# Ichthyolum ## Remedy Classification - **Type:** Homeopathic Remedy - **Miasm:** Tubercular Miasm - **Temperament:** Neutral - **Aggravation Time:** Neutral/Anytime ## Keynote Indications Ichthyolum is an unproved remedy which has been used in old -school therapeutics as an external application and internally in skin affections, rheumatism, scrofula, nephritis and gonorrhea. Ichth. is a powerful antiseptic. It has achieved marked results as an external ap plication to rheumatic 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 eczema, psoriasis, 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. ## Symptoms by System ### Mind - Irritable and depressed. - Forgetful, lack of concentration. - Irritable and depressed. - Forgetful, lack of concentration. ### Head - Dull aching, better cold, pressure. - Dull frontal and supra-orbital headache, worse moving eyes, cold air, better warmth. - Kidneys - Burning pain in meatus. - Increased in quantity and frequency. - Uric acid deposits. - Dull aching, better cold, pressure. - Dull frontal and supra-orbital headache, worse moving eyes, cold air, better warmth. - Kidneys - Burning pain in meatus. - Increased in quantity and frequency. - Uric acid deposits. ### Eyes - Burn, red, worse any change of temperature. ### Face - Skin feels dry and itches. - Acne on chin. ### Mouth - Disagreeable taste, burning sensation, very thirsty. - Nose - Bland coryza, 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 proving 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 diarrhea 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, pruritus, acne and urticaria 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 gravel 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 catarrhal 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 potency. - “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 tonsillitis 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. - Bronchitis, especially of the aged. - Bronchiectasis and tuberculosis. ### Stomach & Abdomen - Nausea. - Griping in umbilical and left hypogastric region. - Increased appetite. ### Urinary & Genital - Fullness in lower abdomen. - Nausea at time of menses. ### Extremities - Lameness in right shoulder and right lower extremity. ### Skin - Heat and irritation. - Itching. - Scaly and itching eczema. - Psoriasis. - Hives. - Acne rosacea, erysipelas. - Crops of boils. - Itching during pregnancy.