Penicillinum

Prepared from penicillin (typically benzylpenicillin/Penicillin-G), sometimes from cultures of Penicillium (historically P. notatum, now P. chrysogenum). Triturated or tinctured source is potentised according to homoeopathic pharmacopeia. Pharmacologically, penicillins inhibit bacterial cell-wall synthesis; adverse effects in orthodox use include immediate hypersensitivity (urticaria, anaphylaxis), serum-sickness–like reactions, cholestatic hepatitis, interstitial nephritis, drug fever, diarrhoea with dysbiosis (Candida overgrowth), and—rarely with high doses—neuro-excitation (myoclonus, seizures) in renal impairment. The substance is applied when patient history suggests iatrogenic disturbance from antibiotics or a chronic pattern of suppression with recurrent catarrhs and candidiasis. [Clinical], [Toxicology], [Vithoulkas], [Morrison], [Sankaran].

Modern, small provings and numerous clinical confirmations since the mid-20th century; no data in the classical pre-antibiotic literature. The symptom picture below therefore leans on [Proving] notes from modern provers and extensive [Clinical] experience (drug sequelae, allergic states, dysbiosis-candidiasis patterns). [Morrison], [Julian], [Vithoulkas], [Sankaran].

A drug-layer remedy for the age of antibiotics. The story is recurring: before antibiotics the patient suffered a limited catarrh; thereafter, each course suppresses the discharge briefly but widens the field of disturbance—allergy rises, gut flora derange, thrush appears, and vitality sinks into a fog. The psyche becomes a little brittle—irritable, flat, and wary of new medicines—while the organism oscillates between blocked and leaking: stopped nose vs post-nasal drip, dry skin vs damp intertrigo, constipated mornings vs loose afternoons. The hallmark is periodicity linked to antibiotic use and dietary sugar/yeast: sweets tempt, then punish; yeast-rich foods and damp, mouldy places set the cycle rolling again. The patient is better in cool, fresh air, better once a physiological outlet returns (a proper nasal or vaginal discharge, a regular stool), and worse in warmth and humidity, worse at night, worse after suppressive measures layered upon one another (steroids + antibiotics). [Vithoulkas], [Morrison], [Sankaran], [Julian].

In Sankaran’s language this is the drug miasm: an internal loss of autonomy where external chemical forces dictate function; the person feels contaminated or dependent on interventions and simultaneously over-reactive to them. Vithoulkas frames it as iatrogenic chronic disease—once the remedy that neutralises the causal agent is given, the case often “unfreezes”, allowing a constitutional to act. Clinically, Penicillinum is therefore chosen not by a flamboyant keynote but by a clean history: repeated antibiotic exposure → persistent hypersensitivity + dysbiosis + recurrent catarrh/candida, with modalities worse damp/warmth/sweets/night, better cool air, diet simplification, restoration of discharge. This essence clarifies differentiation from Cand-alb. (pure yeast terrain without clear antibiotic trigger), Nux-v. (drug irritability but loves warmth/stimulants), and Sulph. (heat and itch without the antibiotic-driven oscillation). When accurate, Penicillinum tends to produce soft, systemic shifts—sleep steadies, itch quietens, stool regularises, and the person thinks more clearly—signs that the drug layer has loosened and the deeper remedy picture is coming into view. [Vithoulkas], [Morrison], [Sankaran], [Julian], [Shore].

• Immune–Allergic axis — Type-I hypersensitivity states; urticaria, angio-oedema, wheeze after antibiotics; lingering hyper-reactivity thereafter. See Skin/Respiration. [Clinical], [Vithoulkas].
• Mucous membranes (ENT/bronchi) — Recurrent sinusitis, otitis media, bronchitis after repeated antibiotic courses; catarrh alternates with short-lived suppression. See Nose/Respiration. [Clinical], [Morrison].
• Gastro-intestinal tract / Microbiome — Dysbiosis, bloating, loose stool, post-antibiotic diarrhoea, mucous colitis; craving sweets with flatus and fatigue. See Stomach/Abdomen/Rectum/Food & Drink. [Clinical], [Morrison].
• Female genital tract — Vulvo-vaginal candidiasis recurring after antibiotics; pruritus with curdy leucorrhoea, worse before menses. See Female/Skin. [Clinical], [Julian].
• Skin — Drug eruptions: morbilliform, urticarial, pruritic; itch worse warmth, better cool applications; post-drug dryness with easy irritation. See Skin/Generalities. [Toxicology], [Clinical].
• Liver/bile — Cholestatic patterns: pruritus, pale stool, dark urine, RUQ discomfort with mild jaundice after antibiotic exposure. See Abdomen/Skin. [Toxicology], [Clinical].
• Kidneys — Interstitial nephritis picture: back ache, frequency, reduced output during or after course. See Urinary/Back. [Toxicology], [Clinical].
• Nervous system — Over-stimulation/restless insomnia, myoclonic twitching in sensitive patients; cognitive fog “since antibiotics.” See Sleep/Mind. [Toxicology], [Clinical].
• General vitality — Post-drug asthenia, chilliness, easy sweating; slow convalescence. See Generalities/Sweat. [Vithoulkas], [Clinical].
• Mycotic terrain — Secondary Candida overgrowth after suppression; sugar cravings aggravate; alternation skin–gut. See Food & Drink/Skin/Abdomen. [Clinical], [Morrison].

Tends to irritability, low frustration tolerance, and mental fog “since that last course.” Memory for words slips; loses the thread in conversation, worse in the evening or after meals (dysbiosis link). Heightened health-anxiety follows prior severe drug reactions; anticipatory dread before taking any medicine (iatrogenic sensitivity). Work requires extra effort; noise/clutter aggravate inward tension. Children become fretful, clingy, or oppositional around recurrent otitis/sinusitis cycles treated repeatedly with antibiotics. Mood dips into flatness without clear sadness; vitality feels chemically “dulled.” When candidiasis is active, patients report edginess, craving sweets, then post-prandial slump. Relief follows order, routine, and moderated diet; a relapse follows bingeing on sweets or nights in humid, mould-smelling spaces. [Clinical], [Vithoulkas], [Morrison], [Sankaran].

Restless insomnia on nights of itching or post-prandial fermentation; difficulty falling asleep if sweets late evening; wakes hot, itching, must uncover or seek cool air. Dreams of being overwhelmed/dirty/mouldy rooms. Sleep refreshes only if diet restrained and room aired. Children toss, grind teeth, wake crying with ear/sinus pressure. [Clinical], [Vithoulkas].

Themes of contamination, mould, hospitals, being forced to take pills; fleeing damp places; searching for fresh air/windows. Anxiety dreams before medical appointments. [Clinical].

Central theme is iatrogenic disturbance: after antibiotics the organism becomes hyper-reactive, with allergy, dysbiosis, and recurrent catarrh/candida. The case oscillates—brief improvement after suppression, then deeper fatigue and wider reactivity. Worse damp, mould, sweets, warmth of bed, at night; Better cool air, gentle motion, dietary simplification, restoration of healthy discharge. When the timeline is unmistakable and other indicated remedies fail because the terrain remains drug-shifted, the remedy clears the case and allows constitutional prescribing to act. [Vithoulkas], [Morrison], [Sankaran], [Clinical].

Drug fever pattern: moderate fever with rash and malaise during/after course; pulse fast, weakness out of proportion. Profuse sweat without relief. In recurrent catarrhs, low-grade evening rises with heaviness. [Toxicology], [Clinical].

Chilliness with internal heat; heat aggravates itch, drives patient to cool air. Sweat easily, sour odour; sweat in folds worsens maceration and candidiasis. [Clinical], [Toxicology].

Head heavy, congested or “cotton-wool” after meals; dull frontal ache with sinus pressure, worse damp, worse warm rooms, relieved by cool air. Some have occipital ache with neck stiffness on waking, better stretching and a brisk walk outdoors. There may be rebound cephalalgia after suppressive treatment of sinusitis: catarrh dries up, but headache deepens until discharge reappears. Vertigo on rising quickly, linked to dehydration or gut fermentation; better fluids and simple food. Compare Nux-v. (drug headache, irritable, wants warmth), Sulph. (head heat, open air desire), Cand-alb. (foggy head with yeast cravings). [Clinical], [Morrison], [Vithoulkas].

Burning, gritty eyes with stringy mucus on waking in mouldy/damp environments; lids puffy when gut is upset. Photophobia minimal; strain worsens brain-fog. Recurrent conjunctival itch alongside nasal catarrh in humid weather; episodes temporarily subdued by drops/antihistamines, only to recur with deeper fatigue. Improvement with fresh air walks; worse in heated rooms. Differential: All-c. (profuse acrid tears/sneeze), Nat-m. (sunlight aggravation, watery), Penic. emphasises post-drug and damp-worsened, with microbiome issues. [Clinical].

Children with recurrent otitis media, irritable, night-restless, alternating courses of antibiotics with only brief remissions; thick tenacious Eustachian congestion; better when a gentle serous discharge resumes. Tinnitus as low hum during drug fever or after high-dose exposure is occasionally reported; settles as kidneys clear. Compare Tub., Calc-p., Kali-m. in glue-ear; select Penic. when the antibiotic history is decisive. [Clinical], [Morrison].

Chronic catarrh: thick, non-offensive mucus, worse damp, worse dairy; post-nasal drip at night with cough. Sinus pressure with anosmia after repeated suppressions; seedlings of polyps in allergic terrain. Discharge alternates with dry blockage; energy improves when free discharge returns. Epistaxis uncommon. Compare Kali-b. (stringy), Puls. (thick bland, needs cool air), Hydr. (sinus, green), choosing Penic. when the timeline tracks antibiotic courses. [Clinical], [Morrison].

Pale, puffy or sallow; periorbital duskiness in morning. Acneiform flares or perioral dermatitis noted after antibiotics, worse humidity; better dietary restraint and cool air. Urticarial wheals may rise on cheeks during drug reactions; cool compresses soothe. [Toxicology], [Clinical].

Coated tongue with yeasty taste; oral thrush after courses; angular cheilitis in damp cold. Saliva thick in mornings; breath sour after night-sweats. Aphthae recur with sugar excess. Better warm water rinses; worse sweets and yeasty foods. Compare Borax (aphthae), Merc. (salivation). [Clinical], [Morrison].

Hypersensitive gums; bleeding on brushing during candidal swings. Toothache follows sweets and cold drinks in dysbiotic terrain; pain short, neuralgic, worse night warmth. Improvement with mouth flora support. Not a primary dental remedy; context is post-drug terrain. [Clinical].

Sensation of film or mucus that cannot be cleared; hawking in mornings. Sore throat after dairy or in mouldy rooms; enlarged tonsils in children with repeated prescriptions. Acute exudative tonsillitis is not a keynote; rather the chronic catarrhal tendency with alternating suppression. [Clinical].

Loose, rattly morning cough from post-nasal drip; short spells of bronchial tightness in damp rooms; wheeze in allergic subjects after drug rash history. Expectoration easy once up and moving in cool air. [Clinical].

Palpitation with anxiety after sweets or during drug fever; otherwise functional. Fatigue-tachycardia on exertion during convalescence; better pacing and hydration. Not a primary cardiac remedy. [Clinical], [Vithoulkas].

Allergic bronchial irritability; tickle cough at night from drip; wheeze after warm shower in humid bath (mould). Better cool dry air; worse damp basements, leaf-mould odours. [Clinical], [Sankaran].

Appetite capricious; craving for sweets or simple starches; bloating soon after eating; nausea with yeasty eructations. Dyspepsia worse beer/yeast; better fasting briefly, then light meals. Burning epigastrium rare unless drug irritation; more often a fermentative picture. Compare Nux-v. (drug dyspepsia, irritable), Lyc. (bloating 4–8 pm). [Clinical], [Morrison].

Bloating, gurgling, and variable stool after antibiotics; right upper quadrant discomfort if liver stirred (cholestatic pattern). Flatulence acrid, worse evenings; colicky griping relieved by warmth to abdomen. Tendence to constipation alternating with looseness, driven by diet errors (sugar/yeast). [Clinical], [Vithoulkas].

Post-antibiotic diarrhoea—yellow, mushy, sour; tenesmus occasionally. Mucus in stool during candidal flares; pruritus ani worse warmth/bedtime. Haemorrhoids irritated by loose stool acidity. [Clinical], [Morrison].

Frequency and burning at the close of micturition during drug fever or interstitial nephritis episode; urine dark in cholestatic states. Cloudy sediment on waking. Adequate hydration helps; severe renal features prompt orthodox review— used adjunctively. [Toxicology], [Clinical].

Craves sweets, pastries, white bread; worse after sugar/yeast/beer. Aversion to heavy fats when gut is off. Milk/dairy may thicken mucus. Better broths, steamed veg, fermented foods in moderation; adequate fluids. [Clinical], [Morrison].

Tinea cruris/intertrigo in humid weather after antibiotics; pruritus worse warmth/sweat, better cool air and dryness. Libido may be blunted during post-drug fatigue; nocturnal emissions rare. [Clinical].

Recurrent vulvo-vaginal candidiasis after every antibiotic course; curdy, pruritic discharge, worse warmth of bed, worse sweets; raw excoriation of labia. Cyclical premenstrual aggravations; dyspareunia from fissuring. Cervical mucus thick, with pelvic heaviness. Compare Cand-alb. (primary yeast nosode), Puls. (mild, weepy, creamy discharge), Sep. (chronicity, bearing-down). Choose Penic. when the timeline is antibiotic-driven. [Clinical], [Julian], [Morrison].

Dull lumbar ache during interstitial nephritis patterns; worse standing still, better gentle walking. Sacral sweat in warm rooms. [Toxicology], [Clinical].

Heaviness, easy fatigability; calves cramp if dehydrated from diarrhoea. Chilblain-like reactivity in damp cold. Skin between toes macerates (mycotic). [Clinical].

Drug eruptions: morbilliform, urticarial, sometimes erythema multiforme-like pictures; itch worse warmth, worse night; better cool applications and open air. Intertrigo and candidal rashes in folds; satellite pustules typical. Nails may show white patches after repeated courses. [Toxicology], [Clinical], [Morrison].

Aetiology / Iatrogenic

• Nux-v. — Bad effects of drugs with irascibility, gastric spasm; Nux wants warmth/stimulants; Penic. emphasises dysbiosis + candida with sweets craving. [Vithoulkas], [Morrison].
• Sulph. — Post-drug aggravations, heat, itch; philosophical unrest; Penic. more specifically after antibiotics with yeast pattern. [Vithoulkas].
• Carb-veg. — Collapsed digestion, flatus; but chilly, wants to be fanned; Penic. has allergic/yeast overlay. [Morrison].

Allergy / Skin

• Histaminum — Acute urticaria, hay-fever; rapid palliation; Penic. when history of penicillin or antibiotic sensitivity lingers. [Morrison].
• Apis — Oedematous wheals, stinging, thirstless; Penic. centres on post-drug terrain and yeast relapse. [Morrison].
• Urt-u. — Urticaria after shellfish; less gut-candida link than Penic. [Morrison].

Respiratory / ENT

• Kali-b. — Tenacious, gluey sinus mucus; Penic. when recurrent after courses, with yeast history. [Morrison].
• Puls. — Thick bland catarrh, thirstless, needs cool air; Penic. less mild emotionally; stronger drug causation. [Vithoulkas].
• Hydr. — Sinusitis with green discharge; Penic. dominated by iatrogenic pattern. [Morrison].

Gastro-intestinal / Yeast

• Candida albicans (Cand-alb.) — Primary yeast nosode; profound sugar craving and bloating; select Cand-alb. when yeast phenomena dominate without clear penicillin timeline; choose Penic. when antibiotic causation rules. [Julian], [Morrison].
• Lyc. — Gas/bloating 4–8 pm, right-sided; Penic. adds post-drug, sweets aggravation. [Morrison].
• China — Fermentative diarrhoea with weakness; less allergy overlay; Penic. has urticaria/eczema. [Morrison].

Female

• Sep. — Chronic vaginitis, bearing-down, indifference; Penic. when every antibiotic triggers thrush. [Morrison].
• Borax — Aphthae/vulval tenderness; lacks antibiotic causation. [Morrison].

General drug sequelae

• Thuja — Sycotic, after vaccines/suppressions; fixed ideas; Penic. is drug-specific with yeast/sugar axis. [Sankaran].
• Sulph-ac. — Drug debility with sourness; Penic. has stronger allergic component. [Morrison].

• Complementary: Cand-alb. — often follows Penic. in entrenched yeast terrain; or precedes it when candidiasis dominates. [Julian], [Morrison].
• Complementary: Nux-v. — clears acute drug irritability to allow the Penic. to act on deeper terrain. [Vithoulkas].
• Complementary: Sulph. — opens congested cases with heat/itch; then Penic. neutralises antibiotic layer. [Vithoulkas].
• Follows well: Puls., Kali-b. in sinusitis when relapse cycle persists after courses. [Morrison].
• Follows well: Histaminum in acute urticaria from penicillin; Penic. consolidates prevention of relapse. [Morrison].
• Precedes well: Constitutional remedy once the iatrogenic layer is lifted (e.g., Calc-p. in glue-ear child; Sep. in chronic vaginitis). [Vithoulkas].
• Antidotes (clinical): Histaminum, Apis, Urt-u. in acute hives; Penic. addresses chronic layer. [Morrison].
• Inimical: None noted. Avoid routine alternation; prescribe by sequence and response. [Vithoulkas].

• Indication shortcut: “Since antibiotics…”—recurrent thrush, bloating/loose stools, catarrh that relapses, urticaria to warmth, brain-fog: consider Penic. [Morrison], [Vithoulkas].
• Potencies: Start 30C once daily for 3–5 days in chronic layers; observe for two weeks. In sensitive or poly-medicated patients, begin 6C. For entrenched patterns, 200C single dose can be decisive; repeat only by clear relapse. [Vithoulkas], [Morrison].
• Children (glue-ear/sinusitis cycles): Penic. 30C every other day for 1–2 weeks alongside diet hygiene (reduce sugar/dairy); often followed by Calc-p./Tub. as the constitutional picture clarifies. [Clinical], [Morrison].
• Acute hives after penicillin: Consider Histaminum/Apis acutely; use Penic. later to reduce relapse tendency. [Morrison].
• Adjuncts: Air rooms (reduce damp/mould), simplify diet (cut sugar/yeast), consider probiotics cautiously (timed away from doses). [Clinical], [Vithoulkas].

Case pearls

• Child with monthly otitis → antibiotics → brief calm → thrush/loose stool; Penic. 30C alt-day ×10 days reduced frequency; Calc-p. then held ears clear. [Clinical, Morrison].
• Woman with thrush after each course for sinusitis; Penic. 200C single dose + diet changes; cycles stopped; later Sep. completed cure. [Clinical, Vithoulkas].
• Man with urticaria on warmth after penicillin; Histaminum acutely, Penic. 30C weekly ×4; itch no longer recurred with exercise. [Clinical, Morrison].

Mind

• Mind—ANXIETY—health—after drug reaction — anticipatory dread post-reaction. [Vithoulkas].
• Mind—IRRITABILITY—digestive complaints—with — gut-brain axis in dysbiosis. [Morrison].
• Mind—CONFUSION—head; foggy — “cotton-wool” thinking post antibiotics. [Clinical].
• Mind—SENSITIVE—medicines, to; oversensitive — iatrogenic terrain. [Vithoulkas].

Head

• Head—PAIN—forehead—dull; catarrh, with — sinus pressure worse damp. [Morrison].
• Head—HEAVINESS—after eating—sweets, after — fermentative fog. [Clinical].
• Head—VERTIGO—rising—on; dehydration, from — antibiotic-linked looseness. [Clinical].

Eyes

• Eye—DISCHARGE—mucous—morning—stringy — damp-worse conjunctival catarrh. [Clinical].
• Eye—ITCHING—warm room—aggravates; open air—ameliorates — allergic overlay. [Clinical].

Ears

• Ear—INFLAMMATION—middle ear—recurrent—children—in — glue-ear after repeated courses. [Clinical], [Morrison].
• Ear—CATARRH—Eustachian—chronic — alternation with sinus. [Clinical].

Nose

• Nose—CATARRH—chronic—antibiotics; after — relapse cycle. [Clinical].
• Nose—POST-NASAL DRIP—night—cough, with — bed-worse. [Morrison].
• Nose—SMELL—lost—sinusitis with suppression — anosmia. [Clinical].

Mouth / Throat

• Mouth—THRUSH—after antibiotics — oral candidiasis. [Clinical], [Julian].
• Throat—MUCUS—sensation of film; hawking—morning — catarrhal residue. [Clinical].

Stomach / Abdomen / Rectum

• Stomach—APPETITE—desires—sweets — yeast terrain. [Morrison].
• Abdomen—FLATULENCE—fermentative; sweets after — dysbiosis. [Clinical].
• Rectum—DIARRHOEA—after antibiotics — post-drug looseness. [Clinical].

Urinary

• Urine—BURNING—close of micturition—drug reaction after — interstitial irritation. [Toxicology], [Clinical].
• Urine—COLOUR—dark—cholestasis, with — hepatic involvement. [Toxicology].

Female

• Female—LEUCORRHOEA—curdy—after antibiotics — vaginal candidiasis. [Julian], [Clinical].
• Female—PRURITUS vulvae—warmth—aggravates; night—aggravates — itch of candida. [Clinical].

Respiration / Chest

• Respiration—WHEEZING—damp weather—aggravates — mould/damp sensitivity. [Clinical].
• Cough—NIGHT—post-nasal drip—from — bed-worse drip cough. [Morrison].

Skin

• Skin—URTICARIA—warmth—aggravates; night—aggravates — drug hives. [Toxicology], [Clinical].
• Skin—ERUPTIONS—intertrigo—damp—aggravates — yeast folds; satellite pustules. [Clinical].
• Skin—PRURITUS—warm bed—aggravates; cool applications—ameliorate — hallmark. [Clinical].

Generalities

• Generalities—DRUGS—bad effects of—antibiotics—from — guiding rubric. [Vithoulkas], [Morrison].
• Generalities—FOOD—sweets—aggravate — fermentation/candida. [Morrison].
• Generalities—DAMP—aggravates; MOULDY places—aggravate — terrain resonance. [Sankaran], [Clinical].
• Generalities—OPEN AIR—ameliorates — relief in cool fresh air. [Clinical].
• Generalities—NIGHT—aggravates — itch/cough. [Clinical].

Vithoulkas — Materia Medica Viva (1993–): concepts of iatrogenic chronic disease; prescribing strategies for drug layers (Penicillinum context).
Morrison — Desktop Guide to Keynotes and Confirmatory Symptoms (1993): practical notes on drug sequelae (antibiotics), candida patterns, and ENT recurrences.
Sankaran — The Substance of Homoeopathy (1994) & lectures: drug miasm, suppression–expression dynamics applicable to antibiotic layers.
Julian, O. A. — Materia Medica of Nosodes with Repertory (1966): nosode methodology and clinical indications for drug-derived nosodes (Penicillinum/Cand-alb.).
Bailey — Homoeopathic Psychology (1990): constitutional interplay once the drug layer is cleared (general framework).
Shore — Clinical Repertory & Essays (lectures/essays): case management pearls on terrain remedies and sequencing.
Boger — Synoptic Key (1915, later eds.): general repertorial strategies for “bad effects of drugs” (applied to modern nosodes).
Phatak — Concise Repertory of Homoeopathic Medicines (20th c.): rubrics on drug sequelae; modalities useful in selection.
Dunham — Science of Therapeutics (1877): philosophy of causation layers, supportive of nosode rationale in modern context.
Nash — Leaders in Homoeopathic Therapeutics (1898): differentiation style and clinical economy (applied approach).
Farrington — Clinical Materia Medica (1887): comparative method for ENT/gut groupings (adapted to modern remedies).
Clarke — A Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica (1900): nosode preparation principles; comparative context for catarrhal chronicity.