Panthera leo = Löwe/Substanz: nails
Vergleich: Lac-leo. Siehe: Mammalia + Raubtiere. Mammalia Anhängsel + Felidae (= Katzenartigen)
[Clarissa Peter]
http://openscholar.dut.ac.za/bitstream/10321/1339/1/PETER_2015.pdf
A homoeopathic proving of the African lioness (= Panthera
leo) with a subsequent comparison with lion ethology
Proving substance were nail shavings obtained from an African lioness (Panthera leo)
RESULTS
The proving of Panthera leo
30CH produced a total of 1234 rubrics, which represent a wide variety of
mental, emotional and physical symptoms. The main themes that emerged from the mental
and emotional symptoms included anger, aggression, irritability, poor
concentration and fear. Physical symptoms included catarrh, constipation,
diarrhoea, diminished appetite, fatigue, insomnia, thirstiness and aches.
A comparison was made between the symptomatology
of Panthera leo and the ethology of the lion. Some of the themes of symptoms which
corresponded with the ethology of the lion included
‘anger’, ‘audacity’, ‘ennui’, ‘increased appetite and thirst’,
‘responsibilities’ and ‘children’.
According to Sherr (1994:49), the most
significant and appropriate medicine will be found within our surrounding
environment. The lion plays an important role in the wildlife of South Africa,
and forms part of the so called “big five” wild mammals, which attracts many
tourists to the rainbow nation. In fact, globally South Africa is one of the few
places in which lions still exist in the wild.
These wild mammals are associated with power, bravery, courage, majesty
and royalty. These animals have been depicted in various cultures throughout
history and are
often described as an animal which demands respect. The male lion,
otherwise known as the ‘king of the beasts’, is the dominating protector while
the ‘queen of the beasts’, the lioness, is the nurturer and hunter.
Animal remedies are used extensively in Homoeopathy, with great success
in treating individuals who are in a state of disease. Based on Sherr’s recommendation, it would seem logical to acquire homoeopathic
remedy pictures of South Africa’s treasured wildlife (Sherr,
1994).
To date we do not have a complete remedy picture of the African lion.
Herrick (1998) proved the milk of an African lioness (Lac leoninum),
and provides common themes and symptoms in her book, Animal mind, Human voices
(1998), which she elicited from eight provers.
However, the lioness from which she obtained the milk lived in captivity in a
wildlife Park in India at which she was locked in a cage nightly. Even though
the lioness was in good health, the milk was obtained by capturing her in a
cage and injecting her with hormones which increased milk production (Herrick,
1998).
Naude (2011) compared Herrick’s proving of Lac loxodonta Africana (milk of an African elephant in
captivity) with a proving of Loxodonta Africana
(ivory of a wild African elephant). He investigated the role of the source of
the crude substance on the proving symptoms produced and found that the
circumstances surrounding the collection of the crude substance and the
individual circumstances of the animal from whom it was sourced influenced the
proving symptoms.
Cultural Depictions
As part of the “big five” in South Africa, the fifty Rand note features
a picture of a lion. These animals are known and regarded as symbols of
courage, majesty and royalty.
According to Herrick (1998), the Kalahari Bushmen believe that the lion
is able to cause a lunar eclipse by stretching his paw toward the moon and
obscuring it. She also writes that African tribesmen
believe that they can derive courage by eating the heart of a lion
(Herrick, 1998).
According to Kalimuthu (2010), no other animal
has been given as much attention as the lion in art and literature. The lion
appears is a recurring symbol used in the coat of arms of bravery and
chivalry.
The lion can also be seen in ancient stoneage
cave paintings (Kalimuthu, 2010).
The name “Singh” which means lion in Hinduism is associated with the
upper class and royalty and with Sikhism as a religion. The Sanskrit word for
the throne of a Hindu king is “Singhasana”, which
means seat of a lion. In ancient China lion sculptures were placed in front of
palaces for protection. These lionsculptures were
referred to as guardian lions (Shukla, 2015).
The lion is known as the top predator, having complete dominance in his
ecosystem.
Lions dominated the savannas of Africa long before early man and have
entered the psyche of man as a feared and respected adversary.
The original description of the lion was by Linnaeus, from a specimen
from North Africa. To date, there are more than 20 subspecies described from
various regions on the continent of Africa (Taylor, Hinde,
du Toit, 2000/Skinner, Smithers,
1990).
Lions are the largest felines in the world and are commonly referred to
as “King of the beasts”.
Repertory:
Mind:
AILMENTS FROM - quarrelling/reprimands/reproaches
ALERT (of every movement)
ANGER [morning (on waking)/evening/at night/# contentment/when obliged
to answer/being beside oneself/causeless/easily/at one friend/towards
husband/with indignation/from being neglected/
at noise/about pains/about past events/during sleep/sudden (and ceasing
suddenly)/at trifles/violent/if things do not go after his will/about work]
ANSWERING – aversion to answer
ANTICIPATION (with stage fright)
ANXIETY [morning (on waking)/evening/with absentmindedness/during
anger/attempting things/being beside oneself from anxiety/about business/of
conscience/about future/about (own) health/about
money matter/for others/during perspiration/from pressure/>
riding/studying/thinking about it/from thoughts/when time is set/with
weariness]
AUDACITY
AVERSION – to husband
BED – desires to remain in bed
BENEVOLENCE (to others less fortunate)
BLISSFUL feeling
BROODING (over disappointment/over trifles)
BUSY (must keep busy)
CARES [full of cares [about domestic affairs/about his business/about
money/affected by daily cares/about others]
CHANGE [desire for (in life)]
CHEERFUL [morning (on wking)/evening/# with
sadness/in company]
CHILDISH behaviour
CHILDREN – desire to nurture
CLOUDS – attracted by them
COLOURS – black desire it/> blue sky blue
COMPANY - aversion to (cannot bear anybody)/desire (company/for
solitude/< alone/> in company/desires [certain company/of his family/of a
(close) friend]/desire to keep group together/
desire for children/yearning for
COMPLAINING (of relations and surroundings)
CONCENTRATION – difficult (afternoon/driving/studying/<
thinking/working/< lack)
CONFIDENCE – want of self confidence (support)
CONFIDENT
CONFUSION (as to time)
CONSOLATION – >/</from kind words
CONTENT (# sadness)
CONVERSATION – aversion to/desire for
COURAGEOUS
CRUELTY (like to do something cruel)
DARKNESS
DEATH – sensation of/thoughts of death of his father
DELUSIONS [being alone/is not appreciated/is forsaken/is
friendless/everyone is insane/is invisible/is separated from the world/is
separated/is in a different world/has her own little world/
DEPERSONALIZATION
DESIRES – full of desires (for
husband/for marriage/for unattainable things)
DESPAIR (of own condition/over his work)
DETACHED (“As if detached”)
DIRTY – aversion to dirtiness
DISCONCERTED
DISCONTENTED (morning/causeless/with others)
DISCOURAGED
DISGUST, oneself
DREAM – “As if in a dream”
DREAMING – “As if in a beautiful dream”
DULLNESS
DUTY – too much sense of duty
DWELLS on past disagreeable occurrences
EASE – feeling of
EATING - > after
EMOTIONS – carefree/loss of/suppressed
ENERGIZED feeling
ENNUI (afternoon/> entertainment ameliorates)
ESTRANGED
EXCITEMENT (desire for)
EXPANSIVE
EXPRESSING oneself – desire to express oneself
FEAR [of impending disease (being incurable)/constant of everything/of
failure (in examinations)/sudden/on waking (from a dream)]
FEARLESS (wants to set things on fire)
FORSAKEN feeling (feeling of not being beloved by his parents, wife,
friends)/”As if isolated”/
GRATITUDE
GRIEF
HATRED – of husband/and revengeful
HEAVINESS; sensation of
HEEDLESS (all around/of what others think)
HELD – desire to be held
HELPLESSNESS – on emotional level/on mental level/feeling of
HIGH SPIRITED
HOME – desires to go
HOPEFUL
HORRIBLE things, sad stories affect her profoundly
HURRY
IMPATIENCE (with others)
IMPOLITE
IMPRESSIONABLE
IMPULSIVE
INDEPENDENT – desire for independence/lack of independence
INDIFFERENCE (with ennui/toward others/with aversion to work)
INDIGNATION
INJUSTICE – cannot support
INTOLERANCE
IRRESOLUTION
IRRITABILITY – when aroused by noise during sleep/sudden/on waking/with
weakness/working
JEALOUSY (vindictive)
KILL – desire to (impulse to kill her beloved husband)
LAMENTING (because he is not appreciated)
LAZINESS (afternoon/physical/with sleepiness)
LIAR
LONGING – sense of
LOQUACITY – heedless
LOVE – exalted love/love sick)
MALICIOUS (desires to injure someone)
MARRIAGE – > thoughts of
MATHEMATICS – inability for (calculating)
MEMORY – active/weakness of memory (for what he has just read)
MENTAL EXERTION – aversion to
MENTAL POWER – increased (sharp and alert)
MERGING OF SELF with one’s environment
MILDNESS
MISTAKES; making [in speaking (using wrong words)/in time/in writing]
MOOD – agreeable/alternating/changeable evening/contradictory/repulsive
MOROSE
MORTIFICATION (talk about disease)
MOTHER COMPLEX
MUSIC – >/desire for
NOISE – aversion to
OFFENDED, easily (from past offenses)
OPTIMISTIC
PASSIONATE
PEACE – yearning for
PERTINACITY
PLANS – making many plans (for the future)
PLEASING – desire to please others
POSITIVENESS
POSTPONING everything to next day
PRAYING
PROSTRATION of mind (night/after anxiety/from cares/from slight mental
exertion/with sleepiness/prolonged study)
QUARRELLING – aversion to
QUARRELSOME
QUIET; wants to be
RAGE (morning)
RELIGIOUS AFFECTIONS [talking on religious subjects/too occupied with
religion (melancholia)/want of religious feeling
REMORSE
REPROACHING – oneself/others
RESENTMENT to husband
RESPECTED – desires to be
RESPONSIBILITY – taking responsibility early/taking responsibility too
seriously
RESTLESSNESS
RUDENESS
SADNESS (morning/afternoon/when alone/with brooding/causeless/after
cheerfulness/with despair/from dream/extreme/from failure to accomplish/gloomy/after
mental exertion/
about past events/after quarrel with husband/being single/about
trifles/when waking/with weakness
SENSITIVE (to emotions/to noise)
SENTIMENTAL
SLOWNESS
SNAPPISH
< SPOKEN TO; being
STRANGE sensations
STRIKING – from anger/desires to strike/with rage/
STUDYING difficult
SUSPICIOUS (of his best friends)
SYMPATHY from others – desire for
TALKING – desire to talk to someone (in conflicts; in order to
solve/about future)
TENSION, mental
THOUGHTS – dead of loved ones/disagreeable/of father/of the future/of
the past/persistent (of person who offended him)/rush (in afternoon/at
night/from sleeplessness)/
violent/wandering (afternoon/night)
THREATENING – to kill
TIME – passes too slowly, appears longer
TIMIDITY – public about speaking in public
TRANQUILLITY [morning (on waking)]
TRIFLES <
VIOLENCE
VIOLENT (when hearing another reproached)
WANDERING
WEARISOME (from cares)
WEARY OF LIFE (from solicitude about future)
WEEPING (>/“As if she had been abandoned/causeless/desire to
weep/dreaming/about everything/violent)
WILL – loss of will (walking)
WILL – weakness of
WORK – desire to work
WRITING – aversion
YEARNING
Vertigo: afternoon/+ noises in ear/+ heaviness in /pain in the
/+ nausea
Head: CONGESTION
< after (over) EATING
ERUPTIONS – scales/scurfy
HAIR fair
HEAVINESS (afternoon/+ heat of/+ nausea/painful)
LIGHTNESS; sensation of
PAIN [in daytime/morning (on waking)/afternoon (13 h./15 h./16 h. till
20 h.)/evening (18 h.)/at night (preventing sleep/+ pain in eye (sore)/+
nausea/+ pain in (nape of) neck/aching/# pain in occiput
(ext. forehead/frontal
eminence/nape of neck/sharp)/> cold water/ “As from
congestion”/constant, continued (2 or 3 days)/< during cough/> drinking
water/dull/> after eating/< motion(< noise (dull)/pressing (“As from
weight”/> pressure/
like pulling/pulsating/sharp/short lasting/Sides (r.)/aching/ext. r.
eye/> sleep/preventing sleep/sore/temples (one sided)/vertex/violent/of
scalp/> sleep]
Eye: CLOSING THE EYES desire to
DISCHARGES white
DISCOLORATION red
DRYNESS (at night/< reading/”As if dry”)
HEAVINESS (+ pain in hand”)
IRRITATION
LIDS; complaints of (lower)
PAIN [burning (afternoon/> cold applications)/sore
PHOTOPHOBIA
SWELLING – (lower/l.) lids
Vision: BLURRED during ache
DIM
LOSS OF VISION during ache
EAR: DISCHARGE (yellow)
“As if full”
NOISES in (buzzing/ringing)
PAIN [l./in lobes/”As if stopped” (> yawning)
Hearing: IMPAIRED (l./with pain in ear)
Nose: CATARRH [morning/+
obstruction/CONGESTION/CORYZA (morning)]
DISCHARGE (r./morning/clear/copious/thick/watery)
DRYNESS
OBSTRUCTION – morning (on waking)/r./# with discharge/must breath
through mouth/”As of obstructed”
PAIN – at root of nose during ache
SNEEZING [morning (on waking)/constant/from odors/violent]
Face: DRYNESS (of cheeks)
ERUPTIONS [acne/of cheeks/on nose (r./inside)/pimples (red)/red]
GREASY
PAIN in frontal sinuses
PERSPIRATION
SHINY “As if oily”
Mouth: BLEEDING GUMS
COMPLAINTS of
NUMBNESS of tongue
SALIVATION (profuse)
TASTE – bad/bitter (< after eating)/metallic
TICKLING
TONGUE; complaints of
Throat: COMPLAINTS of throat
DRYNESS (with thirst for cold water)
“As if a FOREIGN BODY”
INFLAMMATION
ITCHING (< cough)
PAIN (morning/+ scratching/”As if sharp from something”/sore/”As from a
splinter”/stitching)
SCRATCHING
External Throat: SWELLING (of cervical Glands)/”As if swollen”
THYROID GLAND – complaints of
Neck:COMPLAINTS of neck
< COUGH
ERUPTIONS
LUMPS
< MOTION
PAIN (l./”As from wrong position”/sore)
PERSPIRATION
STIFFNESS
SWELLING
Stomach: “As if full with air”
APPETITE – constant/diminished [morning/at noon/evening/at eating
time/with thirst/easy satiety/increased (daytime/afternoon/17
h.)/insatiable/ravenous (noon)/with thirst
COMPLAINTS of the stomach
DISTENTION (“As if full of air”/< after eating)
HEAT – sensation of
IRRITATION
NAUSEA (daytime/afternoon – 13 h./14 h.)/< drinking/smell of food)
PAIN [night/> bending double/burning/> cold drinks/cramping/in epigastrium/after ice cream/> lying (cramping)/morning
(burning)/> pressure on dorsal vertebrae/preventing sleep/
> stooping/violent/on waking]
THIRST [daytime/morning (on waking)/evening/at night/# with thirstlessness/burning, vehement/for cold water/extreme (on
waking)/unquenchable]
THIRSTLESSNESS
Abdomen: PAIN – daytime/noon/cramping very
violent/< after diarrhoea/before diarrhoea (cramping)/during diarrhoea
(cramping)/hypogastrium [cramping (at night)]/
lower abdomen [morning (on waking)/cramping/stitching/tearing
pain/interrupting sleep/stinging/stitching/tearing
RUMBLING
Rectum:
CONSTIPATION (in daytime/painful)
DIARRHOEA (daytime/afternoon from cramping/at night/< during
fever/hectic/during menses/< rich food/during sleep/during stool)
Stool: like (black/small) BALLS
DARK
FREQUENT
HARD
LUMPY small; and
ODOR offensive
SOFT
SUPPRESSED
YELLOW
Bladder: URINATION – < drinking/frequent (after
drinking/during ache/with pain/but scanty
Urin: yellow bright
COPIOUS (during ache)
SCANTY (and frequent)
Female Genitalia/Sex: MENSES copious [daytime
only/morning (only)/afternoon/evening/too early/too late/painful/pale with dark
clots/scanty]
PAIN – Ovaries
Larynx and Trachea: VOICE – broken/complaints/higher after
hawking/hoarseness > hawking/weak (after talking)
Cough: in general
NIGHT (waking from the cough)
> COLD drinks
ITCHING in throat
SLEEP wakens from cough
COUGH in general
Expectoration:: in BALLS
COPIOUS
DIFFICULT (too weak to cough)
HEAVY
INFREQUENT
MUCOUS /< cold weather/TOUGH/VISCID/WHITE (tough)
Back: HEAT
HEAVINESS, weight
PAIN (l./in dorsal region/lumbar region (from lying in a wrong
position)/< during menses/on motion (> gentle motion)/sore/> external
PRESSURE)
Limbs: CHAPPED hands
DRYNESS in palms
ERUPTIONS [hands (palms/pimples)]
ERUPTIONS – Upper limb (pimples)
complaints of FEET (soles)
FORMICATION in fingers
HANDS – complaints of
HEAT [feet (burning)]
HEAVINESS l.
KNEES; complaints of
LEGS – complaints of
NAILS; complaints of
PAIN [r./Ankles (< standing)/burning (foot/sole)/cramping/elbow/<
grasping something/hands (closing the hand/holding anything/< motion/Knees
(< motion/sore)/legs (calves/< ascending stairs/cramping/sore)/
nails sore/shoulders /ext. neck/sore/in general)]
STIFFNESS (Legs/calves)
Sleep: BAD
CONSCIOUS
DEEP
DISTURBED [by dreams (frightful/after fever/by the slightest noise/by
pain (stomach)/by cough]
DREAMING (driving out of bed)
FALLING ASLEEP – morning/afternoon (13.30 - 14.30 h.)/in
daytime/difficult (morning/with sleepiness/too early/late (after four
hours)/INTERRUPTED (from pain)
NEED OF SLEEP – great/little
POSITION changed frequently
PROLONGED (in daytime)
REFRESHING
RESTLESS
SHORT (afternoon/after midnight (4.30 - 6.30 h.)/in catnaps
SLEEPINESS [in daytime/morning (on waking)/afternoon (14. h./14.30 h./17
h.)/evening (early/20 h.)/night/overpowering/with weakness/with
weariness/during work]
SLEEPLESS – evening (from activity of thoughts)/night (after going to
bed/before midnight/middle part/sleeps at daytime)/< during fever/+
sleepiness/during diarrhoea/from pain/
large part of the night/from restlessness/from sadness/from shocks/from
activity of thoughts/in spite of weariness/
UNREFRESHING (morning/afternoon)
WAKING – morning (7 h.)/night/from cough/difficult/by dreams/too early
(a
Dreams: ACCIDENTS/AFRICA/AIRPORTS/ANGER/ANCIOUS/being
ATTACKED (by black person)/BROTHER/about CHILDREN (rescuing)/CHRISTMAS/
CONFUSED (being confused)/COUSIN/of the DEAD (friend)/DEATH (of
relatives/of parents)/DISCONNECTED/DROWNING (children/people)/FALLING (from a
height/into a pit)/
FAMILY, of
FRIGHTFUL
GOD; of
GRANDPARENTS (of grandmother old; isolated)
HAMMERING her, someone is
HAPPY
HOLES
HOME – turned out of
INJUSTICE
ISLAND
KNIVES
MOUNTAINS
MUSIC (religious Middle Eastern music)
NIGHTMARE
PEOPLE drunken
PLEASANT
RELATIVES
RELIGIOUS
REPEATING
SAD
SCHOOL
SEA
SHOPPING
STRANGE
SWIMMING
TRAP – being trapped
UNPLEASANT (from fear)
UNREMEMBERED
VIOLENCE
VIVID
WATER
WEDDING
WEEPING; about
WORK
Fever: MORNING/at NIGHT
DIARRHOEA during
FEVER, heat in general
RELAPSING
SLEEP, heat comes on – during
Perspiration: In general
AT NIGHT (during heat)
HOT
PROFUSE (at night/during sleep)
During SLEEP
Skin: BURNING
DRY
ECCHYMOSES (in spots)
ERUPTIONS [blisters (“As from a burn”)/eczema/pimples
INFLAMMATION
ITCHING (+ “As if skin is hot”/burning/< after eating)
SENSITIVE to sun
SWELLING (inflamed)
UNHEALTHY
Generals: MORNING (on waking)
ACTIVITY - desire for/increased
BATHING – (ice) cold bathing desire for/< hot bathing
BUSINESS, work, occupation; complaints from
COLD air <
COMPLAINTS – body weight; regulation of
EATING after >
ENERGY – excess of energy (# low energy/sensation of)
EXERTION – physical desires/< physical exertion
EXPECTORATION >
FAINTNESS + constipation
FANNED; being – desire to be
FOOD and DRINKS: <: sweets/cold drink (water)/warm drinks/ice
(cream)/pastry/potatoes/salad/spices/
>: cold drink (water)/food/milk/sugar
Desires: bland food/carbonated drinks/cheese/(bitter) chocolate/ice
cream/nuts/warm soup/sour drinks/tomatoes
HEAT - + complaints/flushes of heat (in daytime/at night/with
perspiration)/sensation of heat (night/< exertion/during perspiration)
HEATED, BECOMING
HEAVINESS
INFLUENZA (“As if”)
JOINTS complaints of
LOSS of fluids
OBESITY (during sadness in women)
PAIN [morning/aching/all over body/cramping in muscles]
REST – desire for
RESTLESSNESS
SICK FEELING; vague (on waking)
STIFFNESS (in joints/in muscles)
STRENGTH, sensation of
TENSION in general
UNCLEANNESS <
WARM – air <
WEAKNESS [in daytime/morning (on rising/on waking)/at noon/afternoon/14
h. – 15 h./evening/at night/+ nausea/appetite increased/< after
breakfast/after a dream/excessive/< (slight) exertion/
“As from excessive exertion”/from hunger/after menses/during menses/<
mental exertion/from pain/progressive/+ restlessness/from loss of sleep/”As
from sleepiness”
WEARINESS [daytime/morning (on waking)/noon/afternoon/evening/at
night/extreme/< mental exertion/(after/much) talking
WEATHER – hot <
WIND – < cold
WRITING >
Discussion:
5.3.1.
The number of symptoms produced by Panthera leo that has been categorised as a symptom is extensive, and have therefore been
grouped into themes, to facilitate discussion.
Absentminded
Absentmindedness was experienced by 5 provers.
This was expressed as misplacing personal items, loss of focus or concentration
on the task at hand confusion of making
mistakes with regard to time as well as making mistakes with regard to speech. Prover 6 also described a dazed feeling and being ‘delayed
in everything’.
Anger, violence
Feelings of anger and frustration were experienced by nine provers. Provers experienced
anger toward other people
Provers also experienced anger with
thoughts of violence and the desire to violently injure the person at which
their anger was directed. They described a desire to strangle, beat and kill
the other person
Prover 8 experienced anger toward their
child which was very out of character and was followed by being angry with
herself
Provers 8 and 16 experienced anger toward
their husbands
Four provers experienced causeless anger
Prover 30 experienced anger and rage and
described feeling as if they were ‘a bomb ready to explode’
Prover 30 also related how they became
angry very quickly and had a short-temper
All provers who experienced anger said that it
was very unusual for them to experience such anger and that they felt it to be
out of character. They described the anger as being intense and used words such
as ‘rage’, ‘frustration’ and ‘aggression’ to express how they felt.
Three provers has thoughts about being violent
toward others. One prover imagined strangulating
another person until they stopped breathing. Prover
21 had a desire to burn down a building
Prover 30 felt as if she could ‘beat up’
another person. She said that she had felt ‘violent and confrontational’, which
was very out of character for her
Audacity, fearless
Provers experienced a sense of boldness and
bravery. Prover 2 experienced
boldness with regard to speaking with an indifference to being
criticised
Provers 2 and 23 felt that they were bold
and courageous enough to express their feeling, where they would normally
suppress their feelings.
Provers 10 and 11 experienced a desire to
‘lash out’ at people
Prover 2 and 6 experienced fearlessness, prover 2 with regard to expressing himself and prover 6 with regard to trying new activities
Change, ennui
Five provers
expressed a desire for change. They each desired a change in life, sought more
excitement and experienced boredom with their everyday routine
Children
Provers 6 and 18 desired to nurture
children in a motherly form. They each expressed a desire to bear their own
children and felt the need to nurture other children
Prover 6 felt ‘raw and hurt’ when she
visited orphaned children. Provers 6 and 23 felt
great sadness when they had to leave children or say goodbye to a child
Provers 8 and 23 experienced anger toward
children who were being noisy and reprimanded them. This was quickly followed
by feelings of remorse for their action
Company (aversion, ameliorates, desire)
Provers 2, 6, 10, 23 and 30 experienced an
aversion to company and desired solitude
Prover 23 desired solitude because of
pain, ‘physically and emotionally’
Provers 22 and 28 felt better when they
were in the company of friends and family
Prover 6 desired the company of a close
child relative, prover 30 desired the company of
specific close relatives and prover 23 desired the
‘right company’
Prover 6 experienced a sense of isolation,
even when in the company of others
Prover 13 felt as if she were ‘alone in
this world’
Gratitude
Four provers felt a sense of gratitude
Prover 6 felt grateful for loved ones .
Prover 28 felt grateful for ‘the gift of
life’
Prover 30 felt grateful for additional
finance
Happy, content
Ten provers experienced happiness and
contentment. Prover 6 experienced an unusual sense of
happiness and contentment with life in general which she had never experienced
before
Prover 16 felt happy to be able to help
others
Prover 18 felt content with life in
general
Prover 22 felt ‘happy as if in my own
world’
Provers 22 and 30 felt happy about going
home
Prover 23 felt happy about being in the
company of friends and reminiscing over fond memories. Prover
28 experienced great happiness and contentment when involved with religious
practices,
spending time with religious groups and listening to religious music
Prover 30 felt happy when listening to
‘upbeat music’
Provers 14 and 21 experienced happiness on
waking in the morning
Husband, boyfriend
Provers 8, 10 and 16 felt anger and
irritation toward their husbands.
Prover 10 felt a desire to kill her
husband
Provers 6, 21 and 30 felt an unusual
longing to be near their boyfriends
Prover 21 felt infatuated with her
boyfriend
Prover 28 felt worse with her boyfriend at
times, while felt very happy with him at other times.
In one instance, prover 16 was happy because
she was able to have a conversation with her husband, due to the fact that the
television was off
Irritability
Thirteen provers experienced irritability
during the proving. Provers 2, 6 experienced
irritability toward others. Prover 3 experienced
irritability in the morning.
Provers 6, 8, 10, 13, 14, 16 and 23
experienced a general sense of irritability and felt ‘grumpy’
Prover 14 felt sudden irritability in the
afternoon. Provers 8, 10 and 16 experienced
irritability toward their husbands and prover 21
toward their boyfriend. Prover 15 experienced
irritability when
listening to disagreeable music. Prover 16
experienced irritability as a result of things not going their way/ as planned.
Provers 16 and 23 felt irritated when doing
mathematical calculations
Prover 21 felt irritated because of having
to record dates in the proving journal. Prover 28
felt irritated because she felt that she was working too hard. Prover 28 also experienced causeless irritability
Prover 30 felt irritated because of
experienced anger that was induced by taking the proving substance
Laziness
Provers 19, 21 and 30 experienced a sense
of laziness. Provers 21 and 30 said that they felt
too lazy to write their symptoms in their proving journals
Prover felt too lazy to complete work
related tasks. Prover 30 felt too lazy to get out of
bed or eat
Lost
Provers 16, 18 and 21 experienced a
sensation of being lost. Prover 16 felt lost because
of not knowing where she should go. Provers 18 and 21
felt as if they did not belong anywhere.
Money
Provers 16 and 28 were worried about
whether they would have enough money to pay their expenses
Provers 28 and 30 felt as if they were not
earning enough money for the work that they were doing
Prover 30 was grateful for having money
Mood
Prover 1 felt that her moods had improved
in general, after taking the proving substance.
Provers 6, 13, 19, 23, 28 and 30
experienced changeable moods throughout the day
Prover 30 described it as being ‘up and
down mood swings’
Placebo, verum
Prover 6 felt positive that she had taken
a placebo, while prover 30 felt positive that she had
taken verum
Pleasing others Provers 21, 23 and 28
experienced a desire to please others. Prover 21 felt
a desire to please her mother, while prover 16 felt a
desire to please her god
Religion
Prover 21 sought prayer to assist her with
being positive that she had passed her examination.
Prover 28 felt better for occupying
herself with religion and constantly acknowledged and praised her god.
Sadness, weeping
Twelve provers experienced a sense of sadness
during the proving. Prover 4 felt sad after attending
a funeral. Prover 6 experience a deep and causeless
sadness. She felt ‘heavily depressed’
Prover 13 felt sadness which was
accompanied by weeping. Prover 18 felt depressed when
thinking about her future. Prover 19 experienced
sadness alternating with happiness.
Prover 23 felt sad because she could not
please people loved ones. Provers 13 and 28 felt sad
up on remembering close relatives who have died.
Prover 6 said that she cried after having
a disagreement with her sister and she also said that she felt as if she ‘could
cry over anything and everything’ Prover 19 felt
better after crying)
Provers 6 and 13 expressed a desire to cry.
Prover 23 said that she had cried while asleep and
dreaming.
Snappish
Four provers
said that they were very snappish.
Prover 11 also said that she was being
‘extremely rude to people’.
Stress
Nine provers experienced stress, and used
synonyms such as ‘anxiety’ and ‘tension’ to describe this feeling. Prover 1 said that she did not feel as stressed after taking
the proving remedy,
as she had been feeling prior to taking the remedy
Prover 22 experienced anxiety before
presenting work to her boss Prover 28 felt financial
related stress. She worried about not having enough finances.
Thoughts of dead loved ones
Three provers had thoughts of older male
relatives that had died. Provers 1 and 13 thought of
their dead fathers a lot while prover 28 thought of
her dead grandfather.
Time
Three provers felt that time passed too
slowly. Prover 6 said that it was as if ‘time were
retarded’. Prover 8 said that her morning ‘seemed to
drag on forever).
Prover 23 felt that ‘everything took too
long’ and she also felt as if she were being rushed in other instances.
Tranquillity
Five provers felt calmer in general while four
provers expressed a desire to be tranquil. Prover 6 said that she was calmer in situations where she
would normally panic.
Provers 14, 19, 23 and 28 said that they
felt relaxed Provers 10 and 16 felt that they were
not in a calm state. Prover 23 said that she needed a
break in order to relax and prover 30 said that
she wanted peace
Unappreciated
Provers 28 and 30 felt unappreciated in
their place of work
Prover 28 also felt that certain relatives
did not appreciate what she had done for them.
Writing
Prover 28 felt better for writing her
symptoms in her proving journal.
Provers 16, 21 and 30 felt too lazy and did
not enjoy writing their symptoms in their
Prover 30 made mistakes while writing,
i.e. she wrote ‘birthday’ even though she meant to write ‘bed’. Prover 30 also pointed out that the neatness of her writing
had
changed since she had taken the proving remedy. She said that prior to
taking the remedy she was very particular about maintaining neat handwriting,
however she
had noticed that her writing had become untidy. Prover
21 felt irritated about having to write the date.
Miscellaneous symptoms
One prover felt ‘distraught’ after quarrelling
with family. Impatience was experienced. Prover 16
experienced frustration as a result of ‘not knowing’ whether or not she had
passed her exam.
One prover felt that she could not ‘switch
off’ mentally Disappointment was experienced, as result of things not meeting a
certain standard and not being able to go on holiday.
One prover found it difficult to follow
through on plans made. A feeling of indifference was experienced. One prover felt indecisive about her future.
One prover desired sleep as an escape from her
troubles. One prover expressed regret for having
participated in this research, because of the mental symptoms she had
experienced,
as well as regret for having studied in a specific field. A sensitivity
to injustice was felt, when one prover felt that
others were unfairly favoured more than her.
Prover 6 experienced a desire to be
consoled and comforted.
Prover 30 expressed great determination to
accomplish life goals. Prover 21 described feeling as
if she were in a drug state or a ‘drug addict’.
Provers 18 and 30 described feeling ‘like
death’.
Prover 6 said that she felt ‘permeable’
and was picking up the mood of those around her. Prover
21 felt as if she were ‘diffusing with everyone’.
Prover 21 expressed a desire to be
independent
Prover 21 felt invisible in one instance
and a desire to be invisible in another. Prover felt
that her memory had improved while taking the proving substance.
Prover 16 found it difficultto
remember work that she had studied. Prover 21
expressed a desire to be one with the elements. She said that she desired to be
‘one with the
sky and clouds and float with them wherever they go’. Provers 21 and 30 said that they felt very out of character
while under the influence of the proving remedy.
Two provers said that they had positive
attitude. Two provers said that they has felt
refreshed while taking the proving remedy. Prover 6
felt as if she were ‘not adding anything useful
to this research’ and experienced guilt as a result. Prover
8 felt angry with herself. Prover 28 felt as if she
had too many responsibilities. Two provers said that
they felt very restless
during the proving. Prover 15 exclaimed that
she felt strong, while prover 23 said that she had a
strong will power. Provers 13 and 23 said that their
thoughts wandered constantly.
Prover 1 recorded a feeling of being
‘emotionally tired’ and prover 8 felt ‘mentally
drained’. Prover 1 described being very alert,
especially at night and during heavy rainfall.
Provers 23 and 29 experienced fear upon
waking in the morning
5.3.2. Vertigo
Vertigo was experienced by 3 provers. Provers 28 and 30 felt dizzy, while prover
11 felt light headedness which was accompanied by tinnitus.
5.3.3. Head:
Aches, of varying types were experienced by 19 provers
(66%). Some aches were slight or mild.
The headaches occurred at different times of the day. Provers 4, 8, 13, 14, 15, 19 and 22 experienced aches in the morning
Provers 1, 4 and 6 experienced aches in the evening Provers
6, 8, 10, 14, 19, 28 and 30 experienced
aches in the afternoon. With provers 8, 19 and
29 the aches started immediately
after they took a dose of
Provers 4, 6, 17, 19, 23 experienced aches which was located on the forehead
Other aches were located in the
occipital region. Provers 11 experienced a
throbbing ache. Dull aches were experienced
Some provers had aches which were aching in nature. aches
which were sharp in nature were also experienced. Hammering aches were felt.
Some provers described the ache as feeling sore
Some provers had a ache accompanied by pain Concomitant symptoms included
dehydration, dizziness, nausea and frequent urination. aches > water, eating, sugar.
Prover 15 experienced a unilateral
temporal ache which prevented
sleep. aches with a sensation of congestion was experienced.
Provers felt as if their head had become too heavy.
5.3.4.
A sensation of burning
5.3.5. Ear
A yellow exudate was found in the ears, and
the ears also felt oily and sticky. Buzzing sounds occurred, which was
described as sounding ‘like a thousand little insects’
Prover 26 experienced tinnitus. Pain
occurred on the right ear and the left ear. Congestion was felt.
5.3.6. Hearing
Hearing impairment occurred in 2 provers. Prover 11 said that she could not hear after waking up from
bending for too long. Prover 23 could not hear
properly in her left ear, and
was + pain in the left ear
5.3.7. Nose
Congestion of the nose occurred. Provers
recorded sneezing a lot
Some provers experienced a discharge from the
nose: Dryness of the nose occurred.
5.3.8. Face
Oiliness and stickiness of the face occurred.
Pimples erupted on the face, on the lower cheeks and on the left side of
the face. Prover 11 said that her skin had become
less sensitive to a variety of beauty products and she was
able to use products which caused irritation in the past.
5.3.9. Mouth
Numbness of the tongue occurred. Hypersalivation
occurred. Prover 30 had bleeding gums when she
brushed her teeth
Prover 6 recorded that after taking the 1st
dose of the proving remedy, she felt as if it had a metallic or chemical taste.
Prover 23 experienced a bitter taste after
eating.
5.3.10. Throat
Six provers experienced a sore throat
Prover 6 described having a sore throat
accompanied by itching of the throat, and said that it felt as if there were
thorns in her throat. Dryness of the throat occurred.
and was ameliorated by cold water in the case of prover
26. Itchiness of the throat occurred. Prover 26 felt
as if there were stones in her throat.
5.3.11. External throat
An enlarged thyroid gland occurred in prover
11.
5.3.12. Neck
Neck pain occurred in 5 provers.
Provers 1 and 19 experienced pain on the
left side of their neck. Prover 16 experienced a
burning sensation on the left side of her neck. Stiffness of the neck occurred.
5.3.13. Stomach
Provers experienced an increase and
decrease in appetite. Ten provers said that they had
an increase in appetite. They described having an appetite was insatiable and
they felt hungry all the time
7 provers had a diminished appetite
A sensation of burning in the stomach occurred
Prover 11 experienced burning after eating
spicy food
Prover 17 experienced burning accompanied
by stomach cramps. In the case of prover 23, the
burning was ameliorated by eating yogurt.
Four provers experienced a cramping pain in
the stomach. Prover 19 experienced pain in the epigastrium region. The pain was ameliorated by leaning
forward and placing a pillow behind her back.
Thirstiness and thirstlessness were
experienced by provers. Eight provers
experienced thirstiness.
Prover 28 experienced a decrease in
thirst. Prover 11 experienced thirstiness alternating
with thirstlessness.
Bloating occurred in 2 provers.
Prover 22 felt as if his stomach were
filled with air. Five provers experienced nausea.
Prover 11 experienced nausea when she
smelled spicy food cooking. Prover 17 felt uneasiness
in her stomach after eating sweet delicacies.
5.3.14. Abdomen
Prover 11 experienced a stinging pain in
her abdomen. She also experienced a stinging pain in the region of her ovaries
accompanied with a cramping pain in her abdomen. Provers
16 and 17 experienced cramping pain in the abdomen
Prover 30 experienced a sensation as if
there was ‘boiling water’ in her abdomen.
5.3.15. Rectum
Constipation occurred in six provers
Three provers experienced diarrhoea
Prover 17 experienced diarrhoea which was
accompanied by abdominal cramps and bloating.
5.3.16. Stool
Prover 6 passed stool which was dark in
colour and looked like ‘pebbles’.
Prover 11 passed stool which was loose,
pale, and almost yellow in colour. On another occasion she passed stool which
was loose and dark in colour. Prover 16 passed stool
which looked like
small pieces and soft stool. Prover 22
described a putrid smell when passing stool.
5.3.17. Bladder
Three provers recorded an increase in
frequency of urination
5.3.18. Urine
Prover 16 experienced a decrease in the
quantity of urine.
Prover 30 experienced an increase in the
quantity of urine.
5.3.19. Female genitalia/ sex
An increase in menstrual flow occurred.
Menses delayed, accompanied by a stinging pain in the ovaries. A decrease
in menstrual flow occurred, with diminished bleeding at night. Prover 11 described the menstrual blood as being pale pink
with dark clots
Prover 14 started menses earlier than
usual.
5.3.20. Larynx and trachea
Prover 11 felt as if her voice had faded
and sounded ‘cracked’.
5.3.21. Cough
Coughing occurred in 2 provers. Prover 11 coughed after drinking cold water
Prover 26 experienced coughing at night,
which woke her from sleep.
The cough was > by cold water.
5.3.22. Expectoration
One prover had a buildup
of phlegm, which was difficult to cough out at times. The expectorant was white
and tenacious.
5.3.23. Chest
Pimples erupted on the right side of the chest, underneath the breast
5.3.24. Back
Back pain occurred. Pain occurred on the lower back and was worse for
movement. The back pain was > lying down with a pillow behind the back. A
burning sensation was felt in the back, and was > cold applications.
A sensation of heaviness was felt in the upper back, as from a weight.
5.3.25. Extremities
A burning sensation was felt in the feet.
Eruptions of pimples occurred on the upper limbs. Prover
11 had pimples on her left hand, while prover 19 had
pimples on her upper arms.
Pain, cramping and stiffness of the extremities occurred. Pain occurred
in the neck and shoulders. Pain and cramping occurred in the legs, knees and
hands.
Muscle stiffness occurred in the calves. Prover
11 experienced a tingling sensation in her left hand.
5.3.26. Sleep
Provers experienced sleeping difficulties.
Some of the symptoms include sleeplessness, sleepiness during the day, unrefreshing sleep, and difficulty falling asleep. Prover 19 felt that her sleeping had improved and
she was able to sleep through noises that would otherwise disturb her.
Three provers had disturbed sleep and said that their
sleep broke numerous times during the night.
Seven provers experienced difficulty in
falling asleep.Prover 13 could not fall asleep as she
was thinking about past events.
Provers 16 and 23 were kept awake by their
racing thoughts.
Prover 1 fell asleep later than usual.
Nine provers fell asleep earlier than usual.
Provers 11 and 15 found difficulty in
finding a comfortable position to sleep in. Two provers
reported sleeping longer hours at night.
Three provers felt refreshed upon waking.
Three provers said that they had a restful sleep. Unrefreshing sleep occurred.
Restlessness during sleep occurred in six provers.
Five provers slept for short periods during the day.
Provers experienced sleepiness during the
day.
Six provers woke up earlier than usual in the
morning. Prover 30 experienced difficulty in waking
up in the morning. Two provers woke up later than
usual.
5.3.27.
Provers had various during the proving. Prover
15 dreamt about islands on the coast of Africa. Prover
29 had a recurrent dream that she was being attacked at night by a black
person,
who intended to ‘hammer’ her. Prover 14 had a
dream about the death of her family members. Prover
16 had a dream about family members, as well as friend who had passed away.
Prover 23 experienced frightful. Prover 28 dreamt that her brother had fallen off a
mountain, and that her grandmother had fallen into an abyss. Prover 15 dreamt of cartoon characters and felt happy in the
dream.
Prover 23 had a dream of her own wedding,
which made her feel happy. Prover 11 had a dream of
being trapped in an extremely small room, as well as shopping with friends. Prover 4 had unusual and scary.
Prover 23 had a dream about travelling to
India. Prover 19 dreamt about seeing a child drowning
in a pool of water. Prover 30 had a dream about a
class mate being treated as if they were royalty. She described this dream as
being vivid.
Five provers recorded having that they could not remember.
5.3.29. Fever
Five provers had a fever during the proving.
Provers 3, 6 and 8 had a fever which was
accompanied by a runny nose and a sore throat.
Prover 17 experienced a fever accompanied
by diarrhea.
5.3.29. Perspiration
Three provers recorded an increase in the
production of perspiration.
Prover 11 perspired mostly on her upper
lip and along her hairline as well as during the night.
5.3.30. Skin
Prover 1 noticed an improvement in skin
and felt that the eczema which she had in the past got betterand
her skin was brighter. Prover 11 had an eruption of
fine pimples on the left side of her face and said that her skin felt drier
than usual. The dryness of skin was pronounced on the scalp, around her lips
and cheeks. The skin in these areas had become so dry that they were flaking.
There was also an improvement in skin sensitivity toward the sun. Prover 23 experienced itchy skin after eating.
5.3.31. Generals
Three provers experienced general body aches
and pains.
Dehydration occurred in four provers.
Four provers said that they felt an increase
in energy levels, while three provers said that there
energy levels had decreased.
Nineteen provers experienced a feeling of
tiredness and exhaustion.
Provers craved a variety of food during
this proving. These include chocolate covered nuts, cold fizzy drinks, cheese,
potato chips, tomato-soup, ice cream, dark chocolate and popcorn.
Certain foods <.
Ice water caused coughing, cold drinks caused a runny nose, spicy food
caused a sensation of burning in the stomach. rich food caused diarrhoea and
potato, salad and pastry caused nausea.
A sensation of heat was felt. Six provers had
the sensation as if they had influenza.
A general feeling of restlessness occurred.. Four provers
said that they felt sick in general. Three provers
experienced physical weakness.
Prover 6 felt better for being in a moving
car. Prover 11 felt uncomfortable when she had her
usual hot water bath, and therefore had to bath using lukewarm or cold water
during the proving.
Lymphadenopathy of right occipital and superficial
cervical nodes occurred.
5.4. POST PROVING WORKSHOP
A post proving workshop was held after all journals had been collected
and analysed. The purpose of the seminar was to unblind
the proving, by informing participants whether they were on verum
or placebo.
A total of ten provers attended this workshop,
nine of which were on verum and one who was on
placebo. All participants on verum were given an
opportunity to voluntarily share their experiences,
while on the proving substance, with the rest of the group. Provers shared prominent symptoms that they had
experienced, which lead to a discussion on how numerous provers
experienced similar symptoms.
Following the discussion of symptoms, the researchers revealed the
nature of the proving substance to all participants.
The common themes that provers discussed
during the post proving workshop was as follows:
5.4.1. Change in sleeping patterns
Provers explained that they had experienced
insomnia at night and felt very sleepy during the day. Some provers
also noticed that they were sleeping longer hours.
5.4.2. Ache
Provers had experienced a dull,
pounding ache which was felt in the
vertex.
Some described the pain as shooting toward the vertex. The ache was said to be severe. One prover explained that she normally experienced aches, however after taking the proving
remedy, the ache had intensified
significantly.
5.4.3. Coughing
One prover shared how she had coughed
intensely immediately after taking the first dose of the proving substance. She
said that it was as if the remedy was too strong and had irritated her throat.
5.4.4. Hunger
A number of provers said that they had
experienced extreme hunger while under the influence of the proving remedy.
They described the hunger as being insatiable and constant.
5.4.5. Craving for meat
One prover shared that even though she is
vegetarian, during the proving she had a craving for red meat.
5.4.6. Heightened senses
Provers described how the felt as if their
senses were heightened and they felt more alert.
5.4.7. Change in emotional state
Provers shared how they felt out of
character during this proving. They explained how they felt, thought and
behaved in a manner that was very different from their norm.
5.4.8. Aggression
Provers experienced a violent aggression.
Some experienced thoughts of wanting to injure others by pushing them from the
roof of a tall building or a balcony. Some provers
had felt aggression toward their husband or boyfriend.
5.4.9. Authority, rebellion
Provers described having a problem with
authority figures. One prover explained how she was
even averse to recording in her journal when being prompted to by her research
supervisor.
5.4.10.
Anger
Numerous provers experienced violent anger
during this proving. In some instances the anger was causeless but mainly they
became very angry over slight offences.
One prover was very angry and lashed out at
her son, which was unusual for her.
5.4.11. Maternal instinct
Female provers desired to nurture a child. One
prover described how she felt a desperate longing to
be a mother.
5.4.12. Obsession
Provers described being obsessed with their
partners. They experienced clinginess which was out of character for them.
5.4.13. Jealousy, possessiveness
Provers experienced tremendous jealousy in
relationships. One prover explained how she became
upset whenever her boyfriend noticed another female and would often confront
him about it and ‘watched his every move.’
One prover shared how she would hold on to her
boyfriend whenever she noticed another female looking at him.
5.5. COMPARISON OF SYMPTOMS WITH LION ETHOLOGY
In this section, a comparison will be made between the themes of
symptoms (discussed above) and the behaviour of the lion. Each theme
corresponding to lion ethology will be discussed
separately.
5.5.1. Alert
One prover wrote about feeling extremely alert
at night while driving, even in rainy weather. During the post proving seminar,
numerous provers said that they had experienced
‘heightened senses’.
This can be related to the lion, who is known for their excellent night
vision. Since most hunting is done at night, lions are particularly alert in
the dark in order to capture prey, relying heavily on all their senses in order
to locate, stalk and kill their prey. Adult lions and lionesses are also
naturally alert at all times, in order to sense danger and to protect the cubs
within a pride (Skinner et al., 1990; Taylor et al. 2000).
5.5.2. Anger
Nine provers experienced anger which was
mostly directed at other people.
Some provers experienced anger with a desire
to be violent, and used words such as strangle, kill, beat and injure in order
to describe this. Other provers said that they had a
short temper and would become angry very quickly.
This can be related to lions, whose lives are filled with very violent
encounters. A lion will immediately go into a violent rage when danger or an
attack is suspected. Lions are particularly violent and aggressive during
hunting, which is usually done in groups. The lions select their prey and then
the group positions themselves strategically leaving no way of escape. The
preferred method of killing their prey is asphyxiation. They accomplish this by
working as a team. One lion pounces onto the back of their victim trying to
sever the spinal cord, one lion clenches the windpipe of their victim between
their teeth until their opponent suffocates and the other lions will claw and
pierce the limbs of the victim in order to immobilise them (Skinner et al., 1990;
Taylor et al., 2000).
Prover 8 described how she imagined
putting her hands around someone’s neck and squeezing until they stopped
breathing. Lions will also displace another animal from their prey by attacking
them, in order to acquire a meal. The violent technique utilised by lions when
hunting often results in major injury of one or more lions, sometimes causing
the death of that lion. Lions are also very aggressive during feeding. The
adult males are given first preference to feed, regardless of whether they made
the kill. These males will attack anyone, including members of his pride, if
they tried to approach the kill (Skinner et al., 1990; Kalimuthu,
2010).
Male lions are also particularly violent during a coalition take over.
This is when nomadic males fight another male for possession of his pride.
These encounters are
brutal, often resulting in the death of one of the combatants (Kalimuthu, 2010).
If a lion senses a coalition in their territory they will roar as a sign
of warning in order to drive the coalition away from their pride (Skinner et
al., 1990).
“The lion hath roared, who will not fear” – Amos 3:8, (Holy Bible, King James Version,
2012).
Three provers wrote of how they were very
angry with their husbands, specifically because their husbands did not do
enough for them. One prover was angry at her husband
because she had to do the household chores.
This can be related to lions and the social organisation of lions.
Females form the nucleus of the pride, taking care of the cubs and doing most
of the hunting. After the female acquires prey, the males are given first
preference to feed even though the females do the hard work of stalking,
attacking and killing the prey (Taylor et al., 2000/Skinner et al., 1990).
5.5.3. Audacity
Four provers displayed audacity. Provers 2 and 23 were bold and courageous with regard to
expressing themselves and provers 10 and 11 were rude
to others. This can be related to lions, who are known as ‘King of the beasts’.
The lion appears is a recurring symbol used in the coat of arms of bravery and
chivalry (Kalimuthu, 2010). Lions are at the top of
the food chain, and have no natural predators, making them therefore fearless
(Skinner et al., 1990). Lions usually hunt medium to large animals, weighing 50
- 300kgs. They also often take prey much larger than themselves, such as
buffalo, hippo, rhinoceros, elephant and giraffe.
Lions also chase other predators off kills, which they then claim for
themselves (Taylor et al., 2000; Kalimuthu, 2010).
“The lion, king of animals, who won’t turn aside for anything.” –
Proverbs 30:30, (Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 2010).
5.5.4. Ennui
Five provers expressed a desire for change and
said that their everyday routine had become boring. The activities of a lion
include hunting, feeding and sleeping. Even then, they are usually only active
at night and spend the day laying down. Further, females remain with their
pride for life, as opposed to young males who leave the pride in search of a
pride of their own (Apps, 1992/Taylor et al., 2000).
5.5.5. Children
Two provers desired to nurture children in a
motherly form. This can be related to lionesses who are responsible for taking
care of and raising the cubs within a pride. Females within a pride usually
give birth in sync, making it possible for suckling cubs to feed from any adult
female in their pride (Skinner et al., 1990/Taylor et al., 2000).
Adult lions also become irritated with cubs who don’t let them sleep
during the day and usually roar softly as if to reprimand the cubs (Taylor et
al., 2000). Provers 8 and 23 experienced anger
directed children who were being noisy.
5.5.6. Company
Lions are the most social of all big cats, and live in close net prides.
There is no communication between prides, as lions will only associate with
their own relatives (Skinner et al., 1990).
Provers 22 and 28 were ameliorated by the
company of close friends and family while provers 6
and 30 desired the company of close relatives only. Even though they are highly
social, adult males and sometimes females will distance themselves from their
pride for a while when they desire solitude. Males will remain close enough to
see the pride and protect them but will become agitated when disturbed. Females
also sometimes prefer to go out alone at night in order to hunt (Skinner et
al., 1990). Five provers desired solitude (02 M, 06
F, 10 F, 23 F, 30 F).
5.5.7. Responsibilities
Prover 28 said that she felt as if she had
too many responsibilities. This relates to adult female lionesses who are
responsible for looking after the pride.
There is a matriarch in every pride, who takes the lead during hunting
and is responsible for teaching the older cubs how to hunt and feed. During a
coalition take over, the lionesses rely on the matriarch to protect suckling
cubs from infanticide.
This dominant female is usually the oldest, strongest and most fierce of
the all the lionesses and will challenge an adult male who threatens the cubs.
Interestingly, it has been observed that the cubs of the matriarch are usually the
ones who grow up to be the dominant members of the pride, i.e. the females
become matriarchs of their pride and the males take over other prides (Skinner
et al., 1990/Taylor et al., 2000/Kalimuthu, 2000).
Provers 28 and 30 also felt that others did
not appreciate their hard work.
5.5.8. Appetite
Ten provers said that they had an increased
appetite. This appetite was constant and insatiable. This relates to lions, who
will eat whenever food is available. If food is readily available, a lion can
eat up to 5kgs in a single serving. At a large kill, the dominant male lion
will feed first, followed by the females and then the cubs. These mammals use
their sharp teeth to tear meat of the prey. Lions will gorge themselves until
they are almost immobile. During feeding, lions are very aggressive and
territorial, and will not tolerate another pride member trying to share their
portion of meat (Skinner et al. 1990/Apps, 1992).
During the post proving seminar, one prover,
who is a vegetarian, said that during the proving she had a craving for red
meat. This relates to lions, who are solely carnivorous (Skinner et al. 1990).
5.5.9. Thirst
Eight provers experienced thirstiness during
this proving.
This relate to lions who drink water throughout the day. For this reason
they prefer to live near rivers or in areas where there is adequate water
supply (Skinner et al., 1990).
5.5.10. Sleep
Eight provers experienced insomnia at night,
and eight provers felt sleepy during the daytime.
Five provers took short naps during the
daytime.
This relates to lions, who show their full behavioural repertoire at
night. 89% of kills are made at night, as lions have excellent night vision
which other animals lack and therefore cannot see as lions stalk them.
Another reason for hunting in the cool of night is that lions become
heated very quickly, and are therefore able to be more active when the
temperature is lower. This is also one of the reasons that lions sleep during
the heat of the day under large trees which provides shade. Lions are also
especially alert at night, so that they can sense danger or nomadic males who
may roam in search of a vulnerable pride (Apps, 1992/Skinner et al., 1990/
Taylor et al., 2000).
“I had seen the royal lion, before sunrise, below a waning moon,
crossing the grey plain on his way home from the kill, drawing a wake in the
silvery grass, his face still red up to the ears”, (Dinesen, 1954).
5.5.11.
Prover 30 had a vivid dream in which a
classmate was being treated like royalty. This relates to the cultural
depiction of the lion, also known as king of the beasts.
Lions have always been associated with royalty, courage, bravery
(Herrick, 1998). Lions have also become a recurring symbol on the coat of arms
of bravery and chivalry (Kalimuthu, 2010).
5.6. POSSIBLE CLINICAL INDICATIONS OF PANTHERA LEO
Based on the analysis of the symptoms retrieved from the proving of Panthera leo 30CH, through
application of the Law of similars, this remedy may
be indicated for the following clinical conditions:
Anger, aggression and irritability
Catarrh
Poor concentration
Constipation
Depression
Diarrhoea
Diminished appetite
Disturbed/ interrupted sleep and
insomnia
Fatigue
Fear
Aches, especially frontal aches which begin in the afternoon
Increased appetite
Sore throat
Thirstiness