Materia Medica

Bowel Nosodes

Written by S. Praveen Kumar

A useful article about Bowel Nosodes.Full details about Bowel Nosodes

Medicines prepared from cultures of non lactose fermenting bacterial flora of the intestinal tract are called intestinal Bowel Nosodes. They are not the morbid product of disease, but they are classified under nosodes.

B.coli in the intestinal tract perform normal & useful function when the intestinal mucosa is healthy, but any change in the host that affects the intestinal mucosa will affect the balance, and change the biochemistry of B.coli. It should be noted that the primary change i.e. the disease, originated in the host which compels the bacilli to modify in order to survive.

The proving of bowel nosodes were not conducted in the strict Hahnemannian sense, but on clinical observation of the sick person.

1. Dr. Edward Bach (1886 – 1936)

A bacteriologist in London discovered that certain intestinal germs belonging to non lactose fermenting gram negative coli, typhoid group, had a close connection with chronic disease and its cure. These germs are present in healthy and diseased individuals but in the latter case it is pathogenic. He isolated the bacilli and prescribed it for the patient in the form of a vaccine – an autogenous vaccine – and claimed to cure the disease.

Years later he potentised the vaccine according to the Homoeopathic principle, administered and cured so many patients. The first full preparation of clinical proving was done in 1929 by Thomas Dishington on Dysentery co.

In 1930 Bach briefly summarized the clinically derived indication for most of the nosodes.
In 1930 he stopped the research on Bowel nosodes and discovered “Bach flower remedies”.

2. JOHN PATERSON (1890- 1955)

A co-worker of Bach concentrated on this research after 1929. He studied more deeply the characteristics of the bowel flora, especially their behavior in health, disease and in drug provings. He examined more than 20,000 stool specimens and conducted research over 20 years.

He came to the following conclusions: The non lactose fermenting non pathogenic bowel flora (B.coli) undergoes definite changes in the disease condition. While this alternation in the nature of bowel flora might be a mere concomittant to the disease condition, there is reason to believe that the B.coli actually turns pathogenic.

The balance of the bowel flora is disturbed in disease.

Similar changes are also observed in drug provings.

  • Paterson advocated specific recommendation on potency, dose and repetition of bowel nosodes.
  • He related each bowel nosode to a group of Homoeopathic remedies.
  • Bach found out that the non lactose fermenting gram -‘ve coli was closely associated with the symptoms collectively called Psora by Hahnemann.
  • Paterson believed that gram negative diplococci were directly related to the sycotic miasm.
  • He grouped and typed the flora by continuous experiment and observation. He was able to detect a definite relationship between certain drugs and certain types of bowel flora. When a particular drug was administered in potencies the bowel flora was altered in a particular way.
  • He divided the Morgan group of bacteria into 2 sub classes on bacteriological basis and thus created nosodes – Morgan pure & Morgan gaertner.
  • In1933 Paterson presented a paper on Sycotic co.
  • In 1950 he published summary of his accumulated experience.
  • After his death in 1954, his wife Elizabeth Paterson continued the research.

INDICATIONS FOR THE USE OF BOWEL NOSODES

During case taking, great attention should be given to the past as well as the presenting complaint. Bowel nosodes are deep acting remedies so the case taking must cover the totality of symptoms. The nosode should be administered in the same manner as any Homoeopathic remedy, they should not be given empirically but only on Homoeopathic principles.

Paterson divided the case in to 2 groups

New case – when the patient has not taken Homoeopathic treatment.

Old case – a patient under Homoeopathic treatment but not responding well.

NEW CASES :

1. In a new case where a definite symptom picture points to a remedy, that remedy should be given, not the nosode.

2. In cases where the choice may be from a number of possible remedies, eg. Sulphur, Calcarea, Graphitis, and it is difficult to select a remedy from this, Morgan pure can be considered to cover the totality of symptoms by referring to the table of related remedies.

OLD CASES :

This is an individual who has had Homoeopathic treatment over a period of time and received a considerable number of remedies in various potencies. These are difficult cases, there is no available evidence from stool culture to give a clue to the group of remedies likely to be useful, or indications as to the phase in which the patient is at the moment.

In such cases, it should be remembered that the potentised remedy can alter the bowel flora. In old cases the remedy already given may have caused a positive phase of bowel flora, that is it changed the B.coli predominance to that of non lactose fermenting bacilli.

If the percentage of non lactose fermenting bacteria in the stool is greater than 50% the administration of bowel nosode is contraindicated, the nosode given at that time produces a negative phase with a corresponding period of vital depression in the patient. In such cases use a nosode in 6c potency in the first instance to avoid the chance of violent negative reaction.

The choice of the nosode for any case may be determined by a study of the clinical histories and noting down the remedies which have given the greatest, although not sustained effect. Tabulate this list of remedies and compare it with the nosode list and associated remedies and choose the nosode which has the greatest number within its group.

DOSE, POTENCY & REPETITION

As usual in Homoeopathy, the more obvious the mental picture, the higher the potency, but lower the potency if marked pathological symptoms are present. But between these two extremes use the 30th potency–when there is a combination of acute and chronic state, for example, in chronic bronchopneumonia –

  • Proteus acts best in high potency
  • Gartner will not work in low potency

According to Paterson do not repeat a bowel nosode within three months, instead prescribe the homeopathically indicated similimum from the group of remedies (previously given) related to the bowel nosode.
HOW BOWEL NOSODES WORK

After the administration of the suitable nosode, the curative process begins, the non lactose fermenting bacteria begin to mutate to other groups and ultimately disappear, these happenings occur simultaneously with the disappearance of the symptom, reappearance of the old symptoms and the efflorescence of the skin eruptions with ultimate clearing (Hering’s Law). This is associated with a marked increase in the vitality of the patient.

The bacilli change with the patient. This mutation of the non lactose fermenting bacteria back to normal coli has been demonstrated in the laboratory.

IMPORTANT BOWEL NOSODES

  • B.Morgan (Bach)
  • Morgan pure (Paterson)
  • Morgan gaertner (Paterson)
  • Dysntery co. (Bach)
  • B.Proteus (Bach)
  • Gartner (Bach)
  • Sycotic co. (Paterson)
  • Bacillus No.7 (Paterson)
  • B.Mutabile (Bach)
  • B.Feacalis (Bach)
  • Bacillus No.10 (Paterson)
  • Cocal co

1. MORGAN (Bach)

A non lactose fermenting, most frequently found in stools and it has the greatest number of associated remedies than other nosodes.
“Congestion” is the keynote
Biochemistry: Sulphur and Calcarea carb stand out the most
Frequently prescribed when there is repeated bronchopneumonia in children
MIND: Introspective, avoid company but often show mental anxiety if left alone
Depression with suicidal tendency
HEAD: Congestive headache with flushed face in hot climate, traveling etc.
Vertigo from high BP

GIT: Bilious attack with severe headache > by vomiting large quantity of bile stained mucus ( In Migrane & Menopause)
Cholecystitis, Gallstone, constipation, hemorrhoids etc.
RESP: Recurrent attack of bronchopneumonia in children
URINARY: Congestive pneumonia & menopausal flushing.
CIRCULATION: Tendency to varicose veins & hemorrhoids in children due to congestion
Painful swelling of articulation of hand.
SKIN: Is the most important area of action Congestion of skin with itching eruption Aggravation from heat, Papulopustular eruption on face
Associated skin remedies are Sulphur, Graphites, Petroleum & Psorinum

MORGAN PURE (Paterson)

Indicated when there is marked skin eruption, disturbance of liver, bilious headache or gallstone.

MORGAN GAERTNER (Paterson )

Most useful in acute inflammatory conditions as in renal colic and gallstone colic
Aggravation at 4-8 pm
Loss of hair in bunches
Noisy eructation with bad smell
Rectal prolapse
Thick brown corrosive bad smelling leucorrhoea

2. PROTEUS (Bach )

Key note: Suddenness in nearly all complaints
Always related to central and peripheral nervous system
Biochemistry: The outstanding element is chlorine

MIND:
Out burst of violence and temper especially if opposed.
Child lies on floor kick & screams
GIT: Duodenal ulcer due to prolonged mental strain (Nat. m )
NEUROMUSCULAR SYSTEM:
Cramps of muscles (Cup)
Spasm of peripheral circulation resulting in intermittent
claudicating and dead fingers.
Highly recommended in Raynaud’s disease and Miner’s disease.
SKIN: Angioneurotic edema (Apis)
Marked sensitivity to UV light.

3. BACILLUS No.7 (Paterson)

Keynote: Mental & physical fatigue, old rheumatism
Biochemistry: Br & Iodine
MIND: Outstanding mental fatigue
URINARY: Feeble urinary out flow, loss of sexual function, premature senility
RESP: Asthma, bronchial catarrh, tough mucus (Kali.c )
HEART: Slow pulse rate with low BP
K+ as a specific action on cardiac muscle
Throbbing of capillary vessels of fingers

4. GARTNER (Bach)

Key note: Malnutrition
Biochemistry: Sil, P, Fl, Merc-viv
Overactive brain with undernourished body
Chew nails, sleep for a long time
GIT: Intestinal infantilism
Inability to digest fat- celiac disease. Chronic gastrocolitis, tabes mesentrica, thread worms
GUT: Presence of blood and mucus in urine
Profuse fetid leucorrhoea with prostration

5. DYSENTERY CO. (Bach)

Keynote: Anticipatory nervous tension
MIND: Anticipation
Hypersensitive to criticism
Shyness and uneasiness
GIT: Selective action on the pylorus causing spasm & retention of digestive content Inflammation of nasal, ocular and pharyngeal mm
MARKED IMPROVEMENT IN CONGENITAL PYLORIC STENOSIS
Duodenal ulcer from nervous tension.
In proteus – nervous tension is insidious in action, unperceived by the patient and the physical condition – the ulcer- tends to come suddenly with out warning.
CVS: Anticipatory discomfort in cardiac area.

6. SYCOTI CO. ( Paterson)

A PRE-TUBERCULAR REMEDY
Key note: Irritability with special reference to synovial & mucus membrane
Mind: Temporary nervous irritability (Lyc) fear of dark, alone while
HEAD: Headache due to sinusitis, abundant perspiration at night
Persistent headache in a child may be a feature of or prodromal sign of tubercular meningitis
Premature grayness
GIT: Chronic irritation of the whole alimentary tract (Med)
Urgent call to stool, as soon as rising from bed
RESP: Acute, subacute & chronic bronchial catarrh
Enlarged tonsils and adenoids in children
Fibrosity of the thoracic wall
Considered as a tubercular remedy

CIRCULATION: Always an anemic look
Painful swollen hands with pain in soles
NEUROMUSCULAR: Rheumatic complaint < in damp & rest (Rhus)
SKIN: Vesicular warts on an oily skin
Warts on mucocutaneous surface
Fibrotic indurations of skin
URINARY: Nocturnal enuresis in children
Pyelonephritis, urethritis and cystitis
FEMALE: Pain in Lt. Ovary during menses
Tubal infections, profuse leucorrhoea

7. MUTABILE (Bach)

It is named so because it mutates as soon as it is sub-cultured from a non lactose to a lactose fermenter. It is an intermediary form between B.coli and the true non lactose fermenting type.
Associated remedy is Pulsatilla
Used in the treatment where there is alternation of symptoms or changeability
e.g. Skin eruptions alternate with asthma
Food allergy of all type
Albuminuria ( Foubister)

8. B. FAECALIS

Similar to sepia
Not well proved

9. BACILLUS No.10 ( Paterson )

Spongy gums
Cannot digest egg and fat
Greenish fish smelling leucorrhoea
Numerous flat warts on hands
Lipoma

10. COCAL CO. (Paterson)

In septic state
Not well proved

BOWEL NOSODES & RELATED REMEDIES

MORGAN PURE SULPHUR
MORGAN GARTNER LYCOPODIUM
PROTEUS NAT. MUR
MUTABILE PULSATILLA
BACILLUS NO.7 Br,KALI C,IOD
GAERTNER MERC VIV, SIL, PHOS
DYSentery CO. ARS ALB
SYCOTIC CO. THUJA
B. FAECALIS. SEPIA

About the author

S. Praveen Kumar

S. Praveen Kumar

13 Comments

  • Hi
    Only just found your excellent article on the Bowel Nosodes.
    Which abbreviations do you use; as say Arg-n for Argentum nitricum etc.
    bless
    A

  • article on bowel nosodes is very informative & useful,however if you publish a case of bowel nosode in h.pathy it will be of great help .

  • I am a 65 year old male and I went to see a homeopath for general health advice.

    I was prescribed Morgan Gaertner 200c 7 grams – 3 pills for 3 consecutive days

    Wait for 3 weeks

    Then take Lycopodium Clavatum 12c 7 grams – 2 pills a day for a month

    Please can someone tell me more about these items and the doses.

    Thank you

    AA

  • It would be wonderful if Hpathy.com could put Elizabeth Paterson’s A Survey of Nosodes in their online library. It is a short pamphlet, I’ve been told, and is out of print. Thank you for your great efforts.

  • I have some question.
    In this book, “The Bowel Nosodes”, there are the following texts:

    *Read to the Rhodacienne Homoeopathic Society at the meeting of the International Homoeopathic League Council, August, 1949.

    Are this texts the quote of this book?
    If you know about this, can you tell me?

  • Hello
    Can you please tell me where can you purchase the Bowel Nosode B.Mutabile (Bach). I have never heard about it.

    i live in London UK and Helios Pharmacy does not have it and has not even heard about it?
    I too have not heard about this Bowel Nosode.
    Thank You

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