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Symptoms in the language of the prover are organized in the traditional homeopathic format (as found in Boericke) and selected according the following criteria:
• A symptom has unique characteristics for that patient, such as: modalities, concomitants,
timing of the symptom, localization, unique descriptions of a symptom, intensity of the
symptom for that patient.
• A symptom is new or has not been experienced in the past 12 months.
• A symptom occurred less than one hour after taking the remedy at least twice.
• A symptom experienced when the proving started, but now gone, is a cured symptom.
• A symptom was experienced in more than one prover.

Proving protocol

Clinical trial design
Homeopathic drug provings are similar to Phase I clinical trials outlined in the Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) and the European Community (EC) guidelines for clinical research.
Clinical investigators
Proving Director – David Riley, M.D.
Proving Supervisors – Ann Seipt, N.D. , Aimee Zagon, P.A. -C.
Proving Coordinator – Helga Sager, Olivia Mason, R.P. T., M.S.
Administrative asst. – Lorraine Urioste
Methodology
Data collection – Diary/journal format
Study Design – Single group
Method of Blinding – Single-blind
Controls – Intra-individual controls and placebo controls
Medication
The medication used in this homeopathic drug proving was prepared by Simile GmbH, as globules in a 12C potency (concentration 1 X 10-24).

Subject population
There were 20 subjects; 17 women and 3 men ranging in age from 20 to 51 years. There were 3 dropouts from this homeopathic drug proving. Two provers did not return to complete the project. One prover had a family emergency that caused her to withdraw.
Subject Inclusion Criteria – each subject:
• was in a general state of good health for that person according to the proving director/supervisor and the subject. A history and physical was recorded.
• agreed in advance to comply with instructions for keeping a journal. The subject observed and described symptoms experienced from taking a homeopathic medication.
• did not engage in any elective medical treatments (such as surgery or dental procedures) for the duration of the homeopathic drug proving.
• did not undergo any major life changes (moving, getting married or divorced, etc.) and continued the usual habits and patterns of daily life.
• was over the age of 18, competent, and signed the informed consent.
Subject Exclusion Criteria – no subject:
• was in ongoing medical treatment during the homeopathic drug proving,
• had surgery within the past 6 weeks,
• was on prescription medication,
• had taken birth control pills in the past 6 months,
• was pregnant or nursing,
• failed to complete the journal as instructed,
• was under the age of 18 or lacking complete competence.

General drug proving outline
This homeopathic drug proving was conducted between April and July 1996. Subjects were recruited by advertisement. All potential subjects attended at least two training sessions, one group session and one individual session, each of which lasted at least one and one-half hours, prior to being accepted into the homeopathic drug proving. Persons were included or excluded according to the criteria listed above in the subject inclusion/exclusion section. A routine evaluation was performed on all persons selected for the homeopathic drug proving. All potential subjects met with the principal investigators for general education about homeopathy and training regarding journal recording during a homeopathic drug proving. Each subject was given a copy of a previously conducted proving to assist him/her in understanding the format of a homeopathic drug proving. All subjects signed an informed consent.
This classical homeopathic drug proving lasted 10 weeks per subject. There was a two week pre-proving observation period to establish the baseline rhythm and symptom picture for each subject. This is a single-case study control, comparing symptoms noted during the pre-proving observation period with those experienced during the placebo run-in phase and with those noted after taking the homeopathic medication.
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Medication administration
The homeopathic medication was administered two weeks apart in an identical fashion. The first administration of the medication was a placebo run-in period. The medication was administered 3 times daily (2 globules sublingually) until the subject developed symptoms or for seven days. The medication was allowed to dissolve under the tongue and food was not eaten for 15 minutes prior to or after taking the medication. Subjects stopped taking the medication if no symptoms occurred after 7 days. They continued keeping their journal throughout this phase of the clinical trial. Each subject reported any potential symptoms to the proving director or supervisors as soon as possible. After two weeks the subjects were given a second medication administered in an identical fashion.

Symptom collection and evaluation
Subjects noted in their journals the symptoms associated with the administration of the homeopathic medication for five weeks following the initial medication dose. The symptoms experienced after the administration of the medication were compared with symptoms noted during the placebo run-in phase and were evaluated according to the criteria listed at the beginning of the article. All symptoms from the placebo run-in period were eliminated for all subjects. Placebo symptoms are included in the final report and denoted by the letter “P”. All subjects completed an exit interview where each symptom experienced was reviewed once again for additional clarification. All symptoms were reviewed by all of the proving supervisors and the proving director. There were no adverse effects noted at the time of the exit interview or during the post-proving observation period.

Symptoms
The essential characteristic of anthraquinone elicited in this proving had a significant effect on the female provers. Symptoms focused on the psycho-sexual sphere. There was a feeling of increased self confidence and optimism. Also irritability towards family members, and increased sexual desire.
Mind
Difficult concentration during conversation. FEELING MORE SELF CONFIDENT. Timid to appear in public. Discontented. Dreams that continue after returning to sleep. IRRITABILITY to family or over trifles. Mistakes in speaking or in writing the wrong word. OPTIMISTIC. Sadness with weeping and pitying herself. Sensitive to sad stories and sadness. Rapid thoughts. Anxiety about the future or when dancing. Fear of being injured or looked at.
Generalities
ENERGY INCREASED. Food desires of ice cream, meat. sweets or with salt, yogurt. Aversion to sweets. FATIGUE. Weakness or pain in joints and muscles.
vertigo
Pitching forward on rising with sensation of floating. amel. after eating.
Head
Noises in head when falling asleep. HEAD PAIN on waking. Throbbing in forehead behind the eyes or in the temples. Sharp prickling on forehead. Decrease in number of headaches.
Ear
Painful pimple behind ear. Sharp ear pain in right ear.
Nose
Obstruction. Bland green discharge only when blowing the nose.
Mouth
Aphthae on tip of tongue. Swelling of upper and lower gums that is sensitive.
Face
Eruptions on the chin that is a red rash on chin or pustules.
Throat
Dryness. Burning pain.
Stomach
Appetite diminished. Pain from flatulence. Shooting pains from gas. Nausea.
Abdomen
DISTENTION before menses or from gas. Heaviness in abdomen before menses. Cramping pain with diarrhea or from gas. Cutting pain before stool. DISTENTION at the umbilicus or on waking or if menses would begin. Flatulence.. Heaviness. Sore pain in the iliac.
Rectum
CONSTIPATION that is painful or from incomplete evacuation, with ineffectual urging or with straining. DIARRHEA that is sudden, painful, or amel. lying down. Sense of fullness. PAIN before, during or long after stool. Cutting, burning, or tearing pain during stool Ineffectual urge. Pressing sensation as if diarrhea would happen. Flatus in evening.
Stool
Hard formed balls. Loose, Watery. Frequent. Elimination without tearing pain, bleeding, straining. or pain after stool. [Cured.]
Bladder
Frequent urination especially at night.
Genitalia, female
Menses with bright red, copious bleeding and large clots like chunks of liver. Menses either frequent or intermittent or scanty. Cutting, stitching, or lancinating pain in vagina that are fleeting. SEXUAL DESIRE INCREASED. Feel more feminine and sexual. Herpetic eruptions on labia.
Expectoration
Phlegm with thick, greenish, and bad taste is diminishing. [Cured.}
Respiration
Difficult inspiration.
Chest
Tightness in chest and throat.
Back
Eruptions of herpes zoster. Back pain from constipation. Soreness of the lumbars.
Extremities
Cramps in calf. Swelling of right knee or legs. Trembling of arms, hands, and fingers. Weakness of forearm, hands, fingers, or left leg. Aching pain in joints or calf. Sore pain in knee, calf, or upper arm. Contraction of leg. Cramp in left hip and thigh.
Skin
Dry and itching on neck and upper shoulders.

Collected Provings – RILEY D