A nosode is a process used as a derivative of homotoxicology, which is a type of homeopathy invented by Hans Heinrich Reckeweg in the 1800s. It refers to bacteria or a virus in the bloodstream or one of the products it produces such as mucous which is then diluted down to produce a substance with a very low potency. This substance is the given to the patient in the hope that it will aid the immune system into helping the patient recover and get back to being healthy.

Since nosodes are very potent, they need to be given in very low doses and potencies. The potency comes from the fact that nosodes are made from diseased secretions and therefore would be dangerous at high potency. For this reason, it is diluted down into a manageable dosage for humans.

It can be compares to immunization whereby the principle ideas are the same but the difference comes from the fact that the aim of a vaccine is to prevent a disease or condition from occurring whereas nosodes are administered to patients that already have some type of disease or condition and are therefore trying to be cured. There does not seem to be one specific cure or remedy involved for diseases and it is more of a thinking process when it comes to homeopathy as it involves the well being of a person on an energy level too.

Nosodes are also used in the care of animals. Homeopathic veterinarian. One example occurred in 1831 whereby a vet took the blood of a cow that had been infected with anthrax and also some nasal mucous also infected with the disease. This vet took the two infected samples and created standard remedies during the infamous epidemic in 1832 with much success.

It is not entirely new to the conventional medical world to use infected bacteria to create antidotes or other effective substances. For example penicillin was created from a fungus and in the animal world, many types of venom from snakes help create anti-venoms, just by changing a few characteristics to create new substances.

Such is the case in the homeopathic world, but simply on a more natural world. Homeopathy tends to create medicines made from plant, animal and mineral extracts thereby creating a natural array of substances. Although it is not used against conventional standards and practices and it is often used in conjunction with such methods to create a whole and complete medical system.