PSORINUM – Peter Morrell

PSORINUM
by Peter Morrell

watercolour – Sandstone caves in Nottingham near to the castle. 1982 – Peter
Morrell

Introduction

This article has been created over three years and in that time I have
refined my original ideas so that I feel I can now write with greater certainty. I have
moved repeatedly between observation, practice and theoretical considerations, in order to
test and re-test the original ideas. I have also spent a lot of time collecting fresh data.

I felt the need to do this because there are many original observations
about Psorinum in this article. It is not just a modern restatement of Hahnemann’s work. The
ideas presented here form part of a much larger work on the Psora theory and the history of
disease which shows no sign of being finished at the moment. So these notes are mainly about
Psorinum as a remedy in homceopathy and the major indications for its use. Inevitably, we
must also consider some aspects of Hahnemann’s controversial Psora theory, though I have
tried to keep this brief.

Psorinum has become the single most interesting and important remedy in
the Materia Medica. One reason for this interest is personal, I myself had scabies in 1971,
along with 5 other members of my family. Since then I have watched with fascination, not
only the unfolding of myriad illnesses and symptoms within the members of the family and
their offspring, but I have also seen the profound and curative effects of Psorinum as a
remedy. Psorinum is a very full remedy, with a very large symptomatology, much larger than
is indicated in any Materia Medica. It could prove to be as vast as to include all the
antipsoric medicines within its “sphere of action”. It is the Aladdin’s Cave and
the Pandora’s Box of homceopathy, as it contains and can release both wonders and demons!

Psorinum appears to be a cure-all or panacea (more on this later). It
broadly covers and includes Sulphur, Zincum, Natrum muriaticum, Petroleum and Graphites and
to a lesser extent Sepia, Arsenicum album, Phosphorus, Argentum nitricum, Calcarea
carbonica, Silica and Lycopodium. All these remedies are “big stars” in their own
right, but I feel that they are better seen as merely a part of the constellation Psorinum,
for that seems to be their natural habitat. In other words, Psorinum is a vast remedy, that
embraces all the above remedies.

In general, cases with a strong indication for one of the above remedies
will almost certainly lead into Psorinum eventually. Such cases are moving towards Psorinum,
because the underlying driving force of the case is Psora. A case begins to unravel under
the influence of our remedies. It unravels in the general direction of the original cause,
be it Sycosis, Syphilis or Psora. Thus strongly Psoric cases unravel towards Psorinum and it
is sensible to accept this fact and be guided by it.
While there have always been some theoretical objections to confusing the remedy with the
miasm (see Allen and Dudgeon), these are of more interest to pedants than to practitioners
of homceopathy! Theory that cannot be substantiated in fact, is always inferior to fact that
can be substantiated, no matter how peculiar or heretical the latter may seem to be, and no
matter how attractive and intellectually satisfying the theory. It is all too easy to be
deceived into, what Russell called “intellectual rubbish”! Reading Dudgeon should
ensure that this point is clearly understood. The truth of the Psora theory, comes not from
grandiose reasoning, but through accurate observation of cases.

The three main features of Psorinum are offensiveness, itchiness and
inveterate states. These three run through all of its conditions. There is nearly always
itchiness and offensiveness, often combined with a torpid lack of reaction. This lack of
reaction is often deep-seated and insidious. In the worst cases it is a slumbering lack of
symptoms which fails to manifest itself at all: a dormant or quiescent Psora (physical and
mental torpor?). Sulphur, of course, is sufficiently close to Psorinum to bring about a
shillt and dislodge the blockage for many cases. But Psorinum itself is eveii better.
Psorinum unjams jammed-up cases because it is a feature of the miasm. Sulphur does the same
because it is the leading antipsoric remedy after Psorinum. In torpid cases, one of the
first and centrifugal effects of taking Psorinum is the return of itchiness of the skin, and
this, as Kent among others, noticed, is always a good sign.

The Drug Picture

The main features of Psorinum are:

1. Inveterate conditions in general (never get well).
2. Inveterate dirtiness and offensiveness – mouth, sweat, axillae,
   geni-tals, flatus, stools, eruptions, feet, etc.
3. Lack of reaction (sensitivity) to remedies, to disease, to weather, to
   low potencies, to anything (torpor).
4. Itchiness of the skin, especially in folds and where the skin is thin,
   forexample:behind ears, behind knees, iii fold of elbow, folds of neck, wrists, axillae,
   groin, genitals, between toes, between fingers, around and in the navel, around anus and
   perineum, on face, along the jawline, in whiskersand around mouth. Itchiness made worse
   by wool, abrasion of clothes, heat, hot bath, heat of bed, undressing. (NB. the above
   symptoms also apply to scabies itself).
5. Skin centred cases and complaints -psoriasis, eczema, impetigo, acne,
   blackheads, herpes, warts, itchiness, dry crusts or watery oozing, scabs, scales,
   cracks, desquamation, etc. Generally itching intensely at times and in places indicated
   above. At first relieved and later aggravated by scratching.
6. A history of skin conditions (see 5) in certain places (see 4) in
   parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, etc.
7. Hard and uncomfortable nasal crusts and scabs form high up in the
   nostrils, difficult to detach and re-form after doing so. Leads to chronic nosepicking.
8. Fungal infections – oral and genital candida (thrush), ringworm (of
   scalp, hands, legs, etc), athlete’s foot, recurrent attacks that are temporarily
   improved by Sulphur, Lycopodium or Silica.
9. Parasitic infestations – pinworms, nits, fleas, headlice, crabs.
   Recurrent attacks, especially among children.
10. Allergic reactions of all kinds – asthma, bayfever, skin, nose and eye
    reactions to pollens, dust, feathers, certain foods, detergents, oils, chemi-cals,etc.
11. Reactions to vaccinations and immunisations, giving rise to
    chronicnasal catarrh (mucus clear or green), asthma, bronchial colds, frequentcolds,
    chronic coughs, and more serious conditions, for example: brain damage.
12. A host of infant & childhood complaints, especially as listed above
    (see5,8,9 and 10) in places indicated (see 4,5). These also include nappy-rash, nasal
    catarrh, painful teething, susceptibility to colds or flu, night terrors, sleeplessness
    in infants, petulant behaviour, waxiness, crustiness and offensiveness of the ears
    including discharges (otorrhoea), measles, German measles, chicken pox, heat rash.
13. Haemorrhoids. Varicosities, ulcers and chilblains of extremities
    ankles, feet, toes, fingers, legs – all itching and painful, inflamed to some degree,
    worse for cold, heat, undressing, scratching.
14. Non-sycotic (that is most forms of) asthma, bronchial catarrh,
    bronchitis, shortness of breath, incipient tuberculosis.
15. Offensively sweaty feet, hands and axillae of an inveterate nature,
    often associated with fungal infection (tinea pedis).
16. Dandruff, greasy hair, itching of scalp, greasy and dirty skin (face,
    hands, chest, back). Desires to wash them frequently, especially hands.
17. The patient will not improve while drinking coffee or remedies seem to
    be antidoted by coffee.
18. Well indicated remedies fail to act, or act for a time and then abort
    and fail thereafter. Needs remedies too frequently. Needs high potencies to achieve an
    effect. Needs the highest potencies too frequently (eg. weekly or even daily).
19. Frequent indication for Sulphur, Petroleum, Zincum, Graphites, Natrum
    muriaticum, Lycopodium, Arsenicum album, Phosphorus, Argentum nitricum, Calcarea
    carbonica, Sepia or Silica which improve for a time and then abort.
20. A history within a family of any or several of the above symptoms (esp.
    4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 13 & 15.) strongly indicates a Psoric state and thus the certain
    indi cation of Psorinum at some time in their treatment, most probably towards the end
    of it.
21. Seasonal conditions, that appear in one season only for example: the
    spring, summer or winter (less so autumn). Worse for warmth, cold, warmth of bed,
    undressing, standing, hot baths, scratching. Better for quiet, rest, lying down. Often
    feels unusually well the day before an aggravation.

I have observed all the above symptoms and conditions in a variety of
people who have had scabies or whose parents have had the disease. This particularly
includes myself, my mother, my wife (and her family) and our two children. An increasing
number of the symptoms have also been confirmed in practice. The rest of the Psorinum
picture can be found in the standard Materia Medica.

The mass of evidence out of which this article grew is too large to
include but will be part of a larger work.

None of these features require much further amplification, They are all
self-evident, bare features of the remedy and the underlying Psoric state. Clearly, for use
in practice they should be thought about carefully so as to become thoroughly familiar.

If Psora does cover 85% of all human illness and Psorinum is the major
antipsoric medicine, then we need a clearer picture of Psorinum than is presented in most
Materia Medica. The material presented here is an effort in that direction. Much of this
material is either unavailable elsewhere or it is present in a garbled, underemphasised or
misleading form. Kent’s Repertory is also deficient for Psorinum.

Other symptoms

There is also a host of other symptoms, some minor and others as yet
onlypartly substantiated, which I include for the sake of completeness. These include:

1. Shyness, timidity, melancholy, introverted, anxious, irritable,
   depressed.
2. Great overreaction to slights, angers easily, becomes abusive and
   vio-lent.
3. Excessive tiredness.
4. Insomnia, sleeplessness, wakes too early and cannot sleep again due
   toactivity of mind, heat, sweat, itching, or etc.
5. Hair tangles, becomes brittle, sticks together easily, becomes dry and
   white. Split ends of the hair (recurrent or chronic).
6. Ophthalmia, photophobia, glaucoma.
7. Lip herpes.
8. Bleeding of the gums, while cleaning teeth. Recession of gums fromthe
   roots of the teeth, especially lower incisors. Accumulation of tartar on inner side and
   between lower incisors. Furriness of the tongue, esp. at base.
9. Nausea, after eating, smell of food, smell of tobacco smoke, in
   preg-nancy, in mornings. Acid dyspepsia, burning in stomach after certain foods.
10. Offensive diarrhoea, alternating with constipation. Difficult
    stool,must wait, partial, incomplete, must return to several times. Hot, sulphurous
    (highly offensive) flatus.
11. Urinary disorders-polyps, cystitis.
12. Uterine, menstrual and childbirth disorders; for example:
    delayedopening of the cervix, weak labour.
13. Impotence.
14. Coronary thrombosis and strokes.
15. Tuberculosis.
16. Arthritis, aching, swollen joints. Cracking or snapping of joints of
    ankle, fingers, jaw, also toes, shoulders, knees, hips.
17. Viral infections in general seem to rest on a Psoric base; for example:
    colds and flu. Cancer.
18. Great sensitivity to cold weather, draughts, especially hands, fingers,
    toes and head, must wrap up.

These lists cover nearly all modern illness. Hahnemann said that Psora
covers 85% of all human illness: I would go further and say 95%. Hahnemann also said that
Psora is a Hydra-headed miasm that grows out into numerous and diverse forms, which has also
been illustrated in these lists.Finally, there is a good deal of overlap with what Hahnemann
includes in his list “Symptoms of Latent Psora”. It is not that I have copied
Hahnemann but that there is overlap of observations. I originally observed similarsymptoms
and then used Hahnemann’s lists as the basis of further observations. I have checked and
confirmed only a small portion of Hahnemann’s lists. Although many of the above conditions
and symptoms may be relieved by conventional homoeopathic treatment, often for several
years, eventually the usual constitutional remedies will come to fail and the patient will
move towards graver conditions as the need for Psorinum increases. It is at this point that
the remarkable and truly unique power of Psorinum manifests, being able to turn back the
seemingly inexorable tide of grave illness even at the eleventh hour. This appears to be an
aspect of Psorinum that Hahnemann did not have the necessary time to discover

The Psoric MiasmThe relationship between Psora and Psorinum has an
interesting and not untroubled history. As many homoeopaths will be aware, the debate raged
in the last century over the relative truth or absurdity of Hahnemann’s Psora theory. As a
result, within homoeopathy, two divergent schools of thought were formed: firstly the
cynical and critical disbelievers who thought Hahnemann had finally lost his marbles! And
secondly the gullible sycophants who lapped up every word the “Master” uttered.
Between these two extremes there was little room for careful or rational conjecture. I feel
that this situation was to some extent a product of Hahnemann’s obsessive and paranoid
attitude to any form of even mildly critical suggestion. It is well known that he demanded
total devotion from his closest colleagues, he often formed theories on scant evidence and
he was unnecessarily angry and impatient with other medical theorists and practitioners of
the day. These attitudes are still common in medicine and were also present to some extent
in Kent.It is quite possible that now, a century and a half later, similar emotional
reactions will reappear to a new airing of the Psora Theory. Yet I am happy to brave the
storm of derision, should there be one. Perhaps people do not believe the Psora Theory
because of their poor powers of observation of cases, symptoms and connections, often over
very long periods of time. One also needs considerable thinking time available in order to
deeply ponder the available data. It took Hahnemann 12 years of the most meticulous
observation to formulate his Psora Theory. 12 years in which he was a very busy man, by no
means wealthy and father of a large and nomadic family. Perhaps the venom he reserved for
his critics was due to his conviction of the unique and precious nature of his ‘arcane’
discoveries. He viewed homoeopathy as his brainchild, his precious discovery and his gift to
ailing humanity, and he viewed himself as its sole guardian and patriarch.

I feel that he was right about Psora and in particular the following now
modified premises:

1. That the itch or scabies does produce a deep-seated and
   “congenital” miasm, that is, an inner predisposition dormant or active and
   able to produce clearly recognizable and predictable symptoms and complaints in the
   individual and her or his offspring for perpetuity.
2. That the history of all human illness is traceable to skin diseases in
   ancestors.
3. That all skin diseases are traceable to scabies in self or ancestors.
4. That possibly plague and certainly leprosy and elephantiasis are
   closelyallied to Psora, in some, as yet, undetermined way, as portrayed by Leviticus in
   the Bible.
5. That the word Psora does not come from the Hebrew “Tsorat”
   meaning a groove or stigma, (equating it with “original sin” or spiritual
   downfall), but that it comes from Psora, the Greek word for scabies.*) Being a
   great linguist it is hardly likely that Hahnemann would have chosen an ambiguous name
   for the theory that, to him, would ensure his immortal fame, and rank him along with
   figures like Kepler, Pythagoras and Plato.

In my view, homoeopaths like Kent have done a great disservice to the
Psora Theory by pursuing ‘religious’ arguments and introducing moral elements that are
completely alien to the original theory as conceived by Hahnemann. Kent’s writings are
packed with pure conjecture about the miasm; ideas which are unsubstantiated and highly
misleading opinions. Unfortunately, these accretions to the original theory have become
generally accepted as part of the theory itself. It must be emphasised that they are not
part of the theory.6. These conclusions are substantiated by the use of the potentised itch
vesicle and its obvious and profound powers to influence the health of all human beings.It
may seem difficult to comprehend all of this data and grasp the main issues. The two most
important points to emphasise about Psorinum are its unique power and importance as a
remedy, and the effect of scabies on subsequent human health.

Both of these points seem to be indisputable in practice and form a firm
sheet- anchor for the rest of the theory. They are the most easily verified points upon
which the whole theory rests. It is a very worthwhile undertaking for any competent
homceopath, to explore them both with the utmost diligence and care. If necessary a personal
proving should be undertaken. The critics of the Psora theory ought first to carefully
consider the following questions:

1. If the Psoric Miasm does not exist then why does scabies give rise to
   the conditions listed above, and leave them in a family for generation upon generation?
2. If the Psora theory is a nonsense, then why is the potentised product
   of”mere” scabies the most powerful remedy in the Materia Medica, which is
   capable of unjamming blocked cases, causing beneficial changes in all cases (most
   clearly seen in young children) and being able to turn the tide of serious illness?
3. If the Psoric Miasm does not exist, then how can we explain the ability
   of Psorinum to remove all the above listed conditions and symptoms from an individual
   and her or his offspring? This question outlines the non sequitur of separating the
   miasm from the nosode, (which 1 speculate applies equally well to Medorrhinum and
   Syphilinum).

The answers to these questions follow the same line of reasoning as
Hahnemann himself and can be read in the Chronic Diseases. More theoretical considerations
will have to wait for a future article. The Psora Theory becomes more and more vivid and
sensible only through observation in practice. It is elevated to the status of Truth
(Natural Law) not by speculation and grandiose reasoning, but through the sheer dint of
observation of cases and experience of using Psorinum as a remedy. Compiling evidence in
this way proves inductively the good sense of the Psora Theory.

The long-term and internal health of the patient is protected if
conditions are left untouched on the skin. The more they are tampered with, the greater is
the danger to the health of the patient. These observations are confirmed repeatedly in
practice. Chronic illness within a family begets and stems from a state that is passed on to
the progeny and which perpetuates further illness. This chronic illness can always be traced
back to a venereal disease or a skin eruption and ultimately these can be traced back to a
case of scabies. This is the main thrust of Hahnemann’s Psora Theory and I have seen nothing
in practice so far to contradict a single word of it. If he had had the time, Hahnemann
would have seen that ultimately the miasm can only be removed by using the nosode, and this
is why Psorinum is the single most powerful remedy in the whole of medicine. That the misasm
and the nosode are two sides of the same coin and that this forms a uniquely potent key to
unlock the mysteries of human disease. It could be called the Philosopher’s Stone of the
healing art!

Use of Psorinum in practice

First a word of great caution, which is extremely important. Do not give
Psorinum in high potency first, over 200c. Appalling aggravations can occur, including the
most ugly and inveterate skin eruptions, often all over the face and head and lasting for
many, many weeks. These will not be removed even if coffee is drunk by the gallon nor if Nux
vomica is consumed as liberally! They must be left until they disappear of their own accord.
Untold distress to patients is the obvious possibility here, which must be avoided at all
cost. The eruptions can also cover the whole body and seem to gravitate especially to the
same areas as scabies itself (see note 4 above). This warning especially applies to people
who have had scabies themselves. The same effortless and magical curative results ensue, if
we are patient and very gradually ascend the potencies. A typical and safe dose pattern
might be as follows: start at 30 or 200 (one dose or triple split dose) and leave well alone
for 1 month. If symptoms are still coming, leave for a further month. Repeat the 200 and
wait 2 to 4 weeks. Continue up to 1 M and IOM in the same way, waiting longer each time. It
will be necessary to go up to the DM & MM eventually, but one must be very patient as it
is a very slow, profound and deep-acting remedy, that elicits change and symptoms for many
months. One of the interesting features is that after ingesting the remedy there is often a
delay of 9-10 days before any change appears. This is just the same with scabies itself,
during which time the female mite burrows into the skin, lays her first batch of eggs, which
hatch and disperse around the host.

A case can go on needing the remedy for many months, or years. Psora is
not a blockage that is quickly removed after a few doses of the 200 or 10M. That is an
impatient approach that will not bear fruitful results. Greater patience is required than
with probably any other remedy. In using Psorinum one is frequently amazed at its ability to
spring back into activity with undiminished power after a period of relative dormancy and
still bring beneficial changes to a case. It has a remarkable felicity of action, rising
phoenixlike from the ashes of the last spent dose and taking up the work again, bringing
renewed vigour with each dose. It genuinely seems to be a remedy of inexhaustible power and
intensity. No case would seem to be too far gone for its use. I can find no remedy to match
it, no parallel within the whole Materia Medica. It is a truly awesome and inspiring remedy
to use in general practice.

The chief antidotes, if its action is rather coarse, are Nux vomica and
coffee. Tuberculinum bovinum and Carcinosin will also tame its action. Tuberculinum bovinum
is considered to be its main acute parallel, and the two will antidote each other. The use
of coffee should be reduced, and if necessary eliminated, when on Psorinum, as it certainly
spoils its action. This is probably yet further evidence of the universality of the Psoric
miasm: for coffee will antidote most Psoric (and other) remedies and the action of any
remedy in some possibly psoric cases. The effect of coffee on Psoric cases was noticed by
Hahnemann and deceived him into ranking it as a major cause of human disease, until he
realised the Psora theory, based on his observations of skin conditions and family medical
histories. Careful exami nation of the drug picture of Coffea should convince vou that,
unlike Psorinum, it is clearly not a very profound and constitutional remedy.

The action of Psorinum is centrifugal and this is due to the origin of the
miasm, which has been suppressed inwards from the skin. Thus Psoric remedies in general and
Psorinum in particular, expel the miasm in reverse order, from within outwards and from
above downwards and conditions triggered or initiated by the miasm are alleviated in the
reverse order of their original appearance.

All skin creams, footsprays and similar items should be banned during its
use, as these also spoil its action and undo the work it is doing. This especially applies
to cortisone creams, zinc-based ointments and footsprays, calamine lotion, zinc and castor
oil cream (for baby’s nappy rash), anti-fungal creams, etc.I have also noticed that single
doses of Psorinum 200, 1M and IOM used 3-4 times a year with infants and young children act
as an excellent prophylactic against nearly all childhood illnesses. And this is also worth
knowing, but these and many other observations require further confirmation in practice.

References

The main sources of useful information about Psorinum and Psora are as
follows: