What is Psorinum?

Psorinum is a homeopathic remedy made from the fluid in a scabies blister. It is also called the scabies vesicle nosode. A nosode is a homeopathic remedy made from diseased tissue or disease products.

Homeopaths give it mainly for long-term itchy skin problems. They also give it to people who feel chilly, drained and unwell long after an illness.

The source material is watered down step by step. One part is mixed into ninety-nine parts of liquid, then shaken. At 30C, the common strength, that step has been done thirty times.

So the pill you take holds almost none of the first material.

The verdict on the evidence is simple. Controlled trials do not show remedies like Psorinum beating placebo (a dummy treatment). Its place in homeopathy is long-standing, but long use is not proof that something works.

That point applies to everything on this page. Use Psorinum alongside proper care for a diagnosed illness, never instead of it.

How does Psorinum work?

There is no accepted way that Psorinum could work in the body. At 30C there is almost nothing of the first material left to act on you.

Homeopathy has its own theory. It says that watering down and shaking a substance leaves a "pattern" behind. That pattern is said to prompt the body to put itself right.

The theory also says a remedy made from a disease product can clear a deep-seated tendency to that disease. This idea has not been shown in the lab. It does not fit what we know about chemistry.

A simpler reason for any benefit people report is the placebo effect. Long-term skin problems also come and go on their own. And a homeopath gives a long, caring consultation.

What forms does Psorinum come in?

Psorinum comes in the usual homeopathic forms:

- Small sugar pellets or pillules that melt under the tongue - Liquid drops in a base of alcohol and water - Lactose (milk sugar) powders or tablets - Now and then, as one part of a combination skin cream

Labels run from low strengths (6X, 6C) to very high ones (200C, 1M). A higher number means more dilution steps and less source material.

Only strengths below 12C could in theory still hold any of the first material.

Where it comes from:

Psorinum was brought in during the 1830s by Constantine Hering, a German-born homeopath. Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of homeopathy, then took it up.

It became the best-known nosode. It was tied to Hahnemann's theory of "psora", an inherited itch-tendency he thought lay behind most long-term disease. Modern medicine finds no support for that theory.

Psorinum has stayed in the homeopathic materia medica (the reference books of remedies) ever since. So it is a long-standing staple of one tradition, not a remedy shared across many.

What does Psorinum help with?

• Long-term itchy skin problems such as eczema-type rashes: This is the classic homeopathic use of Psorinum. It is chosen for dry, dirty-looking skin that itches badly and feels worse from warmth in bed. No controlled trial shows Psorinum clearing eczema. Eczema also comes and goes on its own, which makes personal reports hard to read.
• Feeling cold, tired and low after an infection: Homeopaths pick Psorinum for the person who never bounced back after flu or another illness. That person feels chilly even in a warm room. This picture comes from homeopathic case books, not from trials. Tiredness that lasts after an infection has real medical causes worth checking.
• Repeated colds, sore throats and chest infections: Old homeopathic texts list Psorinum for people who catch every bug going around. There is no trial evidence that it cuts how often you get infections. A doctor should look at frequent infections in an adult or a child.
• Long-term hay fever and asthma-type breathing problems: Some homeopaths use Psorinum for long-term hay fever. They also use it for asthma that eases when the person lies flat with arms spread. Trials of homeopathy for asthma have not shown a benefit over placebo. Never stop or cut asthma medicines to try this.
• Headaches that keep coming back: Homeopathic sources describe a Psorinum headache that gets better after eating. This comes only from provings and case notes. No human trial backs it. New or changing headaches need a medical check.
• Acne and oily, unhealthy-looking skin: Psorinum is a traditional homeopathic choice for greasy skin with spots, above all on the face. There is no clinical evidence behind it. Proven acne treatments are easy to get from a pharmacist or a doctor.

Which foods are rich in Psorinum?

Psorinum is not found in any food. Homeopaths often advise avoiding coffee, mint and camphor while taking remedies, but there is no evidence that these affect anything.

What are the side effects of Psorinum?

• No expected direct effects at 30C and above, because no source material remains
• A temporary flare of the original symptoms, which homeopaths call an aggravation
• Stomach upset or wind in people who react badly to lactose (milk sugar) in the pellets
• Mouth or stomach irritation from the alcohol base in liquid drops
• Rare allergic reaction to an ingredient in the pellet or liquid
• Delay in getting effective treatment: the most serious risk of all

Good to know:

Direct harm from a 30C pill is very unlikely, simply because there is nothing active in it.

The real danger is indirect. People sometimes use a remedy like this in place of treatment that works, and a skin condition, chest problem or cancer gets worse in the meantime.

A reported flare of symptoms is often just the illness doing what it was going to do anyway. Treat a worsening rash or worsening breathing as a reason to see a doctor, not as a sign the remedy is working.

How much Psorinum should you take?

• Recommended daily: There is no proven dose for Psorinum. No trial has shown a dose that does anything you can measure. In homeopathic practice, two to four 30C pellets go under the tongue. That counts as one dose. It is repeated only if the first complaint comes back. Some homeopaths give one 200C dose, then wait weeks. Follow the label on the product you bought. Do not take more than it says.
• Best time of day: Homeopaths tend to suggest a quiet moment, often on waking or at bedtime. There is no evidence that timing changes anything.
• With or without food: Custom says to take pellets on a clean mouth. Leave about fifteen minutes between the pellets and any food, drink, toothpaste or strong flavour. This is tradition, not a tested rule.
• Time to effect: Homeopathic texts talk about days to weeks for long-term complaints. But the remedy has not been shown to beat placebo. So no honest time to effect can be given.
• How long to take it: Keep any trial short. Set an end date before you start. Four to six weeks is plenty. If nothing has changed by then, stop and think again. Do not move up to a stronger potency. If your skin, breathing or energy gets worse at any point, stop and see a doctor.