar to the disease, it may have no effect / may
form a complex disease
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16. Prover
• Must not be lower animal, because:
a) Subjective & mental symptoms not available
b) Modalities & finer sensations lacking
c) Effects of drugs on animal & on human being not
identical
d) Substances subjected to complete study on animal found to be
toxic to humans
e) Lab animals do not all react in the same way to the action of a
drug
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17. Prover
• Best Prover: Healthy, unprejudiced & sensitive
physician who can understand the changes in body &
mind during drug proving distinctly & express that in
proper words
• Idiosyncratic Prover: A person is a best possible
prover of the substance to which he/she is idiosyncratic
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18. Procedure
Regarding Drug
• Must be well-known, pure, genuine, & thoroughly
assured
• Must be taken in simple, unadulterated form
• Must be taken singly
• Must not be given for several successive days in ever-
increasing doses
• Avoid administration of large doses which bring out
secondary reaction but hurried appearance of primary
symptoms unsuitable for study
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19. Procedure
Regarding Prover
• Should not take any other medicine on the same day,
nor during proving
• Take only simple & nutritious diet. Young green peas,
green French beans & carrots allowed; green
vegetables, roots, salads, herb soup & spices to be
avoided
• Avoid beverages
• Avoid all dissipation & disturbing passions
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20. Procedure
Recording of Symptoms:
• Prover needs to note down symptoms with time of onset,
sensation, discomforts, pains & alterations of health daily
in their Day book / Day diary
• A record of occurrences of symptoms
• Reports from friends & relatives
• Dreams, delusions, fears, fantasies, emotions, thoughts,
impulses & other mental symptoms
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21. Procedure
Recording of Symptoms:
• Exact time of onset of symptoms; their chronological
sequence; manner of occurrence; duration; nature of
symptoms, continuous / intermittent; onset, slow / rapid
• Exact site of appearance of symptoms i.e. primary
location; any radiation / shifting
• Modalties with factors of < & > as change of posture,
rest, movement, pressure, thermal, any food / drinks,
etc. & its relationship to normal physiological functions
• Craving & aversions
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22. Procedure
Recording of Symptoms:
• Any change in normal physiological functions such as
taste, touch, appetite, thirst, sleep, vision, hearing,
perspiration, discharges, digestion, sexuality, etc.
• Possibility of external causative factors other than the
test drug that could produce symptoms
• Any new symptoms
• Any usual / current symptoms intensified
• Any current symptoms modified / altered with description
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23. Symptoms Recorded during Proving:
Recording of Symptoms:
• Narcotic substances – only symptoms of secondary action
• Except narcotics – symptoms of primary action
• Altenating actions – produced by some drugs
• Modalities – in relation to time, position, weather, etc.
• Any alteration from normal health
• Very old / new symptoms
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24. Symptoms Recorded during Proving:
Recording of Symptoms:
• Moderate doses – primary effects observed distinctly
• Large doses – symptoms not elicited distinctly because:
a. Primary effects appear in hurry, nothing distinct
b. Secondary effects mixed up with primary effects
c. Toxic effects may develop
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25. Dr.A.B.Ram Jyothis MD (Hom)
Reader
Department of Homoeopathic Pharmacy
Athurasramam NSS Homoeopathic Medical College
Phone No: 9497053705
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