The efficacy of Sepia® in the management of climateric symptoms

M.Tech.The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the homoeopathic complex remedy, Sepia® from Natura (Pty) Ltd. in South Africa, in alleviating climacteric symptoms in climacteric women as compared with a placebo remedy. Volunteers were recruited using flyers and posters placed at the Technikon Witwatersrand Clinic, and at pharmacies and health shops within the central Johannesburg area. Newspaper advertisements were placed in local newspapers advertising free homoeopathic treatment for climacteric symptoms by taking part in a research project. A sample size of forty subjects was chosen according to the delimitations of the study. A signed consent form was compulsory for participation in the study. The study was a two group experimental design consisting of an experimental group, who were administered Sepia®, and a control group, who were administered a placebo preparation. The study was conducted in a double-blind manner. The subjects were given sufficient medication to last for the duration of the study and were given instructions on how and when to take the medication, and how to store it. The duration of the study was eight consecutive weeks (two consecutive months). At the end of the treatment period there were fifteen subjects in the treatment group, and fourteen subjects in the placebo group During the treatment period the participants were required to fill out a Climacteric Symptom Questionnaire on a weekly basis and a Hot Flush Score Sheet on a daily basis. All the daily Hot Flush Score Sheets and weekly Climacteric Symptom Questionnaires were completed by each participant. They were collected after the eight week treatment period and subjects ceased taking the medicatio