Nosodes in Homoeopathy

Nosodes in Homoeopathy

The Development of Nosodes

The advent of Hahnemann's theory of the miasms caused great interest
in the chronic diseases and their anti-miasmatic remedies. One of the
direct consequences of the publication of The Chronic Diseases was the
development of the use of miasmic organisms as potentized homoeopathic
remedies. The earliest experiments with nosodes were carried out by
Constantine Hering while he was in Surinam, Guiana, South America
between 1827 and 1833. In the five years Hering spent studying plant
and animal species, he paid special attention to the virulent snake
and spider poisons as well as miasmic substances. This was the time
period when Hering captured the Bush Master snake that supplied the
first venom for the proving of Lachesis. In 1832 Hering said:

"During the experiments on the serpent poison, I have given out the
idea that the hydrophobic virus should be a powerful pathological
agent. I presented the same hypotheses regarding the virus of variola
[small pox]. I expect no less as regards the psoric virus, and I
invited my colleagues to make provings."

It seems that shortly after Hahnemann published his chronic disease
theory, Hering performed the first proving of Psorinum on himself.
Hering originated the method of using a miasmic agent as a basis for a
remedy and it was he who coined the term "nosode". The Greek word Noso
is a prefix which is added to give the idea of a disease indicating
its morbid root. This term is also connected with the Latin word
"noxa", the root of the term noxious or damaged. This implies the use
of potentially dangerous noxious materials as a basis for a potentized
remedy.

Hering is responsible for greatly expanding the materia medica of
homeopathy and adding seven (7) new categories of potentized
remedies*. At the same time, he was one of the true defenders of the
four cardinal rules of Homoeopathy: similars cure similars, the single
remedy, the minimal dose and the potentized remedy. Hering's 7 uses of
idem in Homoeopathy include:

1. The use of poisons taken from insects, snakes, and other venomous
creatures (Animal poisons).

2. The use of remedies made from miasmas (Nosodes).

3. The introduction of potentized miasmas and morbid secretions taken
directly from the patient's body (Auto-nosodes).

4. The use of homologous organs, tissue and secretions (Sarcodes).

5. The use of potentized miasmic products as nosodes for the
prevention of infectious diseases (Nosode prophylaxis).

6. The use of chemical and nutritional elements innate to the human
organism (Chemical and elemental relationships).

7. The use of potentized genus groups as curative and preventative
remedies for individuals, groups, and habitats. Hering suggests
potentized seed of weeds or dangerous plants to eradicate and destroy
those plants and potentized insects or animals to remove and prevent
infestations of dangerous species (Isodes).

*Lectures on the Theory & Practice of Homoeopathy, R.E. Dudgeon, BJain
Publishers (P) Ltd, Lecture VI, Isopathy, pages 141-175.

Hering continued to experiment with nosodes of acute and chronic
miasms and invited others to conduct provings. He recommended the use
of potentized watery excrements of cholera, the black vomit of yellow
fever, the desquamated skin of malignant scarlet fever, to bind bags
of milk sugar in contact with the skin of typhus patients, the use of
leucorrhoeal matter, etc., as well as psorine (Psorinum) gleet-matter
(Medorrhinum), pthisine (Tuberculinum) and syphiline (Syphilinum).
Many ancient isopathic remedies were introduced into the Homoeopathic
Materia Medica by dedicated homoeopaths of the 19th century.
Constantine Hering, W. Gross, Wilhelm Lux, Father Collet, Swan and
Burnett immediately come to mind.

After Hering's introduction of the nosodes, Johann Joseph Wilhelm Lux,
a well known homoeopathic veterinarian, began to conduct experiments
with the isopathic use of disease materials in potencies. In December,
1831, Lux was asked if he knew any homoeopathic remedies for the
treatment of bovine plague and anthrax. Lux replied that he could not
suggest any remedies off hand but he offered the following suggestion.
He told the person to take a drop of blood of an animal infected with
anthrax, and a drop of the nasal mucous of a cow with the plague, and
prepare a 30c potency of the material. During the epidemic in 1832
many veterinarians relied on the complementary use of the nosodes and
standard remedies to treat the animals under their care.

On December 24, 1835, Jolly of Constantinople reported to Hahnemann
that Russian doctors had cured a number of cases of bubonic plague
with a 30c nosode prepared from the serous exudation of plague buboes.
Hahnemann was interested in the new nosode movement on the basis of
these clinical experiences but he was concerned because most of these
nosodes were not being proved. So in this way the revolutionary ideas
contained within the 1828 edition of The Chronic Diseases changed the
way people thought about contagious disease and stimulated the
integration of nosodes into the homoeopathic pharmacopoeia.

Aqualia Aqualibus Curentur

All of this was going quite well until Lux decided that the healing
law was not "similars cure similars" but "same cures same". With this
in mind he declared that "idem" not "similars" was the key to the
healing arts and coined the term "Aqualia Aqualibus Curentur" in place
of "Similia Similibus Curentur". This, of course, was exactly what
Samuel Hahnemann was afraid would happen so he became quite defensive
of Homoeopathy and critical of crude isopathy. Even before Lux's
statements upset the climate of the research into the nosodes,
Hahnemann felt that Psorinum should be proven more completely before
being included in the materia medica section of The Chronic Diseases.
In Hahnemann's mind the idea of using unproved disease substances on
patients just because they suffered from the same contagion was far
too limited.

Hahnemann felt that the isopathy of Lux was in truth only part of a
greater homeopathic principle because all the remedies were potentized
to at least the 30c dynamization. If it was potentized energy how
could one call it the same thing as the original diseased substance?
Hahnemann thought that under these conditions:

"....it would not remain idem (the same) as it could only be useful to
him in a potentized state, since crude itch substance which he had
already in his body as an idem is without effect on him. But the
dynamization or potentizing changes it and modifies it".

In the light of Hahnemann's logic the use of the miasmic material
without potentization was crude isopathy, and as Lux himself was using
homoeopathic potencies, his treatment was still within the realm of
Homoeopathy. Vide The Chronic Diseases, the chapter called "The
Medicines".

"Thus potentized and modified also, the itch substance (psorin) when
taken is no more an idem (the same) with the crude original itch
substance, but only a simillimum (thing most similar). For between
IDEM and SIMILLIMUM there is no intermediate for any one that can
think; or in other words between idem and simile only simillimum can
be intermediate. Isopathic and aequale are equivocal expressions,
which if they should signify anything reliable can only signify
simillimum because they are not idem."

The major difference between isopathy and Homoeopathy is that a
homoeopathic remedy is proven and based on symptoms brought out in
patients so it has a much wider application because its symptomatic
picture is much more expanded. The simple isopathic prescription can
only be used for the same condition it causes. If the miasmic
substance is not potentized, or transmuted in some way, it is often an
extremely dangerous method. The modern vaccines have more in common
with crude isopathy than Homoeopathy because they are unpotentized.
This limits their usage to the treatment and prevention of one single
disease condition. On the contrary, a homoeopathic nosode has been
proven so it can be used as part of the greater materia medica. This
allows it to be prescribed more accurately as well as to be applied in
many different situations.

The first generation of homeopaths who introduced the use of the
nosodes were Hahnemann, Hering, Lux, Gross, and Stapf. Hering gathered
a tremendous amount of first hand experience in proving and using
nosodes and applying idem remedies to acute and chronic diseases in
the field. Hering introduced all these new remedies yet he clearly
pointed out their limitations when used by idem. All these idem
preparations cannot be regarded as absolute specifics, but only as
chronic intercurrent remedies, which serve to stir up the diseases,
and render the reaction to the subsequently administered homoeopathic
remedy more permanent.

In 1836 Hering stated that:

HE NEVER SUCCEEDED IN CURING BUT ONLY AMELIORATING DISEASES WITH THEIR
OWN MORBID PRODUCTS.

This statement was made after 7 years of rigorous clinical trials. He
gave a perfect example of the proper use of idem in a case of
suppressed syphilis which would not respond to antisyphilitic remedies
like Mercury so he used Syphiline (his syphilinum) as an intercurrent.
This brought out the cutaneous eruption and chancre which was then
perfectly cured by Mercury followed by Lachesis. He had many similar
cases. Without constitutional treatment it is impossible to perform
the perfect cure.

The nosodes are only curative by themselves when they are administered
by the totality of the symptoms. Then they are the constitutional
simillimum.

IF DISEASE PRODUCING PRODUCTS ARE ADMINISTERED BY IDEM THEY ARE ONLY
USEFUL AS INTERCURRENT REMEDIES WHICH HELP TO REMOVE OBSTACLES TO CURE
AND MOVE THE CASE FORWARD. Their remedial actions must be complemented
by constitutional remedies if a complete cure is going to take place.
THIS IS THE PROPER USE OF IDEM REMEDIES WITHIN COMPLETE CONSTITUTIONAL
CASE MANAGEMENT.

The Homoeopathic Uses of the Nosodes

When a nosode is administered by the totality of the symptoms it is a
constitutional simillimum just like the mineral, plant and animal
remedies. The nosodes belong to a genus of primitive miasms which are
the first life forms on our planet and symbiotically related to the
development of the first plant algae. Viruses, bacteria and fungi are
ancient genus groups and some produce disease in human beings. The
minerals are the first remedies on the developmental chain followed by
the miasms, fungi, lichens, fern allies, ferns, gymnosperms,
dicotyledons and monocotyledons, and finally, the animal remedies. The
nosode genus group has a very special place in Classical Homoeopathy.

Hahnemann wanted the nosodes to be well proven before they are entered
in the materia medica. He was quite concerned that Homoeopathy might
become mixed with isopathy which gives remedies solely by causation.
Swam, who is given credit for introducing contemporary Medorrhinum and
Syphilinum, was asked if it was correct to use unproven nosodes. He
replied that 100's of years of suffering these genus diseases, and
their complications, provided a "natural proving".

This rather controversial answer does have some merit. It is obvious,
however, that the most characteristic indications of the nosodes are
those that have come out in provings or on patients under treatment.
Nevertheless, there are specific ways that the miasms disease-tune the
vital force producing a characteristic group of symptoms. Hering
noticed that certain characteristic symptoms are associated with the
indications of miasmic intercurrents and nosodes. Just as the
homoeopath who works with families of remedies recognizes the symptoms
of the plant, mineral and animal remedies, Hering recognized the
characteristics of the nosode family picture. These characteristics
includes indications of the miasms concomitant to lack of vital
reaction to well chosen remedies; constant changing of symptoms after
administering remedies; fragmented pictures of several constitutional
remedies and one-sided miasmic pathology with few characteristic
symptoms.

Such individuals often have a sense of being tainted, guilty, dirty or
feel like life is a burden, they never feel comfortable or satisfied
in any environment, they have discolored complexions and a look of
suffering in the face when relaxed, and they are prone to self-
destructive impulses, cravings and habits. A differential analysis of
the rest of the mental and general symptoms will immediately uncover
which chronic miasm and therapeutic nosode is at the root of the
picture.

Making a comparative study of the plant, mineral, animal and nosode
group symptoms is very helpful. The symptoms of the nosode group are
indications to study the case from the miasmic point of view. From a
study of the totality of the available symptoms one can uncover which
miasm is active or which nosode the vital force is calling to one's
attention. At such a time an intercurrent may be useful in removing
obstructions to the cure or bringing out a clearer picture. All
miasmic intercurrents should be complemented by constitutional
remedies at the appropriate time to complete the cure.

One's attention may be called to the use of a nosode when the patient
no longer progresses under the influence of a constitutional remedy
because well chosen remedies do not act, hold or only change the
symptoms. Another important indication for the nosodes is a 'never
well since syndrome' when it can be traced to a chronic miasm such as
suppressed gonorrhea or a suppressed skin disorder, etc. A miasmic
block in the case can also produce one-sided states with a lack of
symptoms yet the general history or indication of the miasms is in the
background.

The nosode group characteristics are a signal to investigate the
chronic miasms and map their signs and symptoms as well as looking
closely for the symptoms of the major nosodes and anti-miasmic
remedies. Normally one will find objective signs and subjective
symptoms that will individualize the remedy if it is indicated. Over
the years the use of nosodes as chronic intercurrents has proved of
assistance to constitutional treatment if used correctly.

I would advise students of Homoeopathy to study the use of chronic
remedies deeply and integrate intercurrent remedies carefully into
practice when needed to assist the cure. The isopathic concept seems
so easy (using the same against the same) that many star-struck
beginners think they have found a short-cut way to do Homoeopathy.
They do not have enough experience in the more traditional approach to
Homoeopathy to understand those special moments when intercurrents are
complementary to constitutional treatment. Others are prone to falling
into old allopathic thinking combined with new homeopathic remedies.
This leads to the abuse of idem in potency and can cause the
disruption of the constitutional state. In the name of treating
layers, removing drugs and blockages, some practitioners give too many
remedies by idem while ignoring the totality of the symptoms of the
patient.

A Synopsis of Nine Ways to Administer the Nosodes

1. The first indication for the nosodes is when the mentals, physical
generals and particular symptoms are characteristic of the proving of
the remedy. This makes the nosode a CONSTITUTIONAL REMEDY. An example
of this would be the use of Syphilinum in a person who fears the night
because of the suffering it brings, fears going insane, despairs of
recovery, has delusions that they are dirty, tainted, or impure
causing them to compulsively wash their hands, etc. The symptoms
confirm both the miasmic diagnosis and the simillimum. In such cases
the derangement of the vital force occurs in such a manner that it
takes the symptoms of the nosode. In some cases this state may or may
not be directly linkable to the corresponding miasma. Others are born
with this tendency due to the inherited miasms.

2. The second condition for using a nosode is when WELL CHOSEN
REMEDIES DO NOT ACT, HOLD, OR JUST CHANGE THE SYMPTOMS. This is
usually caused by the chronic miasms such as psora, sycosis,
pseudopsora, and syphilis. This is one of the reasons why it is
important to know what miasms are in the background of a
constitutional syndrome. Otherwise the prescriber may think they are
choosing the wrong remedies and further confuse the situation by
picking more and more new ones. An example of this usage of a nosode
is Psorinum's keynotes: Lack of reaction; when well-chosen remedies
fail to act, especially in those who are extremely sensitive to cold,
suffer from profuse sweating, filthy smell, dirty looking skin, and
tend to be very pessimistic about their recovery, etc. Another example
of this rubric is Tuberculinum's keynote: When symptoms are constantly
changing and well-selected remedies do not improve, especially in
those who have light complexion, narrow chest, lax fiber, low
recuperative powers and constantly catch cold. There may also be fear
of cats, dogs, and animals in general, a desire to travel, and a deep
discontented state with a tendency to curse, swear, and a desire to
break things, etc.

3. The third way to use a nosode is when there is a LACK OF SYMPTOMS.
There are times when there are very few symptoms by which to
prescribe. These are often one-sided cases where a strong inherited or
acquired miasm has repressed the ability of the constitution to show
symptoms. Other than the signs related to the pathology of one or
another of the miasms, the symptoms in these cases are not very
characteristic of any chronic remedies. This may be a chronic state
caused by a miasmic dyscrasia. Vide the discussion of Tuberculinum in
Kent's Lectures: "It seems from looking over the record of many cures
that this remedy has been given many times for just that state on a
paucity of symptoms, and if the records can be believed, it has many
times balanced up to the constitution in that anemic state, where the
inheritance has been phthisis. It is not the best indication for
Tuberc., but where the symptoms agree in addition to that inheritance,
then you may have indication for the remedy.". There are two things
that may happen after the ingestion of a nosode for such a condition.
First of all, the symptoms may improve and bring the constitution
toward the state of health. Second, the symptoms of the patient may
become more plentiful as the suspended layers within the constitution
become more active. The new state allows the homoeopathic practitioner
to prescribe a chronic remedy based on the newly arising syndrome and
advance the case forward.

4. The fourth condition for using a nosode is when a person has not
recovered from a miasmic infection, and its suppression. This state is
called "THE NEVER WELL SINCE SYNDROME" (NWS). An example of this
condition is the use of Medorrhinum in a person who has a history of
sycosis from which they have never recovered. Perhaps a new layer of
disease has been added to their constitution by a suppressed gonorrhea
that changed both their physical health and personality. They no
longer manifest the symptoms of a constitutional remedy because the
acquired miasm has become the active layer and suppressed their
natural temperament. Once they may have been of sharp intellect, clear
memory, and of a calm nature, but all that has changed for the worse.
Now they have become very hurried as if time passes too slowly, they
can't follow the thread of a conversation because they are losing
their memory, and they've become fearful of the dark, superstitious,
and suffer from delusions that someone or something is always behind
them. This last symptom is very indicative of the paranoid suspicious
state of sycosis as it represents a subconscious fear that something
is going on "behind their back" and is about to "get them".

The never-well-since syndrome can also be applied to acute miasms.
There are times when a person has never fully recovered from an acute
illness or miasm. The unresolved acute state still has an effect on
the vital force as it has formed a layer within the constitution. If
this imbalance is strong it will become the dominant layer and repress
the older weaker symptoms. This is often caused by acute miasms like
influenza, diphtheria, measles, mononucleosis, and whooping cough from
which the patient never really recovered. Of course, a proper chronic
remedy may remove the effects of an unresolved acute miasm, but when
it does not, a nosode of the offending miasm will often cure. Nosodes
for these acute miasms are available from homoeopathic pharmacies
under names like Influenzinum, Diphtherinum, Morbillinum, Pertussin,
etc.

5. The fifth way to use a nosodes is WHEN PARTIAL PICTURES OF THE
CONSTITUTIONAL REMEDIES MANIFEST YET NO ONE REMEDY COMPLETELY FITS THE
CASE. Such cases seem to be fragmented and disorganized, but in
actuality, this pattern is characteristic of the miasms and nosode
group. An investigation of the miasms behind the fragmented picture
may reveal the symptoms of the nosode family. Differential analysis
will quickly show which miasm is involved and what nosode may remove
the state. Such an intercurrent often improves the state of health and
regularizes the natural symptoms pattern. After the nosode has done
all it can do the symptoms will point more clearly toward a
constitutional or anti-miasmic remedy. In this way a nosode can bring
order out of chaos and clarity out of confusion.

6. The sixth way for using a nosode is WHEN A MIASMIC LAYER OBSTRUCTS
THE PROGRESS OF A CONSTITUTIONAL REMEDY that was improving the
patient. This use of a nosode is called a miasmic intercurrent.
Suppose one has a patient whose symptoms point to an inherited
pseudopsoric miasm and the case works out to fit Pulsatilla perfectly.
This is all coherent because Pulsatilla is a strongly anti-tuberculin
medicine as well as the individual's constitutional remedy. After
several months of solid improvement the patient begins to relapse with
the same symptoms, and to one's great surprise, the Pulsatilla no
longer works. Although there is no change of symptoms calling for a
new remedy, the old remedy has become completely ineffective. If the
underlying symptomatology shows the tubercular miasm, the homoeopath
can try to unlock the blocked case with a tubercular nosode, such as
Tuberculinum. In the above example the tubercular nosode sets the
stage for the reintroduction of the Pulsatilla by re-sensitizing the
vital force.

Two things may happen after the introduction of the miasmic
intercurrent. The nosode may move the case forward by removing the
active symptoms. When this happens it is best to stay with the nosode
as long as the improvement lasts. If this improvement ceases the
remaining symptoms may be treated with the former chronic remedy. If
the patient does not show any improvement on the nosode after a
sufficient amount of time, the former chronic remedy should be re-
introduced. Under these conditions the previous remedy often acts just
as dramatically as it did the first time it was given. This effect has
been witnessed by many experienced homoeopaths over and over again.
Although the miasmic intercurrent may not radically improve the case
by itself, it can cause the patient to become re-sensitized to their
original constitutional remedy. There are times when this technique is
extremely useful.

7. The seventh way for using a nosode is when the remedy is RELATED TO
THE DISEASE GENUS. An example of this method is Clark's use of
Pertussin (Coqueluchinum) against whooping cough. Clark once wrote, "I
have found in this nosode a specific for a large proportion of cases
of this disease. It should be given every four hours to begin with,
and if it does not cut short the case in a few days, or materially
modify its severity, another remedy may be chosen from the following."

Another area where the isode may be of use is in the case of
complications caused by vaccines. In this case a nosode of the
offending vaccination may be appropriate to remove the side-affects of
an immunization. Closely aligned with using idem is the use of
remedies to desensitize a person to specific allergies. Most
individuals are allergenic to more than one antigen at a time so the
chronic remedy, with or without a miasmic intercurrent, is usually
much more effective. Nevertheless, in some very stubborn allergies
where this is not the case, the isopathic method may prove a useful
adjutant. The use of organs and glandular preparations (organotherapy
& hormonotherapy) is also based on idem. This includes remedies like
Thyroidinum, the dried thyroid of the sheep, and Adrenalin, the
internal secretion of the suprarenal glands. This method has also
proved useful in some cases of thyroid disease.

8. The eighth way of using a nosode is for HOMOEOPATHIC PROPHYLAXIS to
prevent specific infectious diseases. An early example of this was
Boenninghausen's successful use of Variolinum to prevent smallpox.
Nosodes may also be used as a method to protect children from the
miasma they have inherited through their parents. James Kent stated in
his Lectures on Homoeopathic Materia Medica: "If Tuberculinum Bovinum
be given in 10m, 50m, Cm. potencies two doses of each potency at long
intervals, all children and young people who have inherited
tuberculosis may be immuned from their inheritance and their
resiliency will be restored.". This, of course, relates to children
who show symptoms of the TB miasm such as nervousness, temper
tantrums, emaciation, anemia, swollen glands, frequent colds, etc.

9. The ninth way of using a nosode is as a homoeopathic remedy made
from the patient's own disease substances. This is called the AUTO-
NOSODE. This method has sometimes helped patients when nothing else
seems to work. Hahnemann once had a patient suffering from phthisis
that was not responding to well chosen remedies. This led him to
prepare an auto-nosode made from the saliva of the patient. Auto-
nosodes have been made from sputum, blood, urine, pus, leucorrhoea,
exudates from skin eruptions, and microbes from cultures of the
patient, etc. This is often tried when nothing else works.
Nevertheless, with observation homoeopaths should be able to develop
the characteristic symptoms of the auto-nosodes.

One can see from many of these indications that a good knowledge of
the acute, half-acute and chronic miasms is very important in
understanding the use of nosodes. As they are disease products
knowledge of disease goes hand and hand with their usage. The study of
the acute, half-acute and chronic miasms, and their action on the
system of mass defense, is an important part of classical Homoeopathy.
Some modern homoeopaths no longer pay any serious attention to the
miasms and do not study the nine ways to use nosodes. Some are Neo-
Kentian prescribers but they do not seem to understand that Kent
studied the miasms and used nosodes in various ways depending on the
circumstances. It seems at this time, however, the miasms are making a
necessary come back as they are an integral part of homoeopathic
pathology. Dare to Know!

Homoeopathic Online Education - http://simillimum.com
(c) David Little, H.O.E. 1996-2007, all rights reserved
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