NOSODES
• ETYMOLOGY: “NOSO” the Greek word, signifies an idea or related to disease.
• DEFFINATION: Alledy defines it is characterized by a pathological substance used as medicine
prepared in advance and according to Homoeopathic methods of dilution.
• According to G. B. Stearns - “As a generalization, nosodes made from pathological material, particularly
if the persons from whom they are taken have been successfully prescribed for have a much broader field
of action and can be more safely selected intuitively than the nosodes made from individual bacterial
cultures.”
• So, the nosodes are some Homoeopathic preparations obtained from pathological secretions or excretions
as well as from the culture of the pathogenic microorganisms like, viruses, bacteria, fungi or parasites.
• HISOTORY AND PROGRESSION:
Hahnemann made a short proving of Psorin (the secretion from the scabies vesicles) and enlisted
this preparation in the group of antipsoric medicine.
Since Hahnemann’s time, several other nosodes have been added in our Materia Medica through
proving and by clinical applications.
They are recorded by Dr. H.C. Allen in his “Materia Medica of Nosodes”. Those medicines are –
Anthracinum, Diptherinum, Lyssin, Malandrinum, Maleria officinalis, Medorrhinum, Psorinum,
Pyrogen, Secale cor, Syphilinum, Tuberculinum and Variolinum.
Later, Dr. Hering, Dr. Swan and others contributed a lot to increase the number of nosodes in our
Materia Medica.
• SOME IMPORTANT NOSODES:
➢ Psorinum - source: secretion from the scabies vesicles - prepared by Hahnemann.
➢ Tuberculinum – source: sputum of suspected tuberculosis (Lung tissues) - prepared by Swan
➢ Tuberculinum- Bovinum - source: tubercular glands from slaughtered cattle - prepared by
Boericke and Tafel.
➢ Bacillinum - source: maceration of typical tuberculous lung- prepared by Burnett.
➢ Syphilinum - source: syphilitic discharge - prepared by Swan.
• CLASSIFICATION OF NOSODES:
A) Nosodes can be classified into three (based on the types of products)
1. Homoeopathic preparation from disease product (including tissues and secretions) – Ex.
Tuberculinum, Carcinosin, Syphilinum, Medorrhinum, etc.
2. Homoeopathic preparation from causative organisms (cultured) – Streptococcinum,
Staphylococcinum etc.
3. Intestinal or Bowel nosodes - B. Morgan, B. Proteus, Sycotic co. etc.
4. Another type of nosodes can be included which is used by some Homoeopath as under the
name of “Tautopathy “– that means, secretion or discharges from the pathological tissues or
organs of the patient himself for his own treatment on that same pathological condition.
B) According to the Source –
1. Disease products of Human being –
Bacillinum: maceration of typical tubercular lung.
Tuberculinum: cultured bacilli from tuberculous lung/pus from tubercular abscess.
Carcinosin: cancerous tissues from breast
NOSODES DR. R MONDAL
Medorrhinum: urethral discharge from gonorrhoeal patient.
Psorinum: sero-purulent matter of scabies vesicles.
Syphilinum: from syphilitic lesion in primary or early secondary stage.
Variolinum: lymph from small pox pustules.
Morbilinum: from the pharyngeal exudates of patient suffering from measles (not yet
treated).
Diptherinum: from Diphtheritic membrane.
2. Disease products of other animals –
Lyssin: from the saliva of rabid dog.
Pyrogenium: from decomposed lean beef.
Ambra grisea: morbid product found in belly i.e., Fatty secretion of gall of sperm whale.
Anthracinum: alcoholic extract of the anthrax poison, prepared from the spleen of sheep
or cattle.
Malandrinum: from grease of horse.
3. Disease products of plants –
Secale cornutum: from fungus, growing upon the seed of the secale cereals and others
grains.
Ustilago maidis: from a fungus growing on the stem, grain of Indian corns.
• GENERAL CONDITIONS (INDICATIONS) TO PRESCRIBE THE NOSODES:
➢ In some stubborn cases, when apparently similar medicine does not work or best selected medicines
fail to act. The nosode, which can cover the case, can help to take this case in the right direction of
cure in a much shorter period of time.
➢ As an intercurrent remedy it can clear the miasmatic obstacle(s) in the process of cure.
➢ When there are pathological conditions has been removed by homoeopathic treatment but
progressive debility or uneasiness continuing without apparent cause/ causes. Ex. Psorinum.
➢ When there is a past history of suppressed fixed miasmatic acute disease. The well proved
nosode(s) which has been prepared from the same disease product, can be given to remove their
remaining complaints.
Example – Never been well since her suffering from measles or long continuing complaint
appeared like deafness just after suffering of measles– Morbilinum may be the medicine of
choice.
Never been well since her suffering from Typhoid or any complaint since his/her suffering
from Typhoid – Typhoidinum may be a choice.
➢ When there is paucity of symptoms or there is no such clear picture to prescribe any other medicine.
Mainly on the basis of past history or family history nosode(s) can be prescribed. Example – Past
history of Tuberculosis – Tuberculinum/ Bacillinum; Family history of Cancer - Carcinosin, etc.
➢ In some acute and severe pathological conditions, when there is no time or condition to select an
individualised homoeopathic treatment, homoeopathic preparation of such pathological morbid
product or responsible organisms can be apply based on its characteristic indication/s to overcome
the dangerous situation. Example – Pyrogen for any septic condition based on its characteristic
pulse related indication or others. Streptococcin for acute condition of rheumatic fever etc.
NOSODES DR. R MONDAL
➢ As a prophylaxis of acute epidemic diseases with infection of same or similar type of organism.
The nosode, prepared from that disease product or the organism can be selected as prophylactic
medicine for that epidemic. Ex. Influenzinum for influenza, Morbilinum for measles etc.
➢ Some nosodes are well proved, and established as constitutional polychrest medicines by their
repeated clinical observations and verifications. These nosodes must be used as a polychrest
constitutional medicine based on individualisation. Ex. Tuberculinum/Bacillinum, Psorinum,
Medorrhinum, Carcinosin etc.
• GENERAL CONTRINDICATIONS:
➢ In the active phase of incubation period of any acute disease – homoeopathic aggravation may
cause severe form of disease.
➢ During any active phase of recurrent attack of chronic diseases - homoeopathic aggravation may
cause severe form of disease.
➢ Application in higher potency in advance pathology where vitality is very poor.
➢ When there is clear cut picture of any constitutional polychrest medicine in chronic cases.
➢ “The nosodes seldom complete the cure. You have to follow up with some other remedy.” –
Farrington.
NOSODES DR. R MONDAL
