What is Tuberculinum?

Tuberculinum is a homeopathic remedy. It is made from matter taken from a cow lung that had tuberculosis (a serious lung infection). Its Latin name is Nosode ex tuberculo bovino, and it is also called the tuberculin nosode.

A nosode is a remedy made from diseased tissue or a germ. The starting matter is heated, filtered and then watered down again and again, with shaking at each step. At the common 30C strength, no molecule of the cow material is likely to be left in the pill or drop.

Homeopaths give it to people who get one chest cold after another, or who are restless, thin and sweat at night. They pick it to fit the whole person, not one symptom. Long use inside a tradition is not proof that a remedy works, and here the trials do not back it up.

The short verdict: there is no good human trial evidence that Tuberculinum works better than a dummy pill.

How does Tuberculinum work?

Homeopathy rests on two ideas. The first is "like cures like": a thing that could cause an illness is said to treat it. The second is that shaking and watering down make a remedy stronger, not weaker.

Neither idea fits what we know about the body or about chemistry. At 30C there is no source material left to act on you.

Any change people notice is best explained by other things. Many illnesses get better on their own. Belief in a treatment, and a long, kind consultation, can also make people feel better.

What forms does Tuberculinum come in?

Common forms you will see:

Small sugar pills or tiny granules that melt under the tongue. Liquid drops in an alcohol and water base. Single-dose tubes of granules.

Strengths are written as 30C, 200C, 1M or 10M. A higher number means the material was watered down more times, not that it is stronger in any measured way.

In some countries nosodes are sold only by prescription or by licensed practitioners. Check your local rules.

Where it comes from:

The remedy dates from the 1880s. American homeopath Samuel Swan prepared a nosode from tuberculous tissue, and British homeopath James Compton Burnett made a related one he called Bacillinum.

James Tyler Kent and later writers gave it a large place in homeopathic books. It became one of the best known nosodes in that tradition.

Its standing rests on case notes and teaching, not on trials.

What does Tuberculinum help with?

• Repeated colds and chest infections in children: This is the classic use in homeopathic books. Homeopaths give it to a child who catches every bug that goes around. No trial supports this. Most children grow out of frequent colds on their own, which makes case reports hard to read.
• Wheezy breathing and asthma-type symptoms: Old homeopathic texts list a tight, wheezy chest that is worse in damp air. There is no trial evidence for this remedy in asthma. Asthma can turn dangerous fast, so keep using your inhalers and your doctor's plan.
• Night sweats: Sweating at night is part of the traditional picture, because it was a sign of the illness the remedy was made from. Night sweats can also point to infection, thyroid problems or cancer. Get them checked rather than treated at home.
• Restlessness and poor sleep: Homeopathic writers describe a restless person who wants to travel and never settles. This is a description, not a finding. No trial has tested the remedy for sleep or restlessness.
• Eczema (itchy, dry skin rash): It appears in old texts for dry, itchy skin that comes and goes. Trials of homeopathy for eczema have not shown a clear benefit over dummy treatment, and none tested this remedy on its own.
• Repeated ear infections: Used in practice for children with ear infection after ear infection. There is no trial for this remedy here. Ear pain with fever, or fluid draining from the ear, needs a doctor.
• Poor appetite and low weight: A thin child who eats little is part of the traditional picture. Weight loss without a clear reason is a warning sign at any age. It should be checked by a doctor first.

Which foods are rich in Tuberculinum?

This is not found in any food. It is a prepared remedy only.

What are the side effects of Tuberculinum?

• Most people notice nothing at all.
• A short flare of old symptoms, which homeopaths call an aggravation; this has not been shown to be real.
• Upset stomach, wind or a rash in people who react to lactose (milk sugar) in the pills.
• Flushing or a sick feeling from the alcohol in liquid drops.
• Delay in getting real care for a serious illness: this is the main harm.

Good to know:

Direct harm from the remedy itself is very unlikely. At 30C there is nothing of the source matter left, so there is nothing to poison you and no risk of catching anything.

The real risk sits elsewhere. People use it in place of tested treatment, and the illness gets worse while they wait.

Tell your doctor about anything you take, even a remedy this dilute.

How much Tuberculinum should you take?

• Recommended daily: No dose has been set by trials, because the trials have not been done. In practice, homeopaths give a single dose of 30C or 200C and then wait. They may not repeat it for weeks or months. Over-the-counter packs often say a few pills or drops once or twice a day. Follow the label on the pack you bought, or the advice of a licensed practitioner.
• Best time of day: Any time. Homeopathic advice is to take it with a clean mouth, away from strong tastes like coffee, toothpaste or mint. This is tradition, not a tested rule.
• With or without food: Usually taken on an empty mouth, about 15 minutes before or after food or drink.
• Time to effect: No reliable time can be given. Homeopaths may speak of days or weeks. Since trials do not show an effect beyond placebo, treat any timeline you are quoted with care.
• How long to take it: Short use only. If nothing has changed in two to four weeks, stop and think again. Never keep taking it in place of care for a cough, fever or weight loss that will not go away.