Homeopathic Medicine: Kreosotum – Its Use, Indications And Dosage

This homeopathic remedy is derived from ‘beech wood kreosote’ (a product of distillation of wood tar). When this product undergoes potentization (process by which homeopathic medicines are prepared by arousing latent medicinal properties from a crude substance), we get a highly valuable homeopathic medicine Kreosotum. It is a wonderful homeopathic medicine primarily used for treating various female disorders and urinary complaints.

The ‘Kreosotum’ Constitution

Kreosotum is a suitable medicine for thin persons and persons disposed to being sad and irritable. It is suited to children who are poorly developed and suffer from malnutrition.

Drug Action

The most prominent action of this medicine is on the female genitals, urinary organs and teeth. Rest of its action is noted on ears, gastric system and skin. It has a marvelous tendency to check burning, excoriating and offensive smelling discharges. Its action in controlling hemorrhages (bleeding) is also highly noteworthy.

Clinical Indications

Leucorrhoea (vaginal discharges), vaginal itching, vaginitis, metrorrhagia (intermenstrual bleeding), PMS (premenstrual syndrome), dyspareunia (painful intercourse), warts, bedwetting, involuntary urination, hemorrhages, putrid odor, toothache, tooth decay, painful dentition, ear disorders, ulcers, colic, stomach disorders, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, vomiting, cancer, eruptions

Scope As A Homeopathic Remedy

1. Female Problems (Vaginal Discharges, Vaginal Itching, Intermenstrual Bleeding, Pms, Painful Intercourse, Warts)  

This medicine has widespread action on female genitals and is well-indicated for treating numerous female problems. First of all, its use is highly recommended for managing vaginal discharge medically known as leucorrhoea. This medicine is selected for these cases when the vaginal discharge is yellow, that causes intense itching and burning in vagina and has a very offensive smell. It is worse between periods. Standing and walking also make it worse. It is better when sitting. Excessive weakness occurs with vaginal discharge. Its use is also considered for vaginal discharges consisting of bloody watery matter. It gives excellent result in vaginitis (inflammation of vagina) cases. Second prominent indication guiding its use is vaginal itching. There is excessive itching in vagina, after scratching soreness and burning is felt. Soreness in vagina is marked when urinating. There is swelling and heat in external genitals. Thirdly, Kreosotum can be given for cases of intermittent flow of menstrual bleeding. Females needing this medicine complain that the bleeding during periods is not continuous and it tends to come and go. It disappears while sitting and walking and occurs on lying down. The bleeding is excessive and lumpy type. Kreosotum is also recommended when menses comes early, is heavy and extend for a long time. Its use is suggested for metrorrhagia means inter-menstrual bleeding too. In such cases, the blood is dark, occurs in large clots with offensive smell. It works well in cases of PMS (premenstrual syndrome). In PMS, it is used when there is headache, irritability of mind, nausea and swelling in the body. This medicine is also known to be effective for cases of dyspareunia (painful intercourse). Females needing it complain of excessive pain and also burning sensation during sex . Kreosotum also manages well complaints of bleeding after intercourse. This medicine is also suitable for cases of warts on cervix.  Headache before and during menses is yet another important feature. It is also known to play an important role in managing cases of cancer of uterus, vagina or cervix.

Key Indicating Features

Vaginal discharges that are yellow, acrid, offensive smelling and cause intense itching and burning in vagina

Vaginal itching with soreness and burning after scratching

Intermenstrual bleeding with dark offensive bleeding occurring in large clots

PMS with headache, irritability of mind, nausea and swelling in body

Pain and burning during intercourse

Headache before and during menses

2. Urinary Issues (Bedwetting, Urgent Urination, Offensive Urine)

This medicine also has prominent action on urinary organs. It is one of the main homeopathic medicines for managing bedwetting cases. Here guiding feature is involuntary urination in first part of the night. Another important complaint where it proves to be effective is urgency to pass urine. A person has to rush to pass urine when urge occurs. The frequency to urinate increases during day. Urine is profuse. It can also be given for involuntary urination on coughing. Urine is very offensive where this medicine is required. Urine may be brown and deposit white or reddish sediment.

Key Indicating Features

Bedwetting in first part of night

Offensive urine

3. Mouth And Teeth (Putrid Odor, Toothache, Tooth Decay, Painful Dentition)

It acts wonderfully on mouth and teeth to deal with various complaints effectively. It is mainly useful for managing putrid odor from mouth. The taste in mouth may be bitter. It is also helpful for spongy, soft, bluish red, bleeding, inflamed or ulcerated gums along with pus in them. For teeth, its use is considered for decayed teeth. The teeth are dark and crumbling. There may be blackish spots on the teeth. It is given when teeth decay as soon as they appear with spongy and bleeding gums. It proves very successful in controlling oozing of dark blood, slightly clotted after tooth extraction. It is effective for toothache in case of decayed teeth. The pain from the teeth extends to the side of head and inner ear. It also plays an important role in painful dentition in children. The child is restless, is sleepless at night with screaming and wants to be in motion all the time.

Key Indicating Features

Putrid odor from mouth

Soft, spongy, bluish-red, bleeding, inflamed or ulcerated gums along with pus

Decayed teeth with dark and crumbling teeth or blackish spots on the teeth

Quick decay of teeth as soon as they appear

Persistent oozing of dark blood, slightly clotted after tooth extraction

4. Ears (Noises In Ears, Itching And Swelling)

It acts well on the ears. Here it can be used for managing tinnitus with buzzing noises in ears and hardness of hearing. A characteristic feature to use it is buzzing, roaring or humming noises with difficulty in hearing before and during menses. It is applicable to manage itching in ears. Another valuable indication is swelling and inflammation of ears accompanied with burning and tensive pain.

Key Indicating Features

Buzzing, roaring or humming noises and difficult hearing before and during menses

5. Gastric Complaints (Ulcers, Nausea, Vomiting, Pain, Diarrhea And Constipation)

This medicine is well-indicated to deal with certain gastric complaints quite effectively. These mainly include burning in stomach, ulcers, nausea, vomiting, abdomen pain, diarrhea and constipation. It is effective for stomach burning which is temporarily better from eating. It can be of great help for stomach ulcers. There is gnawing, ulcerative pain in stomach. It is helpful for vomiting of food occurring many hours after eating. It can be given for managing cases of hematemesis (vomiting having blood) too. It is the best choice of medicine for nausea and vomiting occurring specifically before menses. Another indication for its use is contractive or shooting pain in abdomen. There may occur griping pain around the umbilicus, particularly before menses. Burning pain in intestine can be there. It works effectively to manage diarrhea during menses. It can help constipation cases as well when stool is difficult with burning and cramping rectal pain during stool. Lastly, its use is also indicated for management of stomach cancer.

Key Indicating Features

stomach burning which is temporarily better from eating

Nausea and vomiting before menses

Diarrhea during menses

6. Skin Problems (Itching, Eczema, Urticaria, Bleeding)

By acting on skin, it can settle various complaints. To begin with, it works very well to manage violent skin itching in evening time. Secondly, its use to treat eczema is a significant feature. It is indicated for eczema of face, eyelids, back of hands and joints. It is useful when urticaria (a skin disorder characterized by itchy wheals means raised bumps on skin mainly occurring from an allergic reaction) occurs after menses. Another complaint where its use is suggested is to control bleeding from small, wounds.

Key Indicating Features

Violent itching in evening

Eczema of face, eyelids, back of hands and joints

Urticaria after menses

Bleeding from small wounds

Modalities

Worsening factors: Complaints get worse during dentition, during and after menses, during intercourse, in summer, and when lying down

Relieving factors: Complaints get better from motion, warmth, pressure and after sleep

Dosage

Depending from case to case, it can be used from low to high potency. It can be repeated often in low potency but in high potency, frequent repetition is usually not recommended.

Relationship With Other Remedies

Antidoted by: Aconite, Nux Vomica and Ferrum Met

Followed well by: Arsenic Album, Belladonna, Calcarea Carb, Nitric Acid, Sepia and Sulphur