Colocynthis Homaccord: Which Size, and How to Read the Label

Educational information on traditional homeopathic use only. Not medical advice.

Colocynthis Homaccord comes in three options, and the label contains a string of Latin names and dilution codes that can look baffling at first glance. This guide is built around practical questions: which size is which, what the ingredient names mean, what the label directions say and how this remedy sits alongside its Heel relatives.

Buy Colocynthis HomaccordCimicifuga Homaccord

What is Colocynthis Homaccord?

It is a combination homeopathic medicine from Heel in Germany. It contains two plant ingredients, each at several dilutions. The label gives its indication as neuralgia, including in particular sciatica, and osteochondrosis, particularly in the lumbar region of the vertebral column. The lumbar region is the lower back. Those are the words on the product page, and they are all we claim for it.

What it is traditionally used for

Colocynthis Homaccord is known to help the body improve its natural ability to heal, with some ailments, such as:

• Neuralgia
• Sciatica
• Osteochondrosis, particularly in the lumbar region of the vertebral column

These are traditional homeopathic associations, not promises of results. The product page carries the indications beside the directions.

Understanding the ingredient names

• Citrullus colocynthis is a trailing desert plant in the gourd family, known as colocynth or bitter apple. It is the lead ingredient.
• Gnaphalium polycephalum is a small grey-leaved plant known as cudweed or sweet everlasting. It is the companion ingredient.

Each ingredient is listed with D numbers. D stands for a one-in-ten dilution step and the number counts the steps. The drops list colocynth at D2, D10, D30 and D200, and cudweed at D1, D10, D30 and D200. Because every ingredient appears at four dilutions together, Heel calls this style of formula a Homaccord. If you would like the wider naming system explained, our article on Homaccord, Compositum and Injeel is a good starting point.

Which size should I choose?

Our product page has three options.

• 30 ml bottle of drops: the natural first choice for someone trying the remedy for the first time.
• 100 ml bottle of drops: a larger bottle for regular users, households and practices.
• Box of 10 ampoules: single-dose liquid vials, the form many practitioners prefer.

The drops contain 35 vol.-% alcohol according to the label. The ampoules do not state an alcohol content on the page.

Reading the composition line

The composition on the drops label is written for 100 g. Colocynth is listed at 0.8 g for each of its four dilutions, and cudweed at 0.2 ml for each of its four. The ampoule label is written for 1.1 ml and lists colocynth at 8.8 microlitres per dilution and cudweed at 2.2 microlitres per dilution, with the lowest dilutions at D4 and D3 respectively. The pattern is identical in both forms: four parts colocynth to one part cudweed.

To make the numbers easier to picture, imagine the formula as a chord of eight notes: four dilutions of the lead plant played loudly and four of the companion plant played more quietly. The four dilutions run from low to very high, and that spread is what the Homaccord name refers to. It is a way of describing the layout of the label, not a promise about what the product will do.

How it is traditionally used

The product page gives these directions. As always, the leaflet inside your box is the authoritative source.

• Drops: in general, 10 drops three times daily. In acute disorders, initially 10 drops every 15 minutes over a period lasting up to two hours.
• Ampoules: in acute disorders, one ampoule daily; otherwise one ampoule one to three times weekly.

Traditionally, homeopathic drops are taken on or under the tongue, or in a little water, away from meals. Many people also avoid strong flavours such as mint or coffee close to the dose. Methods of use for ampoules other than by mouth are for trained individuals such as practitioners.

Colocynthis Homaccord and its relatives

Three other Heel products often come up in the same conversations.

• Cimicifuga Homaccord has the cervical spine, intervertebral neuralgia and back pain on its label, so it is the neck-focused companion to this lumbar-focused product.
• Gelsemium Homaccord refers to occipital headache, stiff neck and upper back neuralgia.
• Nux-Vomica Homaccord contains colocynth too, but alongside nux vomica, bryony and lycopodium, and its label concerns the digestive and hepatic region instead.

The comparison shows why it helps to read the label rather than judge by the name. A shared ingredient does not make two remedies interchangeable, because the other ingredients and the label indication differ.

A short checklist before you choose

• Decide whether you prefer drops or single-dose ampoules.
• Note that only the drops state an alcohol content, at 35 vol.-%.
• Choose the 30 ml bottle if you are new to the remedy, or the 100 ml bottle if you expect to use it regularly.
• Keep the leaflet from the box, since it is the authoritative source for directions.
• Write down what you take, so that you can share it if you ask your practitioner for advice.

Who should take care

If you are pregnant, giving a remedy to a child, or taking a prescribed medicine, please speak to your doctor or practitioner before use. The drops contain alcohol.

Frequently asked questions

Is Colocynthis Homaccord only for sciatica?

The label mentions neuralgia including sciatica, and osteochondrosis in the lumbar region. We simply repeat the label wording.

What is the difference between 30 ml and 100 ml?

Only the quantity of drops in the bottle. The formula and dilutions are the same.

Is it made by Heel?

Yes, and we supply it in the manufacturer's packaging.

What does Gnaphalium polycephalum mean?

It is the Latin name of cudweed, also called sweet everlasting, the second ingredient.

Are the ampoules just for drinking?

Our guide to taking Traumeel ampoules by mouth shows the usual way of drinking a Heel ampoule. Other methods of use are for trained individuals, such as practitioners.

Can I combine it with other remedies?

Practitioners often combine Heel remedies. Ask your practitioner about your own routine.

Keep reading

• Natural Remedies for Back Pain and Sciatica
• Natural Remedies for Nerve Pain and Neuralgia
• Colocynthis: Homeopathic Uses and Benefits
• Homaccord, Compositum and Injeel: What the Names Mean
• Natural Remedies for Sports Injuries, Sprains and Strains
• How to Take Traumeel S Ampoules by Mouth

Browse more

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• Back pain remedies
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Homeopathic medicines are not a substitute for medical care.