Schlangen allgemein Anhang 3

 

[Amati Holle]

Schlangen allgemein

Gemeinsame Schlangenthema sind:

Die Waffen spiegeln die Angst und das Misstrauen gegen die Umwelt. Vorbeugender Angriff; „Ich töte dich, ehe du mir gefährlich wirst *1

Verschlingen oder verschlungen werden.

Angriff durch Schuldzuweisung an den Angegriffenen.

Macht, Schuld, Sexualität und  Tod.

Konkurrenzkampf, Manipulation. Verführung.

Mutter- Tochterbeziehung,. Verrat der weiblichen Linie. Verlassenheit. Eifersucht, Besitzergreifend. Intrigen, Misstrauen, Gift.

körperliche Gewalt, bedroht und verfolgt.

Sexualität + Religiösität, Zwiespalt. Dualität. Gut und Böse.

Sprache ( zu viel oder zu wenig ).

Zirkulationsprobleme, Kreislauf. Blutstau. Beengung.

Einseitige Beschwerden.

Verschlechterung: Frühjahr, Alkohol, Wein, Schlaf,

starke Ängste, Angst vor Schlangen

Körperlich.: Blau-rötliche Verfärbung, Blut. Herz.    

<: Regnerisches Wetter Schlangen allgemein/

< Sie häuten sich

< Können den Kiefer aushängen um Beute zu verschlingen

< Greifen an wenn sie angegriffen werden

(bei Grenzüberschreitung, sonst selten)

< Hals empfindlichste Stelle, da sie dort zu packen sind

< Keinen Bezug zwischen sich und den Eltern, da sie aus den Eiern sofort

 selbständig  werden müssen.

< Hypnotisieren die Gegner mit ihrer Intensität

Erscheinung: Durchdringender Blick. In der Anamnese macht sich oft das Gefühl angegriffen zu werden, noch ehe eine ihr zu nah tritt, wehren sich dort wo

wir am verletzlichsten sind. Beißt nur ein mal zu.

 

[Lize de la Rouvière]

GROUP ANALYSIS

General characteristics of snake remedies

Sankaran (2005: 46) gives the following as characteristics of remedies obtained from reptilian, which includes Ophidian, sources:

Themes of superior and inferior

Manipulative, calculative

Jealousy, suspicion

Split in the mind, or antagonism with himself

Vulnerability

Clairvoyance

Sexuality

Hiding, deceit, concealment, never seen, disguise

Closed and no way ahead

Fear of attack, attack from behind, attack from a concealed position

Feeling of being pursued and a desire to hide

Sudden movement

Ross (2007) sees the essential feature of snake remedies as that of polarity within the individual. This polarity exists between the conscious, rational, logical, overt, active,

structured, visible qualities; and the emotional, intuitive, creative, esoteric, passive, illogical side. The challenge presented to the individual requiring a remedy made from

snake venom is the successful integration of these opposing polarities. Ross uses this insight to explain many of the well-known modalities of snake remedies: < on going

to sleep, during sleep and on waking (transition period between the conscious and unconscious); < spring and autumn (transition between seasons); < from alcohol which

brings out the unconscious and amelioration from coffee which emphasises the rational thought processes; < during pregnancy and menopause (transition periods in a

woman’s life).

In addition to the emotional aspects emphasized by the two authors above, Thakkar (2007:68) also mentions the following: powerful intensity of emotions;

religiousness or spirituality, anxiety of conscience and conscientiousness; suspicion; quarrelsomeness; aggression; impulsivity; confrontation and territoriality.

In the author’s note to her book, Thakkar (2007) says that she has found through clinical experience that people requiring snake remedies are „extremely conscientious,

thoughtful, focused, bright and sensitive‟, and adds that they seem to have „remarkable control‟ over their negative emotions.

According to Thakkar (2007: 56), some common physical characteristics of ophidian remedies are:

Dry, lustreless skin. Tendency to suppuration, boils, acne, psoriasis

Cutaneous hyperesthesia

Sense of constriction and aversion to tight clothing around neck and chest

Dryness of eyes, blurry vision

Acute sense of smell, or anosmia

Vertigo

Warm-bloodedness, with sensitivity to extremes of temperature

Increased appetite with a tendency to overeat. Inability to tolerate hunger

Sluggish digestion, tendency to acid dyspepsia and heartburn

Respiratory tract complaints, with a tendency to tonsillitis, asthma, bronchitis

Heart pathology: tachycardia, irregular beats, cardiomyopathy

Premenstrual breast tenderness, premenstrual syndrome

Increased sexual desire and a tendency to masturbation

A comparative extraction was done using the RADAR repertory program (ARCHIBEL SA, 2006), in which the rubrics common to

Lachesis muta, Naja tripudians, Elaps coralinus and Bitis arietans arietans were extracted. This yielded the following common symptoms:

In the mind: absentmindedness, anxiety, a desire for company, indifference, irritability and sadness.

Vertigo: Heaviness of the head, and pain in the forehead

Epistaxis

Sensation of a lump in the throat and difficulty in swallowing

Increased thirst

Abdominal flatulence and rumbling, and a tendency to constipation

Painful menses

Sense of constriction and oppression in the chest, and heart palpitations

Pain in the cervical region, and rheumatic pain in the extremities

Coldness of the hands and feet

Deep sleep, sleepiness

Weakness

These symptoms are thus common symptoms to the snake remedies used in the comparison in this study.

Proving of Hemachatus haemachatus produced all the above symptoms, except epistaxis.

In an effort to elucidate the differentiating features of the remedies, a comparative extraction was performed using the rubrics of the Mind section of the repertory.

This information was used in the comparison below.

 

[Farokh Master]

I was as a young doctor not much interested in drug proving, for first 6 - 8 years of my life I was indifferent to the whole process, the reason being I was mostly

trained by doctors from Calcutta who were focused more on clinical material medica.

In 1987 when I went to Brazil Sao Paulo to study snakes I realized that snakes in homoeopathy is one big mess, there was huge problem  related to taxonomy and

classification of snakes, over there I saw many snakes with very powerful venom that had yet to be introduced in homoeopathy.

First thing I did after coming back to India was to expand my horizon on experimental pharmacology for developing a totally new principle for ascertaining the

curative power of poisonous snakes of Amazon valley.

I collected a small group of dedicated homoeopathic doctors who wanted to prove homoeopathic medicines.

I had decided long back that I will only prove homoeopathic medicines made from serpent kingdom so that I can understand the depth of efficacy related to snakes.

From 1988 till 2013 I have proved 8 snake remedies.

Bitis arietans

Bungarus facitatious

Echis carinatus

Eunectus noteaus

Morelia spilota

Naja haje

Naja mossambica

Ophiophagus hannah

What I learned from proving the above remedies is mentioned below:

Try and select dedicated and experienced provers who can describe the symptoms in detail and who has a good understanding of his or her body that’s the reason

why I selected always homoeopathic doctors.

I avoid selecting provers who are anxious or nervous or hypochondriac by nature.

I keep regular monthly meetings and video the whole meeting to understand what the provers really felt. I carry on the proving for 18 months to see long term effects.

When only snake remedies were proved I saw something common that came through all the remedies.

Following themes emerged.

Activity: Many remedies loved to keep themselves busy.

Anger: Lot of pent up anger came out in the form of throwing things, from contradiction, with quick repentance, sadness after anger.

Anxiety: Very hypochondriac with lot of issues related to his health.

Concentration: Any literally work makes them dull and sleepy; confusion of mind, forgetfull, even in well known streets forgets the way.

Out of Body and De javu: Many provers had de javu and out of body experiences. This was accompanied by increased awareness of his body.

Awkwardness: Clumsy movement and embarrassment from awkwardness

Laziness: in the morning (on waking) this is followed by sadness (Depression), indifference to work, business and surroundings.

Fear: of being attacked, being alone and of impending disease, loosing self control and accidents.

Memory problems: Forgetfulness of day to day activities, makes mistakes in well known streets, looses the direction of the road, all this leads to confusion.

Irresolution: Poor confidence and self depreciation (in snakes from Naja genus). This finally leads to strong pessimism.

Benign Positional Vertigo: Many snake remedies I proved have excess of vertigo (any motion of the head or eyes), this is accompanied by fainting.

Occipital migraine: Many occipital migraine accompanied by neck stiffness, > drinking coffee/ warm drinks; < rest/noise/travelling/motion;

Acne: Hormone related eruptions esp. acne with ugly scars.

Vaso motor rhinitis: Leading to allergic sinusitis, paroxysmal sneezing, copious discharge, snuffles, nasal obstruction esp. left sided morning on waking

Maxillary sinusitis.

Ear stopped: Pulsation left sided in the arteries, stopped sensation, left sided otalgia, hearing impaired in left side.

Apthae: Apthous stomatitis.

Lump in the throat

Follicular, granular pharyngitis.

Left sided throat affection, draft of cold air < the throat.

Flatulent colic: extends all over the abdomen

Severe Intertrigo: Intertrigo in groins, red rashes in the folds of the skin.

Early morning diarrhea

Diarrhea with severe colic in abdomen which extends to distant parts

Dreams: The common theme that was witnessed was being pursued, attacked, violence, robbers and dead relatives.

Menstrual cycle was almost always affected in most of the snake venoms

Menses late and delayed for many weeks and when they get the menses it is very scanty.

Leucorrhoea + during or before menses.

Leucorrhoea is very sticky ,whitish yellow + itching.

 

[Shraddha Brijnath]

GENERALS

The general symptoms will be explained as follows:

Table 5.5: Breakdown of the General symptoms

Snake themed symptoms

Symptoms unique to Bitis atropos

Energy

Food and drink

Heat/warmth

Weakness

Direction

In general, there was a feeling as if the prover was going to get sick, but then did not.

General systemic symptoms common to snake remedies in general:

Energy

There was a polarity of energy, with a great change of energy in 5 provers who felt an abundance, or a surge of mental, physical and spiritual energy

compared to feelings of complete exhaustion as if you about to get sick, energy completely depleted and feeling of intense tiredness with the desire to sleep.

of energy and strength in the last few days”. or the feeling of being tired although having a normal day or waking up feeling tired.

Heat/warmth

There was a craving for heat and warmth, sitting directly under the sun or having hot showers till steam comes out of the skin. The warmth of the sun >

which compares to the basking in the sun of snakes, to regulate their cold-bloodedness. A common symptom was the sensation of coldness and struggling to warm up.

In addition one prover had a difficulty to find a temperature that suited her - too hot when covering and too cold when not, which led to sleeplessness.

 

General systemic symptoms specific to Bitis atropos:

Food and drink

There was an aversion to drinking water and an increased thirst for water, an amelioration from and craving for coffee, salt and a craving for chocolate or an aversion to sweets.

Weakness

There was loss of weight, sudden muscle weakness general feeling of weakness.

 

[Johannes Wilkens/Rainer Lüdtke/Frank Stein]

In a retrospective pilot study with 172 patients, two complementary treatment approaches: one homeopathic, the other following a WALA anthroposophic treatment were

compared as to their possible efficacy in treating the sequelae of stroke. In both groups, the treatment consisted chiefly in the use of snake poisons and Arn. in homeopathic

doses. A slightly better result was found with the homeopathic approach. This practical experience made it possible to take the further step of designing a therapeutic schema

that proves effective in practice while respecting both approaches, the need of anthroposophical medicine for a pathophysiological rationale and the need of homeopathy for

an individualized treatment.

 

The incidence of stroke in Germany is approx. 150 - 260 per 100,000 population. Its prevalence is estimated at 600/100,000 population. Around 75 – 85% of all strokes are

ischemic insults, about 20% are vascular cerebral haemorrhages, and 5% venous circulatory dysfunctions. In the mortality statistics of Western countries, stroke occupies

third place behind cardiovascular and tumorous diseases. The peak age is around the 70th year of life; men are more frequently affected than women. The greatest risk factor

is considered hypertension. Nicotine abuse raises the risk by a factor of three. Other factors are coronary heart disease (CHD) and diabetes mellitus.

While the institution of the stroke unit has improved the therapy of stroke, fundamental progress remains insignificant. As Fintelmann rightly judges, “we are faced with the

incredible phenomenon that to this day modern medicine has been unable to develop any really effective and reliable therapy for stroke, so that what we observe is almost

always the spontaneous course” (V. Fintelmann).

Unfortunately much the same statement could be applied to anthroposophical medicine. The standard treatment, based on R.S.’s indications, appears to consist solely of Arn.

There are two known treatment cases from him that apply to therapy of stroke: In two cases mentioned by Hilmar Walter, Arn. (D 4 and D 15) was recommended.

 

From the homeopathic side, only two studies are known on apoplexy (stroke). The two studies, both from England, entailed sole administration of Arn. in high potency;

each produced a negative result. In anthroposophical medicine no study on stroke has yet been published.

Towards a broader therapeutic concept

Stroke is essentially a blood clotting/vascular system disease that secondarily damages the brain tissue. Due to deficient or excessive (hemorrhagic infarction) blood supply,

the blood-nerve barrier is breeched, resulting in the death of nerve tissue. Nerve and blood have become dissociated, alienated from one another. Thus it is a weakness in

the integrative function of the circulatory system that is ultimately responsible. There is a failure in keeping the condition of balance between too solid (embolism) and too

fluid (haemorrhage). Secondarily, the nerve tissue is damaged (and here too the “mean” is not kept: the A. cerebri “media”) and voluntary movement of the limbs is paralyzed.

In this light, stroke can be seen as a primary failure of the circulatory system that secondarily damages the nervous system.

Seen in another light, stroke is also the most striking disease of the symmetry plane of the body. The anatomist Rohen: “The medial/saggital plane divides the organism into

two mirror-image or at least similar halves. The formative principle here is that of bilateral symmetry, a formative principle whose nature is not easily grasped. Essentially,

we find repeated on one side what is already present on the other side it is mirrored, without anything new or different being formed. The condition for faithful mirroring

is that the reflecting surface must remain quiet and unchanged: A lake can reflect the face of the person bending over it only as long as the surface is unmoving and smooth. (...)

Image-forming of the external world by the sense organs and nervous system is essentially based on a reflection process. (...) In this sense, the right-left dimension could

be assigned to reflective representation in the soul-spiritual domain.”

In stroke the two almost identical “twins” of right and left become alienated, each unable to be reflected in the other. The mirror has been obscured, the reflecting process disturbed.

A part or even a whole side of the patient is lost from his “representation” and becomes part of the “outer world.” One side or one part of a side can no longer be inwardly

grasped (flaccid paralysis), or is too firmly grasped (spastic paralysis). The patient has lost inner access to himself.

Accordingly, the first aim of a causal therapy will be to regulate blood coagulation; “repairing” the nerve tissue, i.e. restoring the reflective function of the body, will be a

secondary task. In the choice of remedies, attention will be given to those that have an integrative strengthening effect on the vascular system as a whole, are effective for

thrombosis/embolism and bear a relation to the “asymmetry” characteristic of the disease.

Anthroposophical medicine will seek in nature for mineral, plant and animal substances that functionally imitate the disease of stroke. The homeopathic approach will seek

after substances which, when “proved” on a healthy individual, display a relationship to a single side of the body and to paralytic symptoms.

Both from the homeopathic approach as well as that of anthroposophical medicine, one arrives at direct indications that snake poisons should occupy a special position in

the treatment of stroke. Some of the underlying considerations are described below.

 

[Farokh Master]

Phenomenology of snakes

Dangerous animals and in particular those which deliver a poisonous bite or sting, hold a particular fascination and horror. The  words  "venonr"  and  "poison"  are  almost  synonymous,  but 

venom  is  usually  used  to  describe  a  poison  that  is  injected  by  stinging or biting.

Poisonous snakes use their venom for capturing prey. Snakes and  their  venom  are  important  natural  resources  and  play  an  important  part  in  the  ecological  balance  of  ecosystems. 

Snakes  control rodent populations, thus preventing the destruction of grains and minimizing the spread of diseases found in rodent populations.

Snakes are the most linear of vertebrates, having only a skull and an extended spinal column. Most other vertebrates have some sort of appendages for locomotion -wings, legs, arms, flippers,

fins- but not the snake. On an evolutionary scale, snakes are the youngest of the reptiles, having appeared only about 150 million years  ago.  Almost  undoubtedly  snakes  have  developed 

from  lizards. Their bodies seem to have adapted to a life of burrowing.

The  legs  were  lost  because  they  would  interfere  with  burrowing.  The ear channel was sealed off to keep out dirt, and the ear bones, instead of being connected to the eardrum, are joined

to the lower jaw  for  sensing  soil  vibrations  better.  The  unique  structure  of  modern snakes' eyes suggests that the organs had nearly vanished among ancestral snakes, then re-evolved when

snakes once more took to the surface and needed vision.

Their  paired  ribs  arch  out  from  each  of  the  hundreds  of vertebrae, forming a concave umbrella that runs the entire length of the body. The amount of movement between each spinal segment

is  limited,  but  the  net  effect  is  an  animal  that  can  writhe  and  coil  sinuously,  so  that  even  the  word  we  use  to  describe  such  shapes  is  "Serpentine." Snakes use four patterns

of movement: lateral undulation, concertina movement, rectilinear movement and sidewinding  (used  by  desert  vipers).  When  they  are  at  rest,  their  bodies  are  always 

coiled,  forming  drooping  loops;  they  never  remain stretched out.

They have delicate spines that can be easily damaged; even the skull is made up of many small, lightly fused bones, lacking the  solidity  of  a  mammalian  skull.  The  ribs  are  attached  to  the 

vertebral  column  and  to  each  other  with  elastic  muscles  and  tendons  and  also  to  the  skin,  which  contains  other  connecting  muscles.  Thus,  the  snake  can  control  the  movement 

of  its  ribs,  skin and individual scales as well.

Animals  are,  as  a  rule,  bilaterally  symmetrical  that  is,  appendages  and  paired  organs  are  the  same  size  and  positioned  opposite to each other. Snakes, which have already dispensed with

legs, have also broken the rule of symmetry with regard to several internal organs due to the elongated narrow cylindrical body shape.

Most snakes have one right lung that is elongated filling the whole body cavity. In snakes that also have a left lung, it may be reduced or  vestigial  and  non-functional.  The  heart  is  also  somewhat 

elongated and like most reptilian hearts, is only partly efficient; it has three chambers and the chambers allow the oxygenated and deoxygenated blood to mix. More importantly, a snake lacks an

effective way of creating and maintaining body heat; thus, they are referred to as "cold-blooded" animals.

The  "cold-blooded"  characteristic  explains  the  worldwide  distribution of snakes; they are most common in tropical and warm desert environments, less so in temperate zones, and all but absent

from the highest latitudes and altitudes. In the tropics, blessed by constant  high  temperatures  the  year  round,  at  night  as  well  as  during  day,  snakes  can  be  active  with  little  concern  for  the 

weather,  ensuring  only  that  they  avoid  direct  midday  sun.  In  temperate  regions,  snakes  retreat  into  hibernation  from  early  autumn until warmer weather arrives. Hibernating snakes are not

asleep as it is commonly thought, their body temperature simply drops so low that function becomes impossible - respiration and heartbeat become almost imperceptible. If the temperature should

dip below freezing, snakes risk death. Many die nevertheless, since though  metabolism  diminishes,  it  does  not  stop  completely,  and  those snakes which do not have sufficient fat reserves, die.

Snakes can be classed on the structure of their fangs. Non-venomous snakes such äs the grass snake have no fangs and are called aglyphs. The back-fanged snakes or opisthoglyphs, have

fangs  at  the  back  of  the  mouth.  Each  fang  has  a  groove  along  which venom flows. To inject a good dose of venom, the snake hangs on to its victim and chews its flesh. If such a snake is

struck away immediately from the body it has bitten, the bite will not be severe.  Cobras  are  proteroglyphs with  fangs  at  the  front  of  the  mouth,  The  fangs  of  some  proteroglyphs  bear 

grooves  while,  in  others, the sides of the grooves meet to form a canal. The position of  the  fangs  and  the  canal  makes  injection  of  the  venom  more  efficient. The mambas are proteroglyphs

with very potent venom. The black mamba is notoriously aggressive.

The  most  advanced  biting  apparatus  belongs  to  the  solenoglyphs.

The  vipers,  the  rattlesnakes,  fer-de-lance  and  others  have very long fangs, each having a canal. When not in use, they are  folded  along  the  roof  of  the  mouth.  The  strike  is  rapid,  the 

fangs are thrown forward. and the snake then withdraws without chewing like opisthoglyphs an,d proteroglyphs. Proteroglyph venom acts mainly on the nervous System, while that of the solenoglyphs

attacks the blood System and destroys tissues.

Almost all snakes will bite if provoked, although there is a world  of  difference  between  what  constitutes  provocation  for  different species. In a confrontation, an animal can kill or maim its

adversary or it may get killed itself. It is far safer to retreat.

For this reason, venomous animals are usually noticed only when they are forced to fight and have been unable to slip away unseen.

Therefore. snakes have got a reputation for attacking on sight.

Another point to remember is that the bite or sting may not be  100% effective.  Snakes  may  strike  and  miss,  and  accounts  of  snakebites  usually  omit  the  number  of  bites,  which 

have resulted in a little or no venom being injected.

A snake's bottom jaw has a hinge which helps the snake to open its mouth very wide. It can swallow things which are quite big. All snakes are strictly carnivorous. They can go for extended

periods  without  any  food  because  of  slow  metabolism.  Snake's  teeth  (besides  fangs)  are  fairly  simple:  short,  backward  curving  and  very  sharp.  They  are  designed  merely  to  grip  and 

hold,  but  they lack cutting surfaces and cannot chew or chop the prey into smaller pieces. It must have some way to force the whole food into  its  throat.  Swallowing  a  large  prey  can  be  a 

lengthy  and  difficult  process,  and  may  take  over  an  hour.  With  its  mouth  plugged, the snake needs a way to breathe. It does so by extending the glottis, a tube-like organ embedded in the

floor of the mouth, around the prey. The glottis is the perfect breathing tubes bypassing the food until it is swallowed completely. The length of time it takes to  digest  the  food  depends  on  the 

air  temperature.  Most  snakes  are  happy  to  eat  live  'food'  but  a  few  groups  of  large  snakes  kill  their prey immediately before eating.

The  teeth  of  a  snake,-{apart  from  the  fangs),  are  needle-like,  sharp  and  pointed.  The  fish hook-like  recurved  teeth  point  towards the rear of the snake's throat and pierce prey easily. With

most snakes, having more than 200 teeth, no amount of struggling enables the prey, once caught, to escape the grasp of the jaws. A  snake's  teeth  are  continually  shed  in  one  of  nature's  best 

maintenance  programs  and  are  replaced  by  new  teeth  before  the  older teeth loosen and fall out.

SKIN

The skin of a snake is smooth, cold and dry to touch. Like all reptiles, snakes are protected by a layer of horny scales growing out of the skin which may hide the skin completely from view.

Scales come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and textures; there is  even  a  scale,  called  the  brille  or  spectacle  which  covers  the  lidless eye.

The  outer  layer  of  a  vertebrate's  skin  is  dead  and  must  be  replaced  as  the  animal  grows.  Human  skin  cells  slough  off  individually äs scurf, but reptiles and amphibians shed the entire

outer  layer  at  once,  at  fairly  regulär  intervals.  This  is  called  "molting"  and  is  especially  drastic  among  snakes.  The  process  begins with the release of hormones which trigger the growth

of a new layer of skin and scales beneath the existing layer. Once that  step  is  completed,  lymphatic  fluid  is  pumped  into  the  microscopic  space  between  the  two  layers,  separating  them 

and  causing the eyes to appear milky. About 24 hours before molting, the fluid is reabsorbed and the eyes clear. The snake begins to rub its nose against an abrasive surface, until the tiny rostral scale

comes loose, the same happens with the mental scale at the tip of the lower lip. Gently rubbing, the snake literally slides out of its old skin, which peels off inside out, like a long sock. The molted

skin is thin and translucent, but retains a hint of color, and an exact replica of the snake's scale pattern, right down to the eye brille.

fangs  at  the  back  of  the  mouth.  Each  fang  has  a  groove  along 

which venom flows. To inject a good dose of venom, the snake

hangs on to its victim and chews its flesh. If such a snake is struck

away immediately from the body it has bitten, the bite will not be

severe.  Cobras  are  proteroglyphs with  fangs  at  the  front  of  the  mouth,  The  fangs  of  some  proteroglyphs  bear  grooves  while,  in  others, the sides of the grooves meet to form a canal.

The position of  the  fangs  and  the  canal  makes  injection  of  the  venom  more  efficient. The mambas are proteroglyphs with very potent venom. The black mamba is notoriously aggressive.

The  most  advanced  biting  apparatus  belongs  to  the  solenoglyphs. The  vipers,  the  rattlesnakes,  fer-de-lance  and  others  have very long fangs, each having a canal. When not in use, they

are  folded  along  the  roof  of  the  mouth.  The  strike  is  rapid,  the  fangs are thrown forward. and the snake then withdraws without chewing like opisthoglyphs an,d proteroglyphs.

Proteroglyph venom acts mainly on the nervous System, while that of the solenoglyphs attacks the blood System and destroys tissues.

Almost all snakes will bite if provoked, although there is a world  of  difference  between  what  constitutes  provocation  for  different species. In a confrontation, an animal can kill or maim

its adversary or it may get killed itself. It is far safer to retreat.

For this reason, venomous animals are usually noticed only when they are forced to fight and have been unable to slip away unseen.

Therefore. snakes have got a reputation for attacking on sight.

Another point to remember is that the bite or sting may not be  100% effective.  Snakes  may  strike  and  miss,  and  accounts  of  snakebites  usually  omit  the  number  of  bites,  which 

have resulted in a little or no venom being injected.

A snake's bottom jaw has a hinge which helps the snake to open its mouth very wide. It can swallow things which are quite big. All snakes are strictly carnivorous. They can go for extended

periods  without  any  food  because  of  slow  metabolism.  Snake's  teeth  (besides  fangs)  are  fairly  simple:  short,  backward  curving  and  very  sharp.  They  are  designed  merely  to  grip  and 

hold,  but  they lack cutting surfaces and cannot chew or chop the prey into smaller pieces. It must have some way to force the whole food into  its  throat.  Swallowing  a  large  prey  can  be  a 

lengthy  and  difficult  process,  and  may  take  over  an  hour.  With  its  mouth  plugged, the snake needs a way to breathe. It does so by extending the glottis, a tube-like organ embedded in

the floor of the mouth, around the prey. The glottis is the perfect breathing tubes bypassing the food until it is swallowed completely. The length of time it takes to  digest  the  food  depends 

on  the  air  temperature.  Most  snakes  are  happy  to  eat  live  'food'  but  a  few  groups  of  large  snakes  kill  their prey immediately before eating.

The  teeth  of  a  snake,-{apart  from  the  fangs),  are  needle-like,  sharp  and  pointed.  The  fishhook-like  recurved  teeth  point  towards the rear of the snake's throat and pierce prey easily.

With most snakes, having more than 200 teeth, no amount of struggling enables the prey, once caught, to escape the grasp of the jaws. A  snake's  teeth  are  continually  shed  in  one  of  nature's 

best  maintenance  programs  and  are  replaced  by  new  teeth  before  the  older teeth loosen and fall out.

 

[Friedrich Husemann] “The snakes, along with the turtles and crocodiles, make up the class of reptiles. Like the amphibians, they are still poikilothermic (of variable body temperature), but like the birds they possess an amnion and reproduce through eggs that are no longer dependant on an external watery environment but are covered with calciferous shell. (...) Snakes might be called the purest reptiles: Their four limbs having regressed, they slither over the earth and up trees, burrow into sand or even swim in the water? (...) Serpentine nature has accommodated itself to a tubular body that has lost its limbs. (...) On the other hand, the snakes are deaf, lacking a middle ear.”

 

Snakes are most closely bound to the earth. In the structure of their body there is also a pronounced asymmetry. The higher snakes have only a right lung, the left one being absent. Other organs, such as the ovaries, are arranged asymmetrically, the left or right ovary being situated higher than the other. It is similar with the other organs. (For details, see Husemann) Snakes have a “swallowing disorder”, a pronounced dysphagia. The linguistic relationship between schlingen (“to gulp down”) and Schlange (“snake”) is not accidental. Considering their darting tongue and hissing, one might also say they are characterized by “dysarthria.”

 

Snake poisons

Of the 300 – 400 different venomous snakes in existence, only a good dozen have been put to medical use. Terrestrial venomous snakes can be divided into three large groups:

 • true vipers (Viperidae), = cytotoxic (= an isolated necrosis/a metabolic disorder)

 • pit vipers incl. rattlesnakes (Crotalidae/Lach), chiefly haemoxic (a clotting disorder)

 • cobras, coral snakes, mambas, etc. (Elapidae/Naja). chiefly neurotoxic/curara-like neurotoxins, to paralyses (disorders in the nervous system)

 

Snake venoms were introduced by Constantin Hering in 1837 and have become an integral part of the homeopathic pharmacopeia. His very first remedy proving already provided a comprehensive portrayal of the essential characteristics of Lach. For the most part, 8 snake venoms are now commonly employed: Lach. Crot-h. Crot-durissus-t. Naja. Vip. Both. Cench. Elaps.

 

In remedy provings almost all snakes display an emphasis on one side of the body, i.e. their effects are felt more strongly on the left or the right side. This is true of Lach. (left) and Crot-h. (right).

Clotting disorders (black and blue marks), swallowing disorders and sensations of constriction in the throat region are also very common.

On the soul (“mind”) level, there are indications for “loquacity” (Lach.) as well as for a quiet, withdrawn state and aphasia (Crot-h./Both.) (Mezger for more details). With these (and many other) symptoms, snake venoms produce an “ideal image” of stroke.

 

Retrospective evaluation of therapy

It remains to be proved whether in fact these considerations can result in a viable therapeutic concept. Before putting this question to the test in a prospective study, a systematic evaluation of collected past experiences with a homeopathic and an anthroposophical concept was conducted at the Alexander von Humboldt-Klinik in Bad Steben. To this end all patient data from the period of 9/00 – 8/01 were gathered. (Since 9/00 the computer system Geridoc of the AFGiB has been in use at the clinic, which has considerably facilitated data gathering.)

Alongside of the essential therapies provided by the department for physio- and ergotherapy, the clinic’s integrative therapy concept embraces treatment according to the principles of classical homeopathy and to a lesser extent, those of anthroposophical medicine and phytotherapy.

Between 9/00 and 8/01, the pilot study accepted all patients who had suffered a stroke (even if it had occurred years or decades earlier) and were still suffering from its consequences. The treatment phase lasted from a minimum of 3 weeks to however long the patient remained in the clinic.

 

Basic Therapy

The basic therapy consists of treatment within the framework of conventional medicine [administration of ASA (aspirin) or Marcumar] if the patient was already accustomed to these). When the cause was ascertained as cerebral haemorrhage, no specific therapy was given. In particular, the following measures were provided to each patient: ergotherapy, speech therapy and physiotherapy, individually tailored to patients' condition. Adequate supply of accessories (wheelchairs, rollators, walkers, canes) was provided for. The help of an in-house neurologist and/or associated urologist and/or orthopedist was called in as needed. All types of medically necessary accompanying therapy were permitted, in particular:

 all drugs, remedies or therapies needed by the patient for illnesses other than the stroke,

 all drugs or remedies for treatment of the stroke to which the patient was accustomed and which in the judgment of the supervising physician should be continued,

 all new medications deemed necessary for treatment of the stroke by the supervising physician,

 all diagnostic procedures and tests,

 the standard therapy with Aspirin 100 or in rare cases Marcumar.

 

Homeopathic therapy

Conducted most frequently with snake venoms. The majority received either Lach. (left-sided) or Crot-h. (right-sided), generally in D 30.

The plant remedies most used were Arn. and the nightshades (Bell./Nicotiana/Stram./Hyos.) as well as the Logoniaceae (Nux-v./Ign./Gels.).

Preference among the metals fell on silver (Arg-met.) and lead (Plumbum mellitum).

Extreme vertigo, additional use of Vertigoheel® (Heel GmbH, Baden-Baden) proved highly effective; CHD patients frequently received additional treatment with Crataegus comp.® w. Cancer patients were given courses of mistletoe therapy (Abnoba viscum, Iscucin and Iscador).

In all, the homeopathic treatment adhered only partially to the rules of classical homeopathy, admitting the use of complex remedies and simultaneous administration of

2 or 3 remedies individually tailored. Also, the frequency of administration was too high for advocates of classical homeopathy. However, since in our judgment stroke must be treated as an acute illness, even from the homeopathic point of view we saw no error in the use of frequent doses. The potencies generally used were D 6 and D 30.

In most cases therapy was carried out with:

Lachesis (44 x),

Arn. (43 x),

Crot-h. (18 x),

Nicotiana tabacum (12 x),

Phos. (7 x),

Led. (5 x),

Gels. (5 x),

Dig. (5 x),

Lath. (7 x).

Complex complementary remedies: Crataegus comp. (27 x for severe CHD) and Vertigoheel (17 x for severe vertigo) were frequent.

 

The anthroposophical concept

No real concept had been available in the field of anthroposophical therapy, so we turned to the research division of WALA Heilmittel GmbH, Bad Boll. They graciously told us of a therapeutic concept that was to prove effective in practice, one essentially based on a combination of two important remedies in stroke (Arn. and Lachesis) along with organ preparations of the affected region. Indirectly, this provided a test of the efficacy of organ preparations and the efficacy of injections. The anthroposophical WALA study concept is quite comprehensive, providing for:

 • taking of complex or single homeopathic remedies, as well as

 • phytotherapeutic measures,

 • embrocations and baths,

 • movement exercises from the field of curative eurythmy.

The total treatment concept includes injections, embrocations and baths. In practice, only the medicinal applications could be implemented in the pilot study, since the oil dispersion baths were not yet at our disposal for financial reasons?the artistic therapies could not be generally implemented.

 

Therapy groups

Patients were not assigned to the therapies randomly, but according to the station at which they were admitted. The patients at stations 1 and 2 always (almost always) received homeopathic treatment. The treatment received by patients at station 4 followed the anthroposophical therapy concept. The assignment of the patients to stations was dictated by the capacities of the stations. Thus it can be assumed that the assignment followed solely from capacity considerations (only in rare cases following patients’ requests) and was not guided by the severity of illness or considerations of possible therapeutic success.

Results

In all, the data of 172 patients were documented and evaluated. Of these, 24 were treated anthroposophically, 143 homeopathically and 5 according to neither of the two concepts. More than two thirds of the patients were female. There was little age difference between the two groups and the average age of 79 was relatively high in comparison to other studies.

 

Results

There was a significant difference in length of treatment between the two therapy groups: The treatment of the patients in the WALA group lasted on average 35.3 days (median: 40 days), while the homeopathically treated patients were released after only 29.6 days (median, 21 days). At the same time, a good to very good result is documented in almost 60% of the homeopathic group but only 33% of the WALA group. This was true despite the fact that 10 patients in the homeopathic group died (7.0%, registering statistically as a Barthel 0 at discharge), while in the anthroposophical group there were no deaths.

 

Similarly, good to very good improvement in avoidance of dependency was achieved in almost 60% of the homeopathic group, but in only just under 37% of the group treated according to the WALA schema. In correlation with this, the Barthel Index in the homeopathic group improved by an average of 29.5 points, but by only 17.6 points in the WALA group (table 3). Figure 2 shows the course of the Barthel Index as registered weekly. On the Rankin Scale, the average improvement was 1.0 points in both groups. On the SSS, the homeopathic group rose by 1.0 points, the WALA group by 0.4.

 

Discussion

The results of the pilot study show that both homeopathic as well as anthroposophical treatment of stroke can produce good to very good results: After an average of 4 weeks of inpatient treatment, almost no patients were left with a Barthel Index under 20, and the Barthel Index as a whole displayed quite a respectable rise?a rise of a kind very seldom met with, to judge by comparable Bavarian data in our possession.

This increase in the Barthel Index, averaging 27.7 points, is remarkable when compared to the prospective study of Meier-Baumgartner, which showed an average rise of 24 Barthel points?from 42 to 66?at an average treatment period of 55.7 days and an average age of 75 years [5]). It should also be considered that the Barthel Index in our study actually reflects a lowering effect caused by inclusion of all patients, without selection for those with “better prognoses.”

On a critical note, it should be pointed out that it is standard clinical practice to record the initial Barthel Index from the application form for geriatric rehabilitation. As a rule, this form had already been filled out at the interim clinic several days before admission. The Barthel score was frequently lower (though in some cases better) than the one ascertained by us. We must assume a systematic error here, the extent of which is difficult to judge.

The differences between the remedy concept derived from anthroposophical medicine and the homeopathic concept are satisfactorily explained by the greater severity of the condition of the stroke patients in the WALA part of the study?an aspect that is poorly reflected by the Barthel Index. Hence in this respect great caution is necessary in interpreting the results. An indication of similar efficacy is in fact found in the almost identical change in the Rankin Scale in both groups.

The best results were obtained with use of a snake venom and (parallel) use of Tabacum and/or Arn.. In cases of weakness involving the arm (left-sided) and BAA Syndrome, Digitalis proved effective. Cases of contracture (esp. in alcoholics) frequently show significant improvement with Ledum D6; with smokers and multi-infarction syndromes, very good improvement is very regularly noted using Nicotiana tabacum D6–30. Mistletoe therapy too appears to have a favorable influence on healing.

Parallel to therapy with snake venoms, a therapy of the risk factors should always take place: Nicotiana tabacum for nicotine abuse, Crataegus comp. or the like for CHD (proven results!), and so on. In addition, it is expected that the accompanying therapy with oil dispersion baths and curative eurythmy, which could not yet be implemented for this study, will make it possible to achieve further improvement.

 

Further Considerations

Initial empirical confirmation now exists that an approach based on complementary medicine can treat stroke with good to very good results. Following this first evaluation, our intention has been to explore whether, on the basis of the experiences described here, the stroke treatment provided might not be still further optimized using therapeutic remedies.

 

This in fact appears to be the case. In the months after conclusion of the pilot study, it was possible to achieve marked improvements in very severe cases (aphasia in particular) using the snake venom mixture Naja comp. w (2–3 x week s.c.). The improvement was also seen in old cases. With Naja comp., the rise in the Bartel Index averaged 30 points (after 15 cases)! If the physician has no experience with homeopathy, for routine practice Naja comp. is recommended (2–3 x week).

The Naja comp. w consists of Lach., Naja, Crot-h. and Vip. in various potencies, thus covering all 3 venom types (hemotoxic, neurotoxic and cytotoxic). It represents a kind of “archetypal” snake venom. In as much as stroke too represents a disorder on all three planes (circumscribed cytolysis in the area of infarction;

the coagulation disorder that is nearly always present; and the neurological losses), the surest treatment for it will employ all three types of snake venom.

Based on our current level of knowledge, we believe that the optimal medical treatment will combine a complex remedy specifically matched to the pathophysiology of the disease (Naja comp.)

In accordance with the intentions of anthroposophical medicine and a carefully chosen single homeopathic remedy (in most cases Arn., Dig., Led., Phos. or Tab.) after the intentions of classical homeopathy. In this way, anthroposophical breadth ideally complemented by the individualized precision of homeopathy.

It is astonishing that Naja comp. has scarcely been known in the anthroposophical treatment of stroke. Much the same is true of Nicotiana tabacum in homeopathy.

In order to verify or possibly falsify the results presented here, as well as to render them more precise, a multicenter prospective study would be called for. Our clinic envisions initiating such a study in 4/02.

 

[Farokh Master]

Bitis arietans

Bungarus facitatious

Echis carinatus

Eunectus noteaus

Morelia spilota

Naja haje

Naja mossambica

Ophiophagus hannah

What I learned from proving the above remedies is mentioned below:

Try and select dedicated and experienced provers who can describe the symptoms in detail and have a good understanding of his or her body that’s the reason why I selected always homoeopathic doctors.

I avoid selecting provers who are anxious or nervous or hypochondriac by nature.

I keep regular monthly meetings and video the whole meeting to understand what the provers really felt.

I carry on the proving for 18 months to see long term effects.

When only snake remedies were proved I saw something common that came through all the remedies.

Following themes emerged.

Activity: Many remedies loved to keep themselves busy.

Anger: Lot of pent up anger came out in the form of throwing things, from contradiction, with quick repentance, sadness after anger.

Anxiety: Very hypochondriac with lot of issues related to his health.

Concentration: Any literally work makes them dull and sleepy; confusion of mind, forgetfull, forgets the way even in well known streets.

Out of Body and Dejavu: Many provers had déjavue and out of body experiences. This was + increased awareness of his body.

Awkwardness: Clumsy movement and embarrassment from awkwardness

Laziness: in the morning (on waking), this is followed by sadness (Depression), indifference to work, business and surroundings.

Fear: of being attacked, being alone and of impending disease, loosing self control and accidents.

Memory problems: Forgetfulness of day to day activities, makes mistakes in well known streets, looses the direction of the road, all this leads to confusion.

Irresolution: Poor confidence and self depreciation (Naja genus). This finally leads to strong pessimism.

Benign Positional Vertigo: Many snake remedies I proved have excess of (any motion of the head or eyes), + fainting.

Occipital migraine: Many occipital migraine + neck stiffness, > drinking coffee or warm drinks < rest/noise/travelling/motion.

Acne: Hormone related eruptions (with ugly scars).

Vaso motor rhinitis: Leading to allergic sinusitis, paroxysmal sneezing, copious discharge, snuffles, nasal obstruction esp. left sided morning on waking. Maxillary sinusitis.

Ear stopped

Pulsation left sided in the arteries, stopped sensation, left sided otalgia, hearing impaired in left side.

Apthae

Apthous stomatitis.

Lump in the throat

Follicular, granular pharyngitis.

Left sided throat affection, draft of cold air aggravate around the throat.

Flatulent colic (that extends all over the abdomen)

Severe Intertrigo

Intertrigo in groins, red rashes in the folds of the skin.

Early morning diarrhea

Diarrhea with severe colic in abdomen which extends to distant parts

Dreams

The common theme that was witnessed was being pursued, attacked, violence, robbers and dead relatives.

Menstrual cycle was almost always affected in most of the snake venoms

Menses late and delayed for many weeks and when they get the menses it is very scanty.

Leucorrhoea +, during or before menses.

Leucorrhoea is very sticky, whitish yellow accompanied by itching.

 

 

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