| Summary: | Onychocryptosis (ingrown nails) is the most common of pedal foot maladies seen by podiatrists (Armstrong et al., 2000) and makes up 3-5% of all foot problems. This condition is characterized by the nail plate growing into and cutting the lateral nail fold. Symptoms include erythema (redness) of the lateral nail fold, oedema (swelling) of the lateral nail fold and tenderness to pressure (Zuber, 2002). Within the Materia Medica, the homoeopathic remedy Magnetis Polus Australis is indicated for the treatment of the symptom of “ingrowing toenail” (Vermeulen, 1997). Although used for nearly 200 years, no research has been conducted to verify this claim. The study aimed at determining whether Magnetis Polus Australis in the 7th and 30th centesimal potencies is effective in treating the symptoms of onychocryptosis of the hallux such as pain, tenderness to pressure, oedema and erythema. The study, a double-blind placebo study, involved thirty participants. The placebo group included ten participants and the experimental group included twenty participants, ten of which received the 7CH and the other ten received the 30CH. Each group took the homoeopathic or placebo medication orally twice daily for a period of three weeks. The participants were followed-up with an assessment questionnaire every two weeks for a one month period. At the end of the research period these questionnaires with the data were collected and statistically analyzed using chi-squared tests. The study indicated that Magnetis Polus Australis has a positive effect in the treatment of onychocryptosis of the hallux and has demonstrated effectiveness in reducing inflammation associated with it. Overall the 30th centesimal potency shows the highest percentage of improvement in the symptoms of onychocryptosis, though the percentages between the two experimental groups were very close. Further research using a larger research sample group is required to confirm these initial findings. === Dr. E.M. Solomon Mr. B. Zipfel
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