What is Cortisonum?

Cortisonum is a homeopathic remedy. It is a single remedy made from cortisone acetate. Cortisone is a man-made copy of a hormone made by the adrenal glands (two small glands that sit on top of the kidneys).

The Latin name is Cortisonum aceticum (hormone corticosurrenale). It is also sold as Cortisone. Homeopaths give it for stiff joints, itchy skin and low energy.

The starting material is shaken and watered down over and over, a process called serial dilution. At the common 30C strength, none of the starting cortisone is left. You swallow a sugar pill or a drop of water and alcohol.

Trials do not show it works better than a dummy pill (placebo). It is used in homeopathy, but long use is not proof that a remedy works. This page says what is known and what is not.

How does Cortisonum work?

There is no known way for it to act on the body. At 30C there is nothing of the starting cortisone left to act.

Homeopaths follow an old rule called "like cures like". They say a substance that causes signs in a well person can, in tiny doses, help a sick person with the same signs. They also say that shaking each step leaves an "imprint" in the water.

That idea has not been shown to be true in the lab or in people. It is a belief within homeopathy, not a proven way of working.

What forms does Cortisonum come in?

It comes as small sugar pills or tiny round granules that melt under the tongue. Liquid drops in water and alcohol are also sold.

Common strengths are 6C, 9C, 12C, 15C, 30C and 200C. The higher the number, the more times it was watered down. Some brands sell 3X, 6X or 9X, which are less dilute.

Where it comes from:

Cortisone was first made in the 1930s and used as a medicine from 1948. Homeopaths added it to their remedy list soon after, based on a "proving" (a test where healthy people take a remedy and write down what they feel).

So this is a modern remedy, not an old folk one. It is used in one tradition only, mostly in France and other parts of Europe.

What does Cortisonum help with?

• Joint pain and stiffness: Homeopaths often pick this remedy for aching, stiff joints that feel worse in the morning. No human trial has tested Cortisonum for joint pain. If your joints hurt for more than a few weeks, see a doctor to find out why.
• Itchy skin and eczema: It is sometimes given to people whose rash flares when a steroid cream is stopped. There is no trial evidence for this use. A rash that spreads, weeps or smells bad needs real medical care.
• Tiredness and low energy: Some homeopaths use it for people who feel worn out and weak. This is based on case notes, not on trials. Lasting tiredness can be a sign of anaemia (low iron in the blood), thyroid trouble or other illness, so get it checked.
• Side effects felt while taking steroid medicine: This is the most common reason people are given Cortisonum. Homeopaths say it may ease the puffiness, mood swings or sleep trouble that steroid drugs can bring. No trial supports this. Do not change your steroid dose because of it.
• Hay fever and other allergy signs: It is sometimes added to a hay fever plan alongside other remedies. There is no study of Cortisonum for allergy. Proven treatments for hay fever exist, and your pharmacist can point you to them.
• Puffiness and water build-up: Homeopaths link cortisone to swelling in the face and ankles. Evidence for the remedy is missing. New or fast swelling in one leg, or swelling with breathlessness, is urgent and needs a doctor the same day.

Which foods are rich in Cortisonum?

1. Liquorice root: it can raise the effect of the body's own steroid hormones, so talk to your doctor if you eat a lot of it

Practical Tips:

Homeopaths often ask you to avoid coffee, mint and camphor near a dose. This is a custom, not a tested rule.

What are the side effects of Cortisonum?

• Usually none, because the pills hold no active material at 30C
• Upset stomach or wind in people who cannot digest lactose (milk sugar)
• Added sugar, which matters if you are counting sugar or have diabetes
• A small amount of alcohol in liquid drops
• A short flare of your symptoms, which homeopaths call an aggravation
• Harm from delay if it is used in place of care that works

Good to know:

Direct side effects are rare. A 30C pill is sugar, so it cannot poison you.

The real risk is what you might not do while taking it. Using Cortisonum instead of a prescribed steroid, an asthma inhaler or antibiotics can be dangerous. Stopping a steroid drug on your own can bring on an adrenal crisis, a sudden drop in body hormones that can be life threatening.

How much Cortisonum should you take?

• Recommended daily: There is no proven dose, because there is no proven effect. No health body sets an amount. In normal homeopathic practice, people take 3 to 5 pills of a 9C or 30C strength, once or twice a day. Drops are usually 3 to 5 drops in a little water. Let pills melt under the tongue rather than chewing them.
• Best time of day: Most people take it in the morning, and again in the evening if a second dose is advised. There is no evidence that timing matters.
• With or without food: It is usually taken about 15 minutes away from food, drink, toothpaste or strong-tasting sweets. This is a custom within homeopathy, not a tested rule.
• Time to effect: No effect beyond a dummy pill has been shown, so no honest time frame can be given. Homeopaths often say a few days to two weeks. Judge it at four weeks at the latest.
• How long to take it: Homeopaths usually suggest a short course of one to four weeks, then a review. If nothing has changed after four weeks, stop and think again. Do not keep taking it for months for a problem that is not getting better. See a doctor instead.