Secale Cornutum – The Homeopathic Remedy for Hemorrhage, Gangrene & Uterine Disorders

• Common Name: Ergot of Rye
• Family: Fungi (Claviceps purpurea)
• Source: Fungus on rye grain
• Type: Nosode / Vegetable kingdom

Sphere of Action

• Circulatory system – causes vasoconstriction, gangrene, and thrombosis
• Uterus – powerful uterine stimulant
• Nervous system – causes paralysis, numbness
• Skin – leads to dry gangrene, formication, mottled discoloration

Mind

• Fear of death
• Indifference, apathy
• Restless and anxious, especially with internal coldness
• Delirium with cold body

Circulation & Blood

• Passive hemorrhages: dark, thin, offensive, continuous bleeding
• Purpura, varicose ulcers, and gangrene
• Tingling, numbness, and coldness of extremities
• Dry gangrene: black, shriveled, cold limbs
• Raynaud’s disease, senile gangrene

Female Sexual System

• Uterine hemorrhage during or after labor
• Menorrhagia: dark, thin, continuous flow
• Premature labor with hourglass contraction of uterus
• Retained placenta, uterine atony
• Threatened abortion with coldness and flow of black blood

General Characteristics

• Great coldness, but patient wants to be uncovered
• Skin is cold, blue, and mottled, but craves cold air
• Body emaciated; skin hangs in folds
• Restlessness despite weakness and coldness

Limbs

• Numbness, tingling, formication
• Paralysis of lower limbs
• Dry gangrene of toes and fingers
• Hands and feet icy cold, mottled
• Cramps and spasms

Stomach & Appetite

• Unquenchable thirst for cold water
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea with coldness
• Diarrhea: brown, watery, offensive; painless

Modalities

Worse From	Better From
Heat, warm covering	Cold air, uncovering
Motion, touch	Bleeding (sometimes)
Night, lying down	Open air, cool application

Miasmatic Background

• Syphilitic, Sycotic

Keynotes

• Passive hemorrhage: dark, thin, continuous
• Cold, mottled, gangrenous limbs with no desire for covering
• Retained placenta, uterine atony with cold skin
• Diarrhea with exhaustion, yet patient does not want to be covered
• Tingling, numbness, formication leading to gangrene

Relationship

Compare With	Complementary / Follows Well
Carbo veg, Lachesis, Arsenic, China	Arsenicum, Lycopodium, Camphora

Potency & Dosage

• Low to moderate potencies (6C–30C)
• Higher potencies (200C and above) cautiously in gangrene or hemorrhage
• Use under strict indication, especially in uterine conditions

Caution

• Avoid repeated doses in senile or gangrenous cases
• Powerful physiological action – use judiciously

One-Line Summary

"Secale Cornutum suits hemorrhagic and gangrenous states with icy coldness and craving for cold despite being cold."