What is Secale cornutum?

Secale cornutum is a single homeopathic remedy. It is made from ergot of rye, whose Latin name is Claviceps purpurea. That is a fungus that grows on rye and other grain.

Homeopaths give it for poor blood flow in the hands and feet. They also give it for heavy bleeding and for cramps in the legs. The remedy is made by diluting the fungus over and over, with hard shaking at each step.

At a 30C strength, none of the starting material is left in the pill. Trials do not show that it works better than a dummy pill. Its standing comes from long use in homeopathy, and long use is not proof that a remedy works.

How does Secale cornutum work?

There is no known way a 30C pill could act on the body, because nothing of the source is left in it.

Homeopathy rests on an idea. The idea is that a substance which causes symptoms in a well person can treat the same symptoms in a sick one. Raw ergot squeezes blood vessels shut and causes cramps, so the remedy is matched to those signs.

Each dilution step makes the mix weaker. By 30C, not one molecule of ergot remains. Homeopaths say the shaking leaves an effect behind, but this has not been shown in any test.

People do report feeling better after taking it. Rest, time, and the care of someone who listens can explain much of that. When the remedy is compared with a dummy pill, no clear difference shows up.

What forms does Secale cornutum come in?

You will most often see small sugar pellets that you let melt under the tongue. Liquid drops in alcohol and water are also sold.

Common strengths are 6C, 30C and 200C. A C strength means a 1-in-100 dilution, done again and again. Pellets are usually made from milk sugar (lactose) and cane sugar.

The mother tincture and very low X strengths are close to raw strength. They are controlled or banned for home use in many countries, and for good reason.

Where it comes from:

Ergot has a dark past in Europe. Mouldy rye bread caused mass poisoning in the Middle Ages, known then as St Anthony's Fire. People lost fingers, toes and whole limbs, had fits, and many died.

Midwives and doctors later used tiny doses to slow bleeding after birth. Drugs made from ergot are still used in hospitals today, under close watch.

Homeopaths tested the fungus on healthy people in the 1800s and wrote down every symptom. The remedy has stayed in homeopathic books ever since.

What does Secale cornutum help with?

• Poor blood flow in the hands and feet: This is the best known use in homeopathic books. They describe cold, pale, numb fingers and toes in a person who still wants to be uncovered. No human trials have tested the remedy for this. Cold, blue or painful fingers and toes can mean a blocked artery, which needs a doctor fast.
• Heavy menstrual bleeding: Homeopathic books match it to steady, dark, thin bleeding with dragging pain. No human trials support this use. Heavy bleeding has many causes, some of them treatable, so get it checked rather than self-treated.
• Bleeding after childbirth: This use comes from the old, real-world use of ergot drugs to slow bleeding after birth. The homeopathic dilution is not the same thing and holds no ergot. Bleeding after birth is a medical emergency. Call for help; do not reach for pills.
• Cramps in the legs and feet: Books describe hard cramps in the calves, feet and toes, often at night. There is no trial evidence for the remedy here. Simple steps such as stretching, fluids and a check of your medicines are worth trying first.
• Burning pain that feels better with cold: A burning feeling in the limbs that eases when uncovered is the classic picture homeopaths look for. This picture comes from what raw ergot poisoning does, not from any treatment study. No human trials have been published.
• Numbness and tingling in fingers and toes: Homeopaths use it for pins and needles with coldness. No trials back this up. Lasting numbness can point to nerve damage or diabetes, so it is worth a proper check.
• Varicose veins (swollen, twisted veins): Some homeopathic books list it for tired, heavy, swollen legs with poor circulation. There is no trial evidence. Support stockings, movement and weight care have far better support.

Which foods are rich in Secale cornutum?

1. Rye: the ergot fungus grows on the grain, though modern cleaning makes this rare
2. Wheat, barley and oats: the same fungus can grow on them in wet seasons

Practical Tips:

Ergot is not a nutrient and is not something to seek out in food; grain is checked for it because it is a poison.

What are the side effects of Secale cornutum?

• Most of the time, nothing at all: a 30C pill holds no source material
• An upset stomach from the milk sugar (lactose) in the pellets, if milk sugar bothers you
• A short spell where symptoms seem worse, which homeopaths call an aggravation
• Alcohol in the liquid drops, which may not suit you
• A late diagnosis, if you take pills instead of seeing a doctor
• From raw or low-strength ergot only: cold, numb, blue fingers and toes
• From raw or low-strength ergot only: burning pain, vomiting, muscle cramps and fits (seizures)
• From raw or low-strength ergot only: loss of blood flow so that tissue dies (gangrene), loss of a pregnancy, and death

Good to know:

Pills at 30C or higher rarely cause harm. There is nothing in them to cause it.

The real risk is delay. Heavy bleeding, chest pain and a cold, blue limb all need quick care. Pills must not stand in for that.

Raw ergot is a true poison. It has caused gangrene, fits and death. That is why low strengths and the mother tincture must be left alone.

How much Secale cornutum should you take?

• Recommended daily: No dose has been proven to work, because the remedy has not been shown to work at all. In common homeopathic practice, people take 3 to 5 pellets of a 30C strength under the tongue, two or three times a day. Some homeopaths give a single dose and then wait. Do not use the mother tincture or low strengths such as 1X, 2X or 3X at home. These can still hold real ergot poison.
• Best time of day: Any time of day. Homeopaths often suggest spacing doses evenly, such as morning, afternoon and bedtime. No time of day has been shown to matter.
• With or without food: The usual advice is to take it on a clean mouth, about 15 minutes away from food, drink, coffee or toothpaste. There is no evidence that this changes anything.
• Time to effect: Homeopaths expect a change within hours to a few days. Since trials do not separate the remedy from a dummy pill, any change you notice may simply be the problem settling on its own.
• How long to take it: Keep it short. Most homeopaths suggest three days at most for a sudden problem, then a rethink. If nothing has changed in three days, stop. If your symptoms are getting worse, see a doctor instead of taking more.