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!
Author - Dr. Little