A proving of Turkey Vulture

Each prover was instructed to take a single daily dosage for a maximum of three days but to stop after any symptoms became apparent. Participants journaled their symptoms over the space of the next month. The specimen was obtained from a fresh automobile road-kill in Northern Arizona. A trituration from the turkey vulture primary tail feather was made to a 3C potency and then hand succussed to a 30C potency. The remedy is now available from the Hahnemann pharmacy.

The proving was a double blind test: neither the provers nor the supervisors knew what the remedy was until after the proving. At the end of the month, provers participated in a videotaped exit meeting and the participant's written journals were reviewed separately. Any participants who had residual symptoms or improvement following the one-month interval were followed subsequently until the symptoms resolved.

A strong central feeling that arose in the proving stemmed around the idea of Catharsis. One prover described it as a "little exorcism going on inside." The Latin name for Vulture is Cathartes. The vulture is a scavenger, one who gets rid of dead, old material. Foraging for food and rummaging through old things were recurrent themes. Much of this had to do with finding or leaving old food lying around; images typical of scavenger animals. Six of the provers described the cathartic cleaning followed by images of cleanliness. For example, many provers cleaned out a lot of their old unneeded possessions during the proving. One prover noted "I am having dreams of dirty going to clean." These themes seem to be common to other scavenger birds. Twelve of the eighteen provers described catharsis followed by feelings of calmness and peace. A number of individuals pursued meditation or yoga, which they either had never done or not done for years. Spirituality (not religion) is a theme of bird remedies.

Animal images and themes came through quite strongly in the proving (13 out of 18 provers). Dogs (9 provers) and birds (7 provers) were the strongest, while four of the provers had dreams associated with snakes. Some of the animals played the role of guardian. For example, one prover described a feeling of protection throughout the proving by her dog that she had felt before. The maternal animal side came through strongly in images of guardianship and care taking (11 out of 18 provers). In addition to animals serving as guardians, images of taking care of animals were reported. Anxiety about who would play the role of caretaker was also an issue. The aggressive animal side came out in the form of warning followed by biting. For example, "I was warned and then bit by a rattlesnake on my little finger."

Communication and messages were another theme found in the proving. Much of the communication was associated with frustration or feeling blocked in efforts at communication. It is interesting to note that the bird is voiceless. Many provers described frustrating dreams where they were unable to complete tasks. Also there were feelings of threat, irritation, frustration and harassment. Finally, a theme of going back for something that one has forgotten came up frequently. The vulture when it identifies carrion, often does not approach at that time but returns to feed with its community on the following day.

Another theme was the idea of getting away with something. The provers often felt that rules did not apply to them or that rules could be broken. Much of this focuses on the feelings of underground, secret operations. These themes were prominent in the Raven proving as well.

Prominent physical symptoms include draining sebaceous cysts, draining felons, pustular acne, pus pockets on the tonsils and bearing down sensations in the uterus. Commonly affected areas were the throat and head. One prover developed tonsillitis with abscess and her physician said that she had the worst case he had ever seen and nine of the eighteen provers developed sore throats. There was also a tendency towards acne (seven provers). Headaches also were prominent, particularly behind the eyes. Back pain was fairly common, although aching in nature and fairly nondescript.

There was a general tendency towards chilliness, although three provers noted hot flushes. There was a general tendency towards left-sided symptoms.

Hair was a recurring theme in the proving as it is for the vulture. Vultures by necessity become bald to prevent infection.

Itching was another strong theme. Five of the provers noted a strong feeling of formification or bugs crawling on their lower extremities at night. Lice reportedly can be a problem for these birds.

There were no strong food cravings.

Colors that came through most commonly in the proving were red, white, black, green and brown. Red and white were the most prominent. Vultures typically have red beaks and white feet related to urea deposits. Their typical markings are black and brown.