Helix tosta (Helx) = Geröstet.e Weinber.gschnecke/= Wall.fish
Negativ: Lungen (Tb.);
Repertorium:
Mund: Speichelfluss
Atmung: Atemnot, Dyspnoe, erschwertes Atmen < steigend
Auswurf: Blutig
Brust: Blutung der Lungen/Tb. im engeren Sinne (+ Blutung)
Kehlkopf/Trachea: Stimme heiser, Heiserkeit (chronisch)/Hemidesmus indica
Husten: Kitzelhusten, durch Kitzeln/verhindert den Schlaf/trocken
Hautausschläge Lepra
Vergleich: Siehe: Mollusca + Zwitter
Wirkung:
anticancer and antituberculosis.
Recent
studies have shown that Helix pomatia Lectin specifically binds Nacetylgalactosamine
glycans, which are prominent in cancer progression.
This substance used as a marker in determining metastatic progression.
Homeopathic
Pharmacopeia of the
Live snails
(Helix pomatia L.) are boiled in order to extract the
body of the animal. The shells are washed, brushed, and dried in an oven at 150
C. Then they are progressively calcinated in an
electric oven at 850°C. to
obtain a
very white residue. The powdered residue is odorless
and practically insoluble in water and in alcohol; it contains not less than
95.0% CaO (m.w. 56.08). It
should be stored in a well closed container.
Repertory Extraction from the Complete Repertory (by
Roger Van Zandvoort)
Respiration: Difficult (ascending)
Voice:
hoarse (chronic)
Cough: preventing sleep/dry/tickling
Expectoration: Bloody, spitting of blood.
Chest: Tuberculosis pulmonalis
with hemoptysis
Four of
these rubrics were confirmed during this proving.
Helix
pomatia (Helx-p.) = Roman Snail/= Weinbergschnecke/=
Escargot
[Todd Rowe]
Quelle: Remedia.at: Helix pomatia. Ausgangssubstanz: das lebend zerquetschte Tier.
Helix tosta was chosen as a remedy to examine the healing
qualities of the mollusc family that have never been well explored. Snails are
well known for their healing properties and serve as rich
archetypes
in the mythic imagination.
Themes:
heaviness (like a load or as of lead/experienced on the head and on the back)
or armor/slow
Feeling
weighed down emotionally
The following
general themes were noted through the proving:
* Anger at being treated badly (quite
strong and seen in many of the provers. described it
as feeling “angry at being used and abused”. As “red hot” anger. This anger
could be channeled into both
rage and
violence). [not feeling appreciated and anger at injustice and abuse in the
world (men)]. Response to the anger was a desire to be isolated and left alone.
Sudden
* Animals
* Babies/Pregnancy
* Buildings
* Courage/Confidence
* Moistness/Slime
* Money
* Sexuality increased
* Slowness
* Weighed down/back pack
* Youth
* Abusive * Cursing * Rage
* Violence
* Defiant
* Indignation * Irritability
* Malicious * Reproaches others
* Rude
* Sudden anger
Buildings:
many dreams of buildings and purchasing or selling buildings. Windows in the
buildings were a particular theme.
Courageous/Confidence:
described increased confidence and even courageousness during the proving.
The self
confidence and self assuredness at its strongest became egotism, arrogance and
haughtiness. Anger and confrontation was often coupled with this.
Moistness/Slime:
desired cold damp weather. This is in keeping with the preferential habitat of
the Roman Snail. In addition, the provers experienced
mucous and slime on their skin.
Stool feels
slimy.
Money:
Wealth and purchasing of expensive things was a prominent theme. Persistent
thoughts about money. This is in keeping with the high relative cost of
escargot.
Sexuality:
fairly strong throughout the proving. Many provers
had sexual dreams. There was also a theme of rape and sexual violation, with an
accompanying aggressive violent refusal to let this occur. Themes of
dishonesty, secrecy and ulterior motives often accompanied the sexuality.
Romantic
longing was also noted.
Slowness:
Two provers described hearing a song in their head
during the proving. One described the song “Slow Down You Move Too Fast” and
the other “Slow Down Sister”. Slow flowy drifting
feeling
Weighed
Down/Back Pack
Youth
Several provers described feeling and appearing younger during the
proving. Wrinkles disappeared as well.
Mollusc. Themes
Animal. Themes
Animal imagery
was very strong in this proving.
Several provers described an internal split.
Miasm
Two
separate miasms arose during the proving: sycotic and tubercular. The sycotic
miasmatic characteristics predominated. However it is
difficult to make a miasmatic determination based on
a single proving. One prover described the tubercular
energy as: Chilliness/Suddenness (to the general complaints). This was seen in
both physical and emotional symptoms.
Toasted
Remedies
Right
Sidedness
Desires/</>
for Wet Cold Weather
I have two
voices in my head; one that is impatient and the one that is amazed and mellow
I feel this
is a tubercular remedy; destructive, impatience, reckless, grass is greener
over there but I can’t get there; the feeling is that I have to make this huge
last ditch effort in order to live anymore;
like if I
don’t get to the gym and put myself first I am done.
Physical
areas most targeted by this remedy included:
Vertigo was
sudden and fleeting. It was accompanied by nausea and most often occurred on
waking.
Head
symptoms were characterized by severe migraine headaches which were noted by
two provers. Pains were most often pressing like a
cap or helmet.
Sinus
headaches that were frontal were also noted. A sensation of an iron band around
the forehead was noted.
Eye
discharge that was thick and white was noted by three provers.
There was also eye gum. Pains tended to be burning and pressing. Twitching of
the eyelids, < r. was noted.
Ringing of
the ears was seen in two provers one had it accompany vertigo. Itching of the
ears and a stopped sensation were also seen.
Nasal
obstruction was seen in 4 provers. < in the
morning + sneezing and clear discharge that was < in the morning. Nasal
dryness was noted.
The face
was characterized by acne. Skin was oily.
Three provers noted chancre sores of the mouth. Itching and pains
in the gums were noted.
Dryness of
the throat with choking and constricting sensations were noted. Drinking not > the dryness. A scratchy throat
was described in 3 provers < in the
morning/swallowing. Significant swelling
and induration was seen of the uvula and tonsils in one provers which was relatively painless.
Generally
appetite increased during the proving. This caused weight gain and a craving
for carbohydrates and sweets. Chronic gall bladder pains were cured in one prover and there was an affinity
for burning
night time pains in the liver. Nausea was quite strong without much vomiting.
Heartburn and eructations were also seen.
A general
tendency towards constipation of the rectum was seen. Two provers
had bloody stools. Slimy, mucousy stools also noted.
Sexual
desire was quite high. Profuse menses with painful menstrual cramps was noted.
Hoarseness
was seen in two provers. Difficult respiration was
also seen in two provers. Cough tended to be dry,
short and at night. No hemoptysis was seen, although
this was noted as a
symptom of
the remedy. Oppression of the chest was quite strong.
Breathing was
described by several provers as difficult. The cough
typically was dry and deep. + heaviness iin chest. Anginalike symptoms
were noted.
Two provers noted injuries to the back from lifting. This was
most often dorsal and associated with heaviness and tension.
Cramps of
the calves of the extremities were seen in two provers.
Nail problems were strong. Several provers lost toe
nails and cracking of the nails was common.
Sleep was
restless and difficult. There was particularly waking from 2 - 4 h. Falling asleep
was particularly a problem.
The skin
was moist and smooth. One prover described her skin
as if ‘covered in slime’.
Comparisons
Helix pomatia can be compared to other Mollusc remedies and Calc.
Sep. Urolophus halleri,
Calc-f. Caus. Spong. Tub. Med.
Repertory:
Mind: Abrupt
Abusive,
Insulting when opposed/ailments from
abuse
Anger Tendency to (violent/takes everything in bad
part/sudden)
Anxiety (of
conscience/on waking)
Appearance focused on
Audacity
Benevolence
Careful
Cautious
Censorious
Cheerfulness,
tendency to
Company aversed to
Comprehension,
Easy
Concentration
difficult (on waking)
Confidence
increased
Courageous
Cursing
Delusion being abused/is not appreciated/“As if
wearing a back pack“/breasts feel smaller/eyes feel darker and smaller/hair
feels longer/is covered in dust/is younger
Defiant
Destructiveness
Discontented
Dreams
Amorous/animals/buildings/courageous/homeopathic
medicines/money/remembered/travels/vivid/“As if in a dream“
Dwells on
past disagreeable occurrences
Egotism
Estranged
from society
Orientation
increased
Euphoria
Excitement
Fearless
Forsaken
Grief
Haughty
Hurry
Impatience
(with stool)
Impulsive
Indifference,
Apathy to eating
Indignation
Industrious
Injustice
unsupportable
Intuitive
Irritable
Lascivious/lustful
Laughing
immoderately
Laughing in
sleep
Malicious/mischievous
Mistakes im time/in words
Mood changeable, variable
Rage
Reproaches
Others
Restless
Rude
Sad (over
past/finished events)
Secretive
Selfish
Sensitive
to clothing/colors/noise/odors
Sentimental
Sleep,
during laughing/tossing about/shrieking
Suspicious
Sympathy/unsympathetic
Thoughts Money/of the past/rapid/quick/sexual
Tranquility
Unfeeling,
hard hearted
Violent
Weeping
Vertigo: in general
Night
Moving the
head backwards
Nausea with
On waking/<
on rising from bed
Sudden
Head: „As if constricted in an armor“/“As if constricted from (iron) band or hoop“
Eruptions
in margin of hair
„As if hat“
Heaviness
[in forehead (in frontal sinuses)/from headache]
Itching on
scalp
Pain [in
forehead/in temple/< wrapping head/<
pressure/migraine/sudden/cutting/darting/stabbing/pressing („As from a
cap“)/pulsating/throbbing /“Like electric current“]
Skull „As
if a cap“
Wens
Eyes: Discharge (thick/white)
Discolorated: red
Gum
Pain burning/pressing
Photophobia
Twitching
lids (r.)
Vision: Blurred/flickering
Ears: Eruptions, pimples behind ears
Itching
(morning)
Noises in
general (l. to r./at night/stooping/ringing/+ vertigo)
Pain [at
night/inside/in meatus/on touch/extending
jaw/boring/pressing/pulsating/throbbing]
„As if
stopped“ morning
Nose: Coryza
Desquamation
Discharge morning/clear/green
Dry
Itching
Obstructed
(r./morning)
Pain in tip
Sinuses,
Complaints of
Sneezing
(morning)
Tingling
Face: Discolorated red [spot (cheeks)]
Eruptions acne/on chin/pustule
Greasy
Heat
Pain Pressing
Mouth: Apthae
Biting
cheek talking or chewing
Coated
palate
Cold breath
Dry
(night/and thirstless)
„As if
hair“ on tongue
Itching on
palate
Palate
covered with a false membrane
Pain
in gums/in palate/burning
Taste:
offensive
Teeth: Crumbling
Enamel
deficient
Looseness
of
Throat: Apthae
Choking,
constricting
Discolorated (dark) red
Dry (at
night/not > drinking)
Emotions
felt in
Inflamed
Irritated
„As if
lump, plug“
Pain
(waking/on swallowing/burning)
Scraping
Swollen (tonsils/uvula)
External
Neck: swollen
cervical glands
Stomach: Appetite diminished/easy satiety/increased
(morning)/insatiable/ravenous, canine, excessive
Distensed
(„As if it would burst“/after eating)
Eructations
(after eating)
Fullness
Heartburn
(night)
Nausea
(morning/night/< odors)/Vomiting
Noises gurgling
Pain [from
emotions/burning (at night)]
Retching
Thirst/thirstless
Abdomen: Cold
Hard
Inflamed
gallbladder
Pain in gallbladder/liver/burning/cramping (at
night/during menses)
Tension in hypochondria
(l.)
Rectum: Constipation
Diarrhea
(during headache)
Hemorrhoid
Stool: like balls/bloody/frequent/long,
narrow/mucous, slimy/hard pieces
Urine: Odorless/scanty/watery
Female
organs: Irritation
Leucorrhea
brown
Menses clotted/late profuse
Pain cramping during menses
Sexual
desire increased
Male
organs: Pain stitching in penis/scrotum
Sexual
desire increased
Larynx
and Trachea: „As if
larynx obstructed“
Oppression
Speech and
Voice: hoarse
Respiration: Difficult (at night/ascending)
Snoring
Cough: Night/dry/preventing
sleep/short/from throat or larynx
Expectoration: Morning (after waking)
Chest: „As if foreign body inside“
Heavy/oppression
Pain lying on r. side/burning/sore, bruised in mammae before menses/stitching (at night/in heart)
Back: Cold
Cracking in
cervical region
Heaviness
(weight in dorsal region)
Injuries of
the spine from lifting
Pain
[morning/cervical/aching/cutting]
Stiffness
(in spine)
Tension
Extremities: cold [at night]
Cramping in
calf
Discoloration Spots on nails of fingers/sprained knee
Heat Hand/foot (morning/hot # cold)
Itching in forearm/in palms (morning)/ankle
Nails
complaints of: Brittle finger/toenails/falling of/grow rapid
Numb
forearms [at night]
Pain in hand „As from splinter“/in shoulder
(aching)/in calf/in toe/cutting/stitching in knees
Restless
forearms [at night
Tension in
thigh/in calf
Weak upper
arm
Sleep: deep
Falling
asleep difficult
Position r. (impossible)
Restless
Sleepy in
afternoon/sleepless (from congestion to head/from pain)
Unrefreshed
Waking [at
midnight 24 h./after midnight 3 h./4 h./difficult/frequent]
Yawning
Fever: Heat in general
Chill: Coldness in general
Morning/at
night
Perspiration: Cold
At night
Skin: Cold/dry
Ecchymoses
Moisture
„As if
covered with slime“
Generalities: Night
Cold <
Food and
drinks: Desires: Alcoholic drinks/farinaceous food/fish/meat/sweets (and
salt/before menses)
Heat,
Flushes of (in daytime)/Sensation of heat (on waking)/lack of vital heat/<
becoming heated
Heaviness
(„As from lead“/“Like a Load“)
Lassitude,
Tendency to morning/afternoon
r. sided
Sudden
Weariness,
Tendency to
> cold
weather/> wet weather
Allerlei: Als die Schnecke geschaffen wurde...
Vor langer Zeit, als die Welt noch jung war und die Tiere gerade alle erschaffen waren, betrachtete die Sonne ihr Schöpfungswerk und fand, das noch ein kleines Eckchen in der Welt frei wäre
für ein weiteres Tier. Klein müsste es sein, weich und langsam, damit es niemandem im Wege sein würde. Also erschuf die Sonne, bevor sie sich schlafen legte ein letztes Tier.
Es sah etwas seltsam aus, denn es hatte nur einen Fuß, winzige Zähne, die auf seiner Zunge saßen und Augen, die auf Fühlern von seinem Kopf wegragten.
Als diese kleine, hilflose Kreatur nun lautlos in die Nacht hinaus glitt, beobachtete dies die Mondin vom Himmel her. Das kleine, nackte Wesen tat ihr leid, denn es war schutzlos den scharfen
Zähnen der Katze und dem schweren tritt des Bären ausgeliefert. Auch hatte es nichts, wo es sich vor Regenwetter oder den Stichen der Sonne verstecken konnte. So nahm die Mondin ein Stück
von ihrer eigenen, runden, perlmutig glänzenden Gestalt und formte daraus ein kleines Haus für die Schnecke, das sie schützen sollte. Und als das Haus zur Erde fiel, wirbelte es immer rund und
rund und war am Ende ganz spiralig gewunden, als es bei dem kleinen Wesen ankam.
So wurde die Schnecke, wie wir sie heute kennen, geschaffen, beneidet von den anderen Tieren, denn sie trägt ihr Haus immer mit sich auf dem Rücken um darin Schutz zu suchen.
Also, wenn Ihr des Nachts eine Schnecke seht, die ihre
Fühler dem Himmel entgegen reckt, dann bedankt sie sich gerade bei der Mondin für ihr wunderschönes Geschenk. (Madeleine Scott)
Helix pomatia is a large (largest in Europe), edible, air
breathing, land snail.
Slime or mucus
has different functions for a snail and can be thin or thick. It is an organic hydrogel
(= ein Wasser enthaltendes, aber wasserunlösliches Polymer) which can absorb a
great
quantity of water, almost 250 % wasser. of its own weight. On the body
there are glands which run from the mouth to the backend. Slime helps prevent
water loss, is used in locomotion by
enabling it
to crawl over rough surfaces or slick ones (glass). It is also used as a
deterrent against enemies, although the slime itself doesn’t contain any bitter
tasting chemicals.
Helix
native to the limestone areas of Central and Southeastern
Europe. It has spread out to other areas gradually over time, mainly by human
hands. In some areas (mainly
over-collecting
has greatly reduced the numbers and in some countries of
Helix pomatia is found in copses, thickets, parks, gardens and
vineyards. The snail prefers a chalky substrate in warm low lying country.
Snails need damp, not wet, environments.
Although
snails need moisture, wet or waterlogged soil must be drained to make it
suitable for them. Similarly, rainwater must run off promptly. Snails breathe
air and may drown in overly wet
surroundings.
In the hours of darkness, air humidity over 80% will promote good snail
activity and growth. Snails like hiding places (during the warm daytime/in
winter).
Helix pomatia has thousands of teeth. On the front of the body is
the head, where two pairs of tentacles are located. The upper pair bears the
eyes, the lower pair is used for smelling and feeling.
The mouth
has a tongue called radula. In the top of the mouth
is a hard ridge and food is being mashed between the radula
and this ridge. The front teeth of the radula wear
very fast but the
radula
grows from the back end.
Near the
opening of the mouth salivary glands release digestive enzymes. The salivary
gland secretions moisten the digested food and envelop it, thereby making
easier it for the food to go
into the esophagus. The esophagus ends in
the stomach. The intestines release large quantities of a brown digestive juice
in the stomach. The intestinal gland fills up most of the space in the
visceral
sac. The intestinal gland consists of smaller and bigger follicles. A steady
back and forth movement of the digestive juices between stomach and intestines
enhances the process of
absorption
of the food. The movement of the digestive juices is caused by the muscles of
the intestinal gland and ciliae. The digested food
flows over the liver cells which absorb the food.
The smaller
intestine starts at the visceral sac, follows the edge of the kidney and enters
the pulmonary cavity. It ends near the pneumostome
(breathing pore) in the smaller intestine on the
point of
exit from the visceral sac a deep groove. This groove which is coated with cilae takes over all non-absorbed solids and directs it
into the small intestine. Here the solids are
compressed
and enveloped with a layer of slime after which they leave the body.
Snails of
the same species collected from different regions may have different food
preferences. Some foods that snails eat are: Alyssum, fruit and leaves of
apple, apricot, artichoke (favorite), aster,
barley,
beans, bindweed, California boxwood, almost any cabbage variety, chamomile,
carnation, carrot, cauliflower, celeriac (root celery), celery, ripe cherries,
chive, citrus, clover,
cress,
cucumbers (favorite), dandelion, elder, henbane,
hibiscus, hollyhock, kale, larkspur, leek, lettuce (makes good snails), lily,
magnolia, mountain ash, mulberry, mums, nasturtium, nettle,
nightshade berries, oats, onion greens, pansy,
parsley, peach, ripe pears, peas, petunia, phlox, plum, potatoes (raw or
cooked), pumpkins, radish, rape, rose, sorrel, spinach, sweet pea, thistle,
thorn
apple, tomatoes (well liked), turnip, wheat, yarrow, zinnia. They will eat
sweet lupines, but will reject bitter lupines and other plants with high quinolizidine alkaloids.
Snails also
avoid plants that produce other defensive chemicals, defensive stem hairs, etc.
Snails usually prefer juicy leaves and vegetables over dry ones.
Respiration and Circulation
The blood
system in Helix pomatia is open, with blood spaces
and no veins. The pigment is colorless, and is called
haemocyanin., which contains copper. The relative weak
heart consists
of a single
thick walled ventricle and a single thin walled auricle. The blood takes oxygen
from the lung and transports it to the auricle, and then to the ventricle. The
ventricle releases blood
with oxygen
in the arteries, after which the blood goes to the tissues. The so-called lung
(pulmonary cavity) lies on the inside of the roof of the visceral-sac. Through
the breathing-pore, the
pneumostome,
oxygen reaches the snail’s lung. When the pneumostome
is open the roof and bottom of the pulmonary cavity are close together. When
the bottom goes down the oxygen can flow
into the
lung. Then the pneumostome closes and the bottom goes
up, pushing the oxygen in the body. It is comparable to the midriff in mammals.
In spring,
when the Roman snails have been awake from hibernation for some time, it
becomes time for mating. Depending on the weather and other environmental
conditions, mating time may
last until
the end of June.
Roman
snails, and with them most terrestrial snail species, are hermaphrodites. They
have male as well as female organs in one collective genital apparatus. This
organ system not only contains
sexual
organs in the narrow sense of the word, but also various auxiliary organs that
have respective tasks in different periods during mating. What advantage does
being a hermaphrodite give
to a Roman
snail? Because of its proverbial slowness the snail needs much time to move in
a very small area. So the chances to meet a mating partner are too low to
divide them even further by
two sexes
to choose from. Terrestrial pulmonate snails (Stylommatophora) such as the Roman snail, on the other hand,
have double mating chances, because in principle, they can mate with any
snail of
the right species they encounter. During copulation, Roman snails do not act as
either male or female, but simultaneously as both. Some snails may act as males
one season and as females
the next.
A Roman
snail’s mating process takes place in several phases, which go from an
attraction phase over an extensive courtship until finally the copulation
itself. The encounter of two Roman snails
ready for
mating is not purely incidental. Like many other terrestrial snails, they have
a gland located at the gland that produces an olfactory sexual attractant.
Those attractants are also used by
other snail
species such as banded snails (Cepaea). As a
consequence two snails of entirely different species may feel attracted and try
mating. Between snails of different species, that attempt
must remain
unsuccessful.
The
courtship among Roman snails is a very interesting thing to witness. Both
snails begin by raising their heads and putting their flat foot soles against
each other. They touch each other with
tentacles
and lips while they are swaying gently. As a prelude to the actual copulation
this courtship process may last as long as twenty hours. The copulation itself
will take a much smaller fraction
of time.
During the
courtship possibly a dart may be applied, one snail stinging it into the mate’s
foot. This dart has been called a love dart, as its application obviously is in
direct connection with
courtship
or mating. The pricked snail becomes visibly more excited and active, sometimes
it also returns the favor by jabbing a love dart into
the mate’s body. A Roman snail’s love dart can
become as
long as 7 to 11 mm and consists of a four-edge blade on one and a crown on the
other end. In idle state with this crown the dart sits on a papilla in the dart
sac. To use the dart, the
snail
pushes out the interior of the dart sac, thus thrusting the dart into the
mate’s body. After separation from the papilla, the dart remains stung in the
body. Though called a dart, in many
languages
also an arrow, the Roman snail’s love dart is neither thrown nor shot, there is
no distance of free flight. Instead it is thrust into the mate’s body, more
like a dagger, than a dart.
Sometimes
the love dart misses its target. Then it may come to rest on the mate’s body
without penetrating it, but it can also happen that one of the two mates is
hurt. It is not in every mating
process
that a love dart is applied. Roman snails mate whenever possible, but the replication
of a love dart sometimes needs more time than remains between two mating
encounters. Research
has found
that application of a love dart not at all only influences snail behavior. Using a love dart a secretion is injected that is
produced by the finger shaped glands in the genital apparatus.
This
secretion contains hormones that influence certain parts of the genital
apparatus and that way improve the reproductive chances of the snail that
applied the dart.
After the
long and extensive courtship there may be several attempts for copulation. It
may happen that the readiness to mate between two snails is very different, so
that the copulation attempts
may look
more like a wrestling match. When finally both snails manage to find a suitable
position, they actually perform copulation. Both penises are entwined and
inserted into the mate’s vagina.
The union
successfully completed, both snails stay as they are. At the same time, a sperm
packet, a so-called spermatophore, is produced in
either snail’s body and afterwards filled with sperm cells.
This spermatophore is almost 10 cm long and is roughly shaped
like a thread. Even after it was positioned in the mate’s genital apparatus,
the tail still looks out of the snail’s genital opening. This is
why the two
snails remain motionless for a certain time after completing of the copulation:
The spermatophore’s application in the mate’s genital
apparatus must be supported; an early interruption of
the union
may disrupt the spermatophore and thus render useless
the hours of toil involved in a standard snail courtship.
It is only
now that both snails separate. Soon later they may meet again with other
potential mates. A part of the sperm cells just received, however, will be
stored in a special sperm pouch.
Those sperm
cells may then well manage to fertilize egg cells, though they will have to
compete with sperm cells of other mating partners also stored in the same
pouch.
Fertilization
only happens, when it is time to lay eggs. That will happen, provided the
environmental conditions are favorable and there is a
place where the eggs can be deposited in a special
hole in the
ground.
Birds,
insects, mice, rats, mice, moles, skunks, weasels, frogs, lizards, centipedes,
beetles, crickets, toads and other predators take a heavy toll on the young
snails. Parasites, nematodes, trematodes,
fungi, and microarthropods may attack snails, and such problems can
spread rapidly when snail populations are dense. The bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes intestinal infections.
Helix pomatia has historically been used as an anti-cancer remedy
and anti-tuberculosis remedy. Escargot has been used as an anti-cancer therapy
since ancient medieval times. Recent studies
have shown
that Helix pomatia Lectin
specifically binds N-acetylgalactosamine glycans, which are prominent in cancer progression. This
substance has been used as a marker in determining metastatic progression.
Pests
Snails in
general are not very well liked. Many are considered to be garden pests and are
poisoned or stepped on when they are found. A permit from the Department of
Agriculture is needed to
ship snails
into the U.S. Roman snails are considered pests on grapes grown to make wine.
Roasted
snail shells have been found in archaeological excavations, an indication that
snails have been eaten since prehistoric times. In ancient
gardens
before they were eaten. A
by water to
prevent escape, supplying vegetation as feed, and fattening them on corn meal.
Pliny
described the snail
the best
snails for breeding. “Wall fish” were often eaten in
large
quantities of snails at Mardi Gras or Carnivale, as a
foretaste of Lent.
The
nutrient composition of raw snails (per 100 grams of edible portion), according
to information from the nutrient databank of
Helix tosta described in the following sources: Allen, Boericke, Clarke, Van Zandvoort.
What is
described reflects the tubercular nature of the remedy with symptoms of hemoptysis, dry cough < at night preventing sleep, dysponea < ascending stairs, continuous hoarseness,
difficult scanty expectoration, failing strength and night sweats. Clarke
states that snails have a long history of being useful in the treatment of Tb.
and that this is why the homeopathic medicine was
obtained.
The cardinal symptom on which the remedy was prescribed was hemoptysis
in tubercular conditions.
The
following are instructions on the preparation of the remedy in the Homeopathic
Pharmacopeia of the U.S:
Live snails
(Helix pomatia L.) are boiled in order to extract the
body of the animal. The shells are washed, brushed, and dried in an oven at 150
C. Then they are progressively calcinated in an
electric oven at 850° in order to obtain a very white residue. The powdered
residue is odorless and practically insoluble in
water and in alcohol; it contains not less than 95.0% CaO.
It should
be stored in a well-closed container.
Repertory
Extraction from the Complete Repertory (Roger Van Zandvoort)
Respiration: Difficult (ascending)
Cough: preventing sleep
Dry
Tickling
Expectoration: Bloody, spitting of blood
Voice: hoarseness (chronic)
Chest: Tuberculosis pulmonalis
(with HEMOPTYSIS)
Respiration Difficult.
Cough preventing sleep
Cough Dry
Voice: hoarse
Helix tosta was chosen as a remedy to examine the healing
qualities of the mollusc family that have never been well explored. Snails are
well known for their healing properties and serve as rich
archetypes
in the mythic imagination.
The
strongest sensation experienced during the proving was that of heaviness or armor. Heaviness like a load or as of lead. This was
experienced both on the head and on the back. The provers
describe
the following;
Feeling
weighed down emotionally
The
sensation is that I have this helmet and this thing on my back that I can’t get
off and it is holding me back; like I am stuck in the mud and it takes forever
for things to happen or manifest;
Like
something stuck to my back on both sides; cannot get it off; restricting like
the helmet on the head; as if I have a permanent back pack; stronger on the
back; it feels hard; restricting;
>
resting on the couch; it is a burden and too heavy; holds me back; cannot move;
stuck in the mud; have to wait for something to help me.
I realize I
have thicker skin; it is like body armor; not very
emotionally affected
I felt
contained as if there were actual boundaries around my body; like a thick layer
all around my body and head; it felt like a bold line.
Very, very
emotional; had to draw a family tree for one of my classes and I choked up
thinking of family; emotions make me feel sad as if a rope were tied around my
waist and chest like I cannot breathe.
Dream: following my friend to her house;
I had to cross a small pool of water; had a backpack with me and was having to
practically be a contortionist to get around with it.
I am in a
store and looking at a sleeping bag that the bottom inflates to the body; I get
in and it is really uncomfortable lying on another body; I can’t buy it.
My children
said I was boring and that I need to have more fun; all three kept repeating
it.
I was told
to move out of my comfort zone.
This sensation
of weight or armor is connected to the source which
has a shell that surrounds it, providing both protection and security but also
restricts movement and slows the animal down.
Although
the shell provides security, it is a place that is experienced as boring and
not fully alive. For example:
The state
without the shell or security was described as follows:
Dream –
Initially I am helping this patient on the phone giving him instructions
regarding his treatment. Next I see this guy starting to look for something. I
ask what do you want so I can find it. He does not say anything, then others
come and take me and they have taken everything. It seems I had been asleep
when they took everything. I know these people very well. I cry and beg them
not to take me away. Then a friend comes and says do not cry and you are OK and
we sit. I am crying and say I want to transform myself so my true self comes
out and also I can see the true self in others. She tries to console me and
then this other guy comes and they begin to take me away. I do not know where
they are taking me and they have taken everything, like I am completely
stripped of everything. I am also hoping that this is a dream I am having but
it does not seem to be in the dream. Everything is taken including me and I do
not know where they will take me or what they will do to me. As I was writing
the dream in my bed I was hot and getting sweaty. The temperature is cold now
so the sweat was of nervousness nature.
General Themes
The
following general themes were noted through the proving:
Anger at being treated badly
Animals
Babies/Pregnancy
Buildings
Courage/Confidence
Moistness/Slime
Money
Sexuality increased
Slowness
Weighed down/back pack
Youth
Anger at Being Treated Badly
This was
quite strong and seen in many of the provers. One prover described it as feeling “angry at being used and
abused”. Another described it as “red hot” anger. This anger could be channeled into both rage and violence. It manifested
through the following:
Abusive
Cursing
Defiant
indignation
Irritability
Malicious
Rage
Reproaches others
Rudeness
Sudden anger
Violence
Much of the
anger stemmed from not feeling appreciated and anger at injustice and abuse in
the world. Many of the provers described anger at
abusive men.
The
response to the anger was a desire to be isolated and left alone.
Babies/Pregnancy
It was not
clear why this was a strong theme in the proving as Roman snails do not care
for their young. There were issues about wanting to get pregnant and grief that
they could not. This grief
was
experienced “As if there was a rope tied around my waist and chest like I
cannot breathe”. Some caretaking issues with babies were noted. Multiple babies
or children were often noted.
Buildings
There were
many dreams of buildings and purchasing or selling buildings. Windows in the
buildings were a particular theme.
Dream: A
woman is telling me she has to lose her house and land for a whale that is
coming in from the ocean; lived on a piece of triangular land that was
in-between 2 tributaries that flowed into the ocean.
Dream: I
was in a large restaurant that was shaped like a spiral inside; it was an old
building but finely constructed of wood; there was much fine carving.
Dream: My
husband and I were buying beach-front property; touring a house valued at $1.4
million; We were seriously interested in buying and indicated that to the real
estate agent; the price did not phase us.
Dream: My
husband and I are in a huge building looking for an apartment for the next
years to live in; A realtor is with us but he doesn’t say anything; the
hallways and the apartments are especially dark;
the first
apartment has several windows; they are rectangle shaped and rather wide than
high; I like the windows but my husband doesn’t like this apartment for some
reason; the next apartments are even darker; what is important to me seems to
be the windows.
Courageous/Confidence
Many of the
provers described increased confidence and even
courageousness during the proving. One prover
described it as follows:
Much more
courageous; confidence improved; I did many things during the proving that I
never felt the confidence to do before; saying it like it is; especially confrontative to men; I feel in charge; I can do what I
want and say what I want and don’t really care what others think.
This also manifested in the following dream:
At some
downtown public building; a woman shows up among a group of people with
multiple leashes and about 15 dogs; the dogs kept getting loose; one by one I
kept gathering them; trying to help this woman who has more than she can
handle; then a pit bull gets loose; my immediate reaction is to overcome my
fear and go towards him and pet him and grab his leash; just like the others; I
realize I can’t show fear or he will attack; I walk right toward him and reach
down and pet him; I bring him back to the woman; next a mountain lion gets loose;
I have huge fear but have to muster up the courage to not show the fear; I
realize that people may try to hurt him out of fear; he is in bad shape and
looks exhausted; I am able to contain him; a man started screaming from fear
that the mountain lion would attack his daughter so I took the lion back
outside and tied him up; I see two people with bow and arrows aimed at him; I
was angry and defensive; I ran towards them to block their shots and chased
them off while swearing at them.
The self
confidence and self assuredness at its strongest became egotism, arrogance and
haughtiness. Anger and confrontation was often coupled with this.
Moistness/Slime
The provers desired cold damp weather. This is in keeping with
the preferential habitat of the Roman Snail. In addition, the provers experienced mucous and slime on their skin. This is
described as follows:
Skin feels
wet and slimy and cold; like I am always wet; it sucks and feels uncomfortable;
Skin felt wet, slimy and cold like I am always wet; very uncomfortable; it is
slimy; slimy thing about it; wet and slimy; I know it is not wet; cold and wet
and yucky like the cold wet like breathing; it feels as if you are in the rain
or covered in old slime.
Stool feels slimy.
Dream: I
had a really bad cold, a ton of green mucous came out which was slimy, thick
and bubbly; there was a whole garlic bulb in it!
Money
Wealth and
purchasing of expensive things was a prominent theme. Several provers described persistent thoughts about money. This is
in keeping with the high relative cost of escargot.
The
following illustrate this:
Dream: I
was floating down a river and passing out money.
Dream: In
the passenger seat of a truck; I had this feeling that I had just completed a
purchase: the biggest purchase of my life and I was so confident, felt so good
about the purchase.
Dream: I
wanted to buy a diamond ring for $14,000; I took a nap and slept past the time
the store closed; I was thinking do I really want to put $14K on my finger and
have it be worth 1/3 that when I walk out of the store?
Dream: My
husband and I were buying beach front property; touring a house valued at 1.4
million; We were seriously interested in buying and indicated that to the real
estate agent; the price did not phase us.
Dream: my
husband was selling some winter coats that my mom used to sell some years ago.
These coats were very warm with llama fur, extremely expensive. He was asking
$40,000 for a coat. The client, my friend, wanted to offer $12,000. We were
inside a very expensive and exclusive restaurant. The colors
of the coat changed from dark to light colors,
beautiful bright colors from nature, as if the coat
had a life by itself. My friend was selling jewelry,
expensive too.
Dream: A
tour of houses of wealthy executives; beautiful large homes with a lot of
larger windows and shades for privacy; the person giving the tour said that
because the executives have large living spaces, they need to stay in the
finest hotels during business travel; later I went to the children of these
executives and they would go off to school but come back home after their
parents left for work.
Sexuality
Sexuality
was fairly strong throughout the proving. Many provers
had sexual dreams. There was also a theme of rape and sexual violation, with an
accompanying aggressive violent refusal to let this occur. Themes of
dishonesty, secrecy and ulterior motives often accompanied the sexuality.
Dream: I
was in a relationship with a guy; I was in the bathroom and he was coming after
me so I locked the door; he was banging on the door but I wouldn’t let him in;
later I was locked in a car and he was going to smash the window; my feelings
became loving to him and I told him it was not necessary to smash the glass; I
got out of the car and hugged him and kissed him; I felt turned on and knew
everything would be OK; he talked about his anger and I told him he would be OK
once we find his remedy.
Dream:
Feeling of stuck and being in a hard place and the need to get out of the
situation. Also feeling of danger trying to cross an area that is very
dangerous and we are not familiar with it. In this scene I am about to have
intercourse. I ejaculate intensely and awake.
Dream:
Walking along a busy street in my white socks; I was not at all dressed up or
looking good; I was dressed shabbily; a rundown car with a bunch of thugs sped
up and pulled alongside of me; they were soliciting me to become a prostitute;
I took a shopping cart and was swinging it around and around and was hitting
them and telling them to get away.
Dream: A
lady owned a ranch and was brushing her horse. A man was there with his son;
the lady’s dog was chained up nearby; The man told his son that the dog was
protective of the woman and he said “watch this”; he kissed the woman and the
dog started charging at the man; the dog ran until his chain tightened. (19)
Romantic
longing was also noted.
Slowness
Two provers described hearing a song in their head during the
proving. One described the song “Slow Down You Move Too Fast” and the other
“Slow Down Sister”. The provers described it as
follows:
The
sensation is that I have this helmet and this thing on my back that I can’t get
off and it is holding me back; like I am stuck in the mud and it takes forever
for things to happen or manifest; Like something stuck to my back on both
sides; cannot get it off; restricting like the helmet on the head; as if I have
a permanent back pack; stronger on the back; it feels hard; restricting; better
resting on the couch; it is a burden and too heavy; holds me back; cannot move;
stuck in the mud; have to wait for something to help me.
Slow flowy drifting feeling
Weighed Down/Back Pack
See the
description under “Sensation” above.
Youth
Several provers described feeling and appearing younger during the
proving. Wrinkles disappeared as well.
Mollusc. Themes and
Land Snail themes, were correlated with this proving.
Animal. Themes
Animal imagery
was very strong in this proving. This is illustrated in the Theme section
below.
Several provers described an internal split. One prover described the split as follows:
I have two
voices in my head; one that is impatient and the one that is amazed and mellow
Miasm
Two
separate miasms arose during the proving. These were
the Sycotic Miasm and the
Tubercular Miasm. The sycotic
miasmatic characteristics predominated. However it is
difficult to make a miasmatic determination based on
a single proving. One prover described the tubercular
energy as:
I feel this
is a tubercular remedy; destructive, impatience, reckless, grass is greener
over there but I can’t get there; the feeling is that I have to make this huge
last ditch effort in order to live anymore; like if I don’t get to the gym and
put myself first I am done.
Dreams have
a tubercular (busy/active) and sycotic (secretive)
feeling to them.
Dreams of
travel were particularly strong. Themes of secrecy, hiding and covering up were
equally strong.
See the
descriptions below for details of expressions of both of these miasms within the proving.
Toasted Remedies
There is
some suggestion that toasted or burned remedies tend to be more Tubercular
(ref. Spong.).
General
Characteristics
The
following general symptoms were most characteristic.
Chilliness
Most of the
provers described chilliness or chills. Some hot
flushes were noted but these tended to be brief and followed by the chilliness.
One prover described the chilliness as follows;
Mucous
membranes feel cold; as if it is 10° in the winter in Massachusetts at the
ocean with a wind blowing at 25 mph, and every breath is cold as ice and takes
your breath away.
Right
Sidedness
A
significant majority of the provers experienced
right-sided symptoms. There were also a few provers
that had left-sided symptoms that then moved to the right.
Desire for
Wet Cold Weather
A desire or
> in wet, cold weather was seen in three of the provers.
This is consistent with the animal which prefers damp and colder climes. The animal
however cannot tolerate too hot or too cold temperatures. It both hibernates
and aestivates. One prover described this as being
unable to tolerate either cold or heat.
Suddenness
There was a
suddenness to the general complaints. This was seen in both physical and
emotional symptoms.
In
addition, to the above, cravings for sweets, carbohydrates and alcohol were
noted. Two of the provers described things as going
“backwards”.
Emotional
and Mental Characteristics
The
predominant emotional characteristic seen in this remedy was anger. This was
described by provers as “red hot anger” and
“confrontational with stupid people”. Many of the provers
described a lack of willingness to put up with any abuse or injustice anymore.
This was particularly targeted by women towards men. See the general themes for
more details.
The second
emotional and mental characteristic was that of increased confidence and even
courageousness. In extreme form, this manifested in both egotism and
haughtiness.
See the
general themes for more details.
Physical Characteristics
Physical
areas most targeted by this remedy included:
Vertigo was
sudden and fleeting. It was accompanied by nausea and most often occurred on
waking.
Head symptoms
were characterized by severe migraine headaches which were noted by two provers. Pains were most often pressing like a cap or
helmet.
Sinus
headaches that were frontal were also noted. A sensation of an iron band around
the forehead was noted.
Eye
discharge that was thick and white was noted by three provers.
There was also eye gum. Pains tended to be burning and pressing. Twitching of
the eyelids, worse right was noted.
Ringing of
the ears was seen in two provers: one had it
accompany vertigo. Itching of the ears and a stopped sensation were also seen.
Nasal
obstruction was seen in four provers. This was worse
in the morning. It was accompanied by sneezing and clear discharge that was
worse in the morning. Nasal dryness was noted.
The face
was characterized by acne. Skin was oily.
Three provers noted chancre sores of the mouth. Itching and pains
in the gums were noted.
Dryness of
the throat with choking and constricting sensations were noted. Drinking did
not ameliorate the dryness. A scratchy throat was described in three provers < in the morning and on swallowing. Significant
swelling and induration was seen of the uvula and
tonsils in one provers which was relatively painless.
Generally
appetite was increased during the proving. This caused weight gain and a
craving for carbohydrates and sweets. Chronic gall bladder pains were cured in
one prover and there was an affinity for burning
night time pains in the liver. Nausea was quite strong without much vomiting.
Heartburn and eructations were also seen.
A general
tendency towards constipation of the rectum was seen. Two provers
had bloody stools. Slimy, mucousy stools was also
noted.
Sexual
desire was quite high. Profuse menses with painful menstrual cramps was noted.
Hoarseness
was seen in two provers. Difficult respiration was
also seen in two provers. Cough tended to be dry,
short and at night. No hemoptysis was seen, although
this was noted previously as a symptom of the remedy. Oppression of the chest
was quite strong.
Breathing
was described by several provers as difficult. The
cough typically was dry and deep. Chest heaviness accompanied. Angina-like
symptoms were noted.
Two provers noted injuries to the back from lifting. This was
most often dorsal and associated with heaviness and tension.
Cramps of
the calves of the extremities were seen in two provers.
Nail problems were strong. Several provers lost toe
nails and cracking of the nails was common.
Sleep was
restless and difficult. There was particularly waking from 2: 4 am. Falling
asleep was particularly a problem.
The skin
was moist and smooth. One prover described her skin
as if ‘covered in slime’.
Vorwort/Suchen. Zeichen/Abkürzungen. Impressum.