Nosode

From ArticleWorld

A nosode is derived from homotoxicology, a type of homoeopathic therapy created by Hans Heinrich Reckeweg in Germany in the early 1800’s. It refers to the use of either the agent of a disease such as bacteria or virus in the blood or a product of it such as mucous which is then diluted repeatedly until a very low potency is reached. This is then given to a patient suffering from the same disease and the idea is that that person will then be cured by the impetus given to the immune system.

Nosodes need to be administered in very low potencies as they are prepared from diseased secretions and as such would be dangerous in a crude form.

Homeopaths consider the principle to be the same as that used in immunization but with the difference that the goal of a vaccine is to prevent a disease whereas nosodes are given to already infected people and the goal is to cure them of it.

Nosodes in vetenary medicine

The principle has gained support amongst homeopathic vetenarians. One historical example tells of one such vet in 1831 taking blood from a cow infected with anthrax and some nasal mucous for a cow infected with the plague. He prepared nosodes that were used extensively with standard remedies during the 1832 epidemic with great success.