🌿 Traditional Herbal Medicine Profile
This page outlines the crude botanical applications, traditional herbal infusions, and active properties of Ichthyolum. Herbal preparations act biochemically on body tissues.
▲GENERAL
Ichthyolum is an unproved remedy which has been used in old -school therapeutics as an
external application and internally in skin affections, rheumatismJoint, muscle, or tissue painInflammatory pain, stiffness, and swelling in joints, muscles, or surrounding connective tissues., scrofula, nephritisInflammation of the kidneysAn inflammatory condition of the kidneys, affecting their filtering units, which can cause pain, blood in urine, or swelling. and gonorrhea.
Ichth is a powerful antiseptic.
It has achieved marked results as an external ap plication to rheumaticRelating to joint or muscle painDescribe pain, stiffness, or inflammation affecting joints, muscles, or connective tissues. joints.
A
solution of equal parts of Ichthyol and water is warmed and applied to the affected joint on calico and covered
with heated cloths, outside of which is an impervious fabric to prevent evaporation.
Pure Ichthyol or an ointment of Lanoline and Ichthyol may be used instead with Lanoline making up 20 to 50
percent of the ointment.
Externally, it is used as an ointment for chronic eczemaItchy, inflamed skin conditionAn inflammatory skin rash causing dry, red, itchy, and sometimes cracking or blistered skin patches., psoriasisSkin disease causing scaly red patchesA skin disease that causes red, itchy, scaly patches, most commonly on the knees, elbows, trunk, and scalp., acne rosacea,
gouty joints, chilblains and scabies.
Rectal suppositories for senile prostate.
Its action on skin, mucus
membranes and kidneys is prompt and useful.
It is strongly anti -parasitic, redness, pain and inflammation, and dec reases tension.
Polyarthritis.
Chronic
rheumatism.
Uric acid diathesis.
Gouty joints.
Alcoholism, when nothing will stay on stomach.
Hay fever.
Chronic hives.
Excellent in winter coughs of old people.
Tuberculosis, helps nutrition.
Scarpa
claimed to have used it with excellent effect in a large number of cases of tuberculosis
▲HERBAL INTERACTIONS & SAFETY
📊 Comparative Herbal Actions:
Compare: (1) Hep., Calc., Sil., Sulph., Ars., Petr. (2) Ichth. belongs to the Petroleum class of
remedies. (3) Carb -ac. (4) Caust. - lime-water compresses to allay inflammations. (5) Plantago - anodyne
application.
Disagreeable taste, burning sensation, very thirsty.
Nose - Bland coryzaCommon head cold with nasal dischargeAcute inflammation of the nasal mucous membranes, producing sneezing, congestion, and watery discharge., stuffed feeling, feels sore inside.
Irresistible desire to sneeze
▲THROAT
Irritated, pain to ears, sore, dry with hawking and expectoration.
COMMENTS - Anshutz wrote: ‘The principal action of Ichthyol in the following provingTesting a remedy on healthy volunteersThe systematic method of administering a substance to healthy subjects to observe and record the symptoms it produces. seems to have been on
the mucus membranes of the nose and throat, on muscle tissue, producing rheumatic pain, on the skin and
on the urine.
“The blood count was not conclusive, only two cases being tested and in one a diminution of red blood
corpuscles before after taking the drug) was noted.
No marked change in the number or character of the
leucocytes and lymphocytes was noted.
“Most of the provers had increased ap petite and after taking the drug for some time a marked feeling of well-
being.
Stool became free in some cases diarrheaFrequent, loose, and watery stoolsA state of having three or more loose or liquid bowel movements per day. and offensive.
“A languid, tired feeling with mental torpidity while actively taking the drug was usually followed by a feeling of
improved, vigorous health when the drug was left off to be again repeated upon renewed administration of the
remedy.
“The skin showed many interesting changes worthy of further proving, pruritusSevere itching of the skinAn uncomfortable, irritating sensation of the skin that creates an urge to scratch., acne and urticariaHives or itchy raised skin weltsA skin outbreak of red, itchy, swollen bumps triggered by allergic reactions, friction, or stress. being
produced.
Rheumatic pains in different parts of the body were also noted.
“The urine showed valuable changes: Increased urination was noted in all cases with a change in color from
the usual straw to a dark straw or reddish tint.
The solids were increased, as were the sulphates.
“In many cases uric acid was deposited in the form of brick -dust or red sand, which microscopically proved to
be the lozenge, plate and gravelSmall sand-like deposits in urineSmall, sandy or stony deposits passed in the urine, causing painful urination or colic. form of uric acid crystals.
“Calcium oxalate crystals were also found in a few cases and in several instances the passage of the crystals
produced a mild inflammation of the pelvis of the kidney (mild catarrhalRelating to membrane inflammation and mucusRelating to catarrh, which is inflammation of mucous membranes with increased watery discharge. pyelitis) which in the writer's case
disappeared after six months, when the urine had again become normal.
‘Therapeutically it would seem that in Ichthyol we have a potent remedy for the uric acid diathesis with its
various manifestations and symptoms.
Lithemia, as indicated by the urinary proving, should prove amenable
to the drug if given in potencyStrength level of a remedyThe dilution and succussion scale of a remedy (e.g., 6C, 30C, 200C, 1M), indicating its energetic concentration..
“Hay fever symptoms were also prominent in the proving of the drug and its applica tion in this intractable
affection is awaited with interest, local applications of Ichthyol having been used by a number of physicians in
cases of hay fever with quite satisfactory results for some time.
“The lachrymation, coryza and the dry, teasing cough of measles seems also well pictured in some of the
symptoms produced by this drug.
Whooping cough tonsillitisInflammation of the tonsilsInflammation of the tonsils, typically of sudden onset, causing sore throat and fever. and tiresome intractable cough of the aged
suffering from bronchial disorders would also appear to offer a chance for trial with this remedy.
“It was prescribed it in several cases o f gonorrhea with frequent urination and burning in the anterior urethra
with some success.
Some have seen the remedy act beneficially in dry, hacking coughs such as were
developed by the provers.
“The 3x, 6x and 8x potency, especially the latter, were employed.”
▲CHEST
Dry, teasing cough.
BronchitisInflammation of the bronchial tubesInflammation of the mucous membrane in the bronchial tubes, typically causing bronchospasm and coughing., especially of the aged.
Bronchiectasis and tuberculosis
▲ABDOMEN
Nausea.
Griping in umbilical and left hypogastric region.
Increased appetite
▲GENITALS ETC
Fullness in lower abdomen.
Nausea at time of menses
▲EXTREMITIES, LIMBS
Lameness in right shoulder and right lower extremity
▲SKIN
Heat and irritation.
Itching.
Scaly and itching eczema.
Psoriasis.
Hives.
Acne rosacea, erysipelasAcute bacterial skin infectionAn acute, sometimes recurrent, bacterial skin infection characterized by large, raised red patches, especially on the face..
Crops of boils.
Itching during pregnancy
🌿 Premium Botanical Partner
Get certified organic bulk dried herbs, teas, and pure botanical powders from Starwest Botanicals. 100% natural, lab-tested, and chemical-free products.
Consult with a qualified natural health practitioner for a personalized wellness plan. Receive detailed homeopathic analysis tailored to your constitution.
This clinical profile is compiled from: Andrew Chevallier, FNIMH — Herbal Remedies (Eyewitness Companions), and Dr. David Keifer, MD — Herbal Remedies Reference Guide. Synced with traditional botanical use and pharmacological outlines.
🩺Medical Verification & Peer Review:
This profile has been verified by the Herbalhomeo medical team in accordance with authoritative homeopathic references.
⚕️ Information is for educational purposes only. Always consult a professional homeopathic practitioner.