Abstract
M.Tech.
Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) is the standard measure of cardiorespiratory endurance (the combined function of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems), which is related to the ability to perform high-intensity exercise for prolonged periods (De Vries & Housh, 1994; American College of Sports Medicine [ACSM], 2006). Furthermore, VO2max is sometimes used as an indicator of the efficacy of medicine on diseases involving the cardiorespiratory system (Moloney, Clayton, Mukherjee, Gallagher & Egan, 2003; Ram, Jardin, Atallah, Castro, Mazzini, Goldstein, Lacasse & Cendon, 2005).
Erythroxylum coca is used in crude and homoeopathic form by mountaineers and participants in endurance sports to improve their performance (Farrington, 2002; Lilley, 2008). Moreover, since endurance sports and mountaineering depend largely on cardiorespiratory function (Åstrand, Rodal, Dahl & Strømme, 2003), this known use of Erythroxylum coca is possibly due to its effects on the cardiorespiratory system.
The aim of this study was to investigate further the efficacy of the homoeopathic simplex Erythroxylum coca 200 CH in improving oxygen (O2) consumption during submaximal cycling, with exercise heart rate (HR) and exercise rating of perceived exertion (RPE) being the key parameters measured (ACSM, 2006).
The study was conducted at the University of Johannesburg’s Kingsway Campus in the Metabolic Laboratory (Appendix A). It was a double-blind, placebo-controlled study consisting of thirty-two participants, who were randomly divided into an experimental group (Group E) that received treatment; and a control group (Group C) that received placebos. This study formed part of another study (Ramsay, 2009) that followed the same procedures, assessing a different homoeopathic simplex, namely, Arsenicum album 200 CH. The two studies shared the placebo group. Participants were recruited from the general population and all the necessary precautions were taken to ensure their safety during the study (Åstrand et al., 2003).
In view of the fact that exercise HR was the only direct and objective measurement, the main finding of the study was the significant decrease in exercise HR over time in Group E. There was a significant decrease in exercise HR and exercise RPE for Group E at
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post baseline tests, which indicated that Erythroxylum coca 200 CH was more effective than the placebo in reducing exercise HR and exercise RPE over the four days of study. For the interpretation of exercise HR and exercise RPE, the linear relationship between VO2 (volume of oxygen uptake) and exercise HR at submaximal workloads (McConnell, 2001) and the close relation of RPE to exercise HR and VO2 (Åstrand et al., 2003; Heyward, 1998; Robertson, 2004) must be taken into consideration. This opens up the possibility that the decrease in exercise HR and exercise RPE in Group E might be attributed to the ability of Erythroxylum coca 200 CH to increase O2 consumption during submaximal cycling.
Although the results from the indirect VO2 and VO2max determinations demonstrated insignificant changes over time in Group E, it does not prove that Erythroxylum coca 200 CH did not increase O2 consumption during submaximal cycling, since the author did not measure the O2 consumption directly (using gas analysis).
Furthermore, it is also concluded that the administration of Erythroxylum coca 200 CH reduces exercise HR by having both acute effects (T1 – administration five minutes prior test) and short- to medium-term effects (T2 – medicine was taken for seven days).
In conclusion, the observed ability of Erythroxylum coca 200 CH to reduce exercise HR and exercise RPE during submaximal cycling may increase the quality of life of patients with cardiovascular disease. Patients who struggle to exercise because they get tired too easily may be able to start exercising, and secondly it might allow those who are able to exercise, to exercise for longer periods, which brings with it the multiple health benefits of exercise (Holly & Shaffrath, 2001; ACSM, 2006).