What is Pituitarium posterium?

Pituitarium posterium is a single homeopathic remedy. It is made from the back part of the pituitary gland, a small gland at the base of the brain, taken from animals. Homeopaths give it for headaches, low energy, and problems with body water balance.

The remedy is made by mixing that gland tissue with liquid, then watering it down over and over. At 30C, almost certainly none of the starting tissue is left. What you take is mostly water, alcohol, or a sugar pellet.

Here is the short verdict: no human trials have tested this remedy, so we cannot say it works. It has a small place in homeopathy. Long use is not proof of effect, and that applies to every claim on this page.

How does Pituitarium posterium work?

No one has shown how this remedy could work in the body. Homeopathy teaches that a heavily watered-down substance can nudge the body to heal itself. That idea has not been shown to be true in tests.

The raw gland does hold real hormones. But at 30C the watering down is so deep that no gland tissue remains. So there is no known way for it to act like a hormone.

Trials of homeopathy as a whole do not separate it from a placebo (a dummy pill). Any change you feel may come from time, rest, or the care you get.

What forms does Pituitarium posterium come in?

You will find it as small sugar pellets, as liquid drops, and sometimes as a spray. Pellets are the most common at home.

Strengths are shown as 6C, 30C, or 200C. The higher the number, the more it has been watered down. 30C is the usual shop strength.

Low strengths marked 1X, 3X, or 6X are watered down far less. Treat those as a practitioner-only product.

Where it comes from:

Homeopaths in the early 1900s began making remedies from healthy animal tissue. Remedies of this type are called sarcodes.

Pituitarium posterium is one of them. Its Latin name means posterior pituitary gland. It is also sold as pituitary gland extract.

It has never been a front-line homeopathic remedy. It sits at the edge of the materia medica, used by some prescribers and skipped by others.

What does Pituitarium posterium help with?

• Headaches linked by homeopaths to the pituitary gland: No human trial has tested this remedy for headaches. Homeopaths pick it when a dull head pain sits behind the eyes and comes with tiredness. If headaches are new, very bad, or keep coming back, get them checked by a doctor first.
• Long-term tiredness and low drive: There is no trial evidence here. The remedy is chosen on the idea that the gland drives energy and mood. Long tiredness has many real causes, such as low iron, low thyroid, sleep apnoea (breathing stops during sleep), or depression. Ask for blood tests rather than self-treating.
• Fluid build-up and puffiness: No human trial supports this use. The link comes from vasopressin, the water-holding hormone in the raw gland, which is not present at 30C. New swelling in the legs or belly can point to heart, liver, or kidney trouble. That needs a doctor, not a home remedy.
• Passing a lot of urine, including bedwetting: No trials exist for this remedy in bedwetting or heavy urine loss. Homeopaths use it because the raw gland helps control urine volume. Passing a lot of urine with strong thirst can be a sign of diabetes. Please get this tested.
• Low blood pressure with dizziness on standing: No human trial has looked at this. It is a traditional homeopathic pick, based on the raw gland's effect on blood vessels. Fainting or near-fainting needs a proper check, as the cause may be the heart or your medicines.
• Weak or stalled labour contractions (practitioner use only): This is the oldest recorded use and the one that needs most care. It comes from oxytocin in the raw gland, the hormone that makes the womb tighten. There is no trial evidence that the homeopathic remedy helps labour. Labour care belongs with a midwife or doctor, and low potencies should never be self-prescribed in pregnancy.

What are the side effects of Pituitarium posterium?

• Nothing at all, which is the usual result at 30C
• A short spell of feeling worse in the first days, which homeopaths call an aggravation
• Stomach upset or wind from the lactose (milk sugar) in the pellets
• Stinging in the mouth from the alcohol in liquid drops
• Rash or itching from an allergy to something in the product
• With low strengths only: headache, puffiness, or low blood sodium (low salt in the blood) from real hormone in the tissue

Good to know:

At 30C this remedy holds no gland tissue, so direct harm is very unlikely. Most reports are mild and settle when you stop.

The real risk is different. Using it in place of proper care for a heart, kidney, hormone, or pregnancy problem can let something serious get worse.

How much Pituitarium posterium should you take?

• Recommended daily: No health body has set a dose for this remedy, so there is no official amount. In practice, homeopaths most often use 30C. A common home pattern is 3 to 5 pellets, or about 5 drops, once or twice a day. Low strengths such as 1X to 6X may still hold real gland tissue. Leave those to a trained practitioner.
• Best time of day: Any time of day. Many people take it first thing in the morning and again at bedtime.
• With or without food: Take it between meals, about 15 to 30 minutes before or after food. Homeopaths also suggest keeping strong mint, coffee, and strong smells away from the dose. This is custom, not a tested rule.
• Time to effect: No trial has measured this. Homeopaths often look for a change within a few days to two weeks. Any change you notice may simply be the problem easing on its own.
• How long to take it: Homeopaths usually review after 1 to 2 weeks. If nothing has changed by then, stop and think again. Do not keep taking it for months on end while a symptom drags on. That delay is the main risk with this remedy. Stop at once and see a doctor if your symptoms get worse.