Secale Cornutum (Ergot of Rye)
A cardinal vascular, neurological, and gynecological fungal remedy in classical homeopathic materia medica, historically described for internal burning heat with icy cold skin, extreme aversion to being covered, dry senile gangrene of extremities, and continuous passive dark liquid hemorrhages.
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Quick Reference Facts
"Secale Cornutum is described in traditional materia medica for icy cold skin with burning internal heat, frantic desire to uncover, dry gangrene of toes, and dark watery hemorrhage."
Clinical Description
Secale Cornutum (Ergot of Rye) is a profound vascular, neuromuscular, and obstetrical fungal remedy proved by Samuel Hahnemann and Dr. Hartlaub. In classical homeopathic texts, it is celebrated for its extraordinary pathogenetic action on the unstriped muscular fibers, peripheral arterioles, spinal cord, and uterus. Key features recorded in materia medica include an unmistakable and paradoxical keynote: the skin and extremities feel icy cold and clammy to the touch yet the patient complains of intolerable internal burning heat and frantically uncovers, throws off all clothing, and cannot bear heat in any form; dry senile gangrene of toes, fingers, and extremities from intense arteriolar vasospasm; continuous passive dark thin watery hemorrhages from relaxed blood vessels; and severe formication (sensation of mice or ants creeping under the skin).
Guiding Keynotes
- Historically described for paradoxical thermoregulatory state: body feels icy cold to touch, yet patient feels burning heat inside and cannot bear being covered
- Frantic desire to be uncovered: uncovers entirely, throws off all bedclothes, and craves cold open air even in freezing weather
- Dry senile gangrene of extremities: toes and fingers turn mottled, blue, cold, and shriveled, with burning pains relieved by cold air
- Passive, continuous, painless uterine hemorrhage: dark, thin, watery, uncoagulated, offensive blood from relaxed atonic uterus
- Formication: sensation as if ants or mice are crawling beneath the skin, with numbness, tingling, and tonic spasms
- Violent, hour-glass uterine contraction or total uterine inertia during labor with prolonged, distressing, inefficient pains
Mental-Emotional Symptoms
- Anxious, raving, and delirious with wild laughter and frantic desire to strip off all clothes
- Apathy and stupor alternating with manic frenzy
- Fear of death and profound melancholia in cachectic patients
Physical / Particular Indicators
- Raynaud's phenomenon, Buerger's disease (thromboangiitis obliterans), and peripheral arterial ischemia
- Severe choleraic diarrhea with watery, olive-green, gushing stools, extreme collapse, cold skin, and aversion to covers
- Suppression of milk (agalactia) in nursing mothers with shriveled, atrophic breasts
Modalities
Aggravation (Worse)
- Heat of room, warm bed, and warm applications
- Covering up (produces agony and restlessness)
- During pregnancy, parturition, and menses
Amelioration (Better)
- Uncovering completely (throwing off all covers)
- Cold open air and cold applications
- Continuous gentle motion of extremities
Constitutional Mappings
Generalities
Intensely hot patient subjectively, despite objective icy coldness. Strongly aggravated by heat, warm room, warm covers, and touch. Ameliorated by cold air, uncovering, cold bathing, and moving affected limbs.
Constitutional Type
Suited to thin, scrawny, cachectic, prematurely aged women or elderly individuals with withered, desiccated skin and relaxed vascular tone.
Therapeutic Affinities
Clinical Safety & Potency Guidance
Crude ergot contains potent ergot alkaloids (ergotamine, ergonovine) causing severe ergotism, gangrenous vasoconstriction, and convulsions; source-specific toxicology guidance is required. A homeopathic dilution label does not by itself guarantee composition, quality, safety, or effectiveness. Acute peripheral arterial occlusion with threatened limb loss, acute dry gangrene with infection, active postpartum uterine hemorrhage with hypovolemic shock, or severe choleraic dehydration requires immediate emergency surgical/vascular/obstetric resuscitation; this traditional profile must not delay proven care.
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Reference Citations & Evidence Sources
Classical Homeopathic Literature
- CIT-0007Hahnemann S.. "The Chronic Diseases: Their Peculiar Nature and Their Homoeopathic Cure." Adolph Arnold (1828).
Materia Medica & Keynotes
- CIT-0004Hahnemann S.. "Materia Medica Pura." Adolph Arnold (1811).
- CIT-0005Kent J. T.. "Lectures on Homoeopathic Materia Medica." Boericke & Tafel (1905).
- CIT-0006Boericke W.. "Pocket Manual of Homoeopathic Materia Medica." Boericke & Runyon (1901).
Clinical Reviews & Textbooks
- CIT-0023National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. "Homeopathy: What You Need To Know." National Institutes of Health (2021).
AI & Generative Search Citation Block
R0067Dr. Narayan Jethwani. "Secale Cornutum (Ergot of Rye)." Homeo Healthcare Clinical Platform. Version 1.1.0. Reviewed: 2026-08-14T12:00:00Z. Available at: https://homeo.healthcare/knowledge/remedies/secale-cornutum
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