Research: What is a Proving?

Provings are the method that homeopaths utilize to conduct research on new homeopathic medicines. This method was first established by Samuel Hahnemann in 1790. Provings also represent a method for us to better understand the natural world. 
   

How are Provings Conducted
   

Each of the provings conducted utilized between 15 to 23 provers (average 19 provers). Provers were from 18-65 years of age and in good health. Two thirds of our provers were female. 
   
Each prover was assigned a proving supervisor who interviewed them prior to the onset of the proving to obtain a baseline case. This prover then attended a introductory meeting with their fellow provers prior to the start of the proving to go over basic policies and procedures and to obtain informed consent. 
   
Each prover took a single dosage of 30C of the assigned homeopathic medicine at bedtime. If they exhibited any symptoms in the next 24 hours they then received no further homeopathic medicine. If they had no symptoms, then they repeated the homeopathic medicine 24 hours later. Each prover received a maximum of three doses of the 30C potency. A dosage consisted of 10-12 pellets of the chosen homeopathic medicine. 
   
Each prover recorded daily in their homeopathic journal over the course of the proving. Their supervisors had regular contact with them until proving symptoms resolved. Each supervisor kept a separate supervisors journal which was handed in at the end of the proving. Each prover was followed for a six month period or until their proving symptoms completely resolved. 
  

Blinding
   

Each of the provings conducted were triple blinded. The provers,proving supervisors, proving administrator, proving coordinator and proving director all were unaware of the remedy being proven. 
   
Homeopathic medicines were selected by a proving committee. It keeps a blinded pool of 12 substances that are randomly selected from for each proving. 
   
We do not only conduct provings on desert homeopathic medicines. Other provings have included Oxalis acetocella (Wood Sorrel), Urolophus halleri (Sting Ray Venom) and Alligator mississippiensis (American Alligator). 
  

Placebo Controlled
   

There is controversy in homeopathic research concerning the usage of placebo in homeopathic provings. The vast majority of homeopathic provings to date have not utilized placebo (including all of Hahnemann’s work). There is also literature suggesting that the usage of placebo may not be necessary. 
   
The first two desert provings that we conducted were placebo controlled (Heloderma suspectum and Carnegiea gigantea). We found that those provers who received placebo developed identical symptoms to those who received active substance. Based on this experience as well as that of many other experts in proving research around the world, we abandoned the usage of placebo in our provings after 1999.