Introduction
Ophidia group contributes large number of drugs to homeopathy. As the name implies, the Ophidia group consists of medicines taken from the snakes. There are more than 2,600 species of snakes in the world and majority of snakes inhabit in the warm parts of the world. Most of the snakes are non-poisonous and harmless and only few are poisonous like Cobras, Kraits, Cobras, and Coralsnakes etc. Constituents of the snake poison are fibrinolysins, proteolysins, haemolysins, cholinesterase, thromboplastin, cardiotoxin and coagulase hyaluronidase.
All the snake remedies share ecstasy, moral confusion, vivid imaginations, loquacity, suspicion, jealousy, envy, pride and sadness mixed with anxiety. They must loosen their clothes, and are better by appearance of discharges. All the Ophidians affect the throat and cause constriction, dryness, impeded deglutition, hoarseness, oppression of the chest and palpitation of the heart with anxiety. Farrington has written, “Anxiety and apprehensiveness are symptoms of many animal poisons especially the Ophidians”.
Important Homeopathic Remedies of the Snake Group
Lachesis trigonocephalus – surukuku snake (proved by Hering)
Naja tripudians – cobra venom
Elaps corrallinus – coral snake
Crotalus horridus – rattlesnake (pro-ved by Hering)
Crotalus cascavella – brazilian snake (proved by Mure)
Cenchris contortrix – copperhead sna-ke
Bothrops lanciolatus – yellow viper
Vipera berus – german viper
Hydrophis cyanocintus – sea snake
Toxicophis – Moccasin snake
Case Study
Case Details
Reference No.: 6715
Age: 31
Sex: Female
Occupation: Housewife
Address: Vishnu Garden, N. Delhi
Religion: Hindu
Marital Status: Married
Date of Case Taking: 9.9.02
Presenting Complaints
- Delayed and prolonged menses
- Pain in abdomen, eight to ten days before the menses
- Leucorrhoea eight to ten days before menses
- General weakness and lethargy with bodyache before menses
History of Presenting Complaints
Patient was apparently well one year back.
Delayed and prolonged menses:
- Duration of the complaint: Since one year
- LMP: 15/8/02
- Cycle: 37-38 days
- Duration of the menses: 7-8 days
- Character of discharge: Dark but thin flow
Abdominal colic eight to ten days before her menses:
- Duration of the complaint: Since ten months
- Location: Lower abdomen
- Sensation: Colicky pain
- Aggravation: After eating, tight clothing
- Amelioration: Appearance of menses
- Associated complaints: Anxiety before menses
Leucorrhoea, eight to ten days before menses:
- Duration of the complaint: Since nine to ten months
- Character of discharge: Thin, white and acrid
- Associated symptom: Leucorrhoea ceases at the commencement of menses
Lethargy, weakness and body ache:
- Duration of the complaint: Since nine to ten months
- Mode of onset: Gradual
- Location: Whole body
- Sensation: Dull aching pain
- Aggravation: Before menses
- Amelioration: Appearance of menses
Past History
- Recurrent URTI and tonsillitis in childhood
Family History
- Mother: Uterine carcinoma
Personal History
- Marital status: Married since eleven years
- Developmental land marks: on time
- Addictions: Nil
- Habits: NS
Obstetric History
G5P3A2L3, history of two spontaneous abortions at two and third months respectively, all deliveries were FTNVD
Gynaecological History
Menarche at thirteen years of age. Her periods were previously regular; flow was normal and lasted for five to six days.
Physical Generals
- Thermal reaction: Towards hot
- Appetite: Increased
- Thirst: WLN
- Desires: Fruits ++
- Aversion: NS
- Sleep: Non- refreshing, easily disturbed
- Dreams: of death
- Perspiration: WNL
- Urine: No associated complaints
- Stool: No associated complaints
Mental Generals
- Angered easily, cannot tolerate or control anger, and beats her children when angry
- Communicative, social person, good relations with family members and neighbours
- Desire company
- Dreams of death of herself and relatives. Sometimes dreams of natural calamities like earthquake, and deaths
General Physical Examination
- Built: Ectomorphic
- Nutrition: Average
- Decubitus: Sitting
- Pallor: Mild
- Icterus: Absent
- Cyanosis: Absent
- Pigmentation: WNL
- Clubbing: Absent
- Oedema: Absent
- Pulse: 86 /minute, fair volume
- Temperature: Afebrile
- B.P: 124 /88 mmHg
- Tongue: Clean and moist
Investigation
U/S lower abdomen 17.8.02:
- Uterus size: 8.3 x 5.2 x 6.9 cms
- Endometrium: 9 mm
- Both ovaries normal
- Myometrium shows multiple, ill defined echoic areas suggestive of fibroids
See figure 1.1
Clinical Diagnosis
Uterine Fibroids with Pre-hypertension.
Homeopathic Treatment
Patient was prescribed Saccharum lactis 30/BD and was called after three days.
Case Analysis
Mental makeup:
- Easily angered, cannot tolerate or control anger, beats her children when angry
- Talkative, communicative, social person, good relations with family members and neighbours
- Company, desire for
- Dreams of death of herself and relatives. Sometimes dreams of natural calamities and deaths
General makeup:
- Thin female of average height and thermal reaction towards hot
- Desires fruits ++
- Increased appetite
- Sleep: Non- refreshing, easily disturbed
- Complaints < before menses
Particulars:
- Delayed menses by seven to eight days
- Menses dark, thin, prolonged
- Leucorrhoea: thin, white, acrid eight to ten days before menses
- Lower abdominal colic eight to ten days before menses
- Colicky pain < after eating, tight clothing, > appearance of menses
Rubrics and Repertorization
- Generals – Menses – before – agg.
- Mind – Loquacity
- Dreams – Death
- Generals – Food and Drinks – fruit – desire
- Sleep – Disturbed – easily
- Female Genetalia/Sex – Menses – late, too
- Female Genetalia/Sex – Menses – protracted – eight days – eight to nine days
- Female Genetalia/Sex – Leukorrhea – acrid, excoriating – menses – before – agg.
- Abdomen- Pain – menses – before – agg.
- Stomach – Appetite – increased
Repertorization sheet using Radar software
The following medicines eme-rged: Lachesis mutus (22/10), Sulphur (17/8), Lycopodium clavatum (16/8), Pulsatilla nigricans (15/7) (see Repertorization sheet above)
Prescription
12.9.02:
Lachesis mutus was selected on constitutional totality
Prescription: Lachesis mutus 200/single dose divided into 3 equal doses/ weekly
Saccharum lactis 30, tds, for a month
1.10.02:
General condition: better
LMP: 17.9.02, flow was normal but lasted for six to seven days
Colic pain in abdomen: better
Leucorrhoea: better
PR: 80/min, regular, fair volume
BP: 120/84 mm Hg
Prescription: Saccharum lactis 30, tds, for a month
07.11.02:
General condition: better
LMP: 20.10.02, flow was normal, remained for 4-5 days
Colic pain in abdomen: better
Leucorrhoea: better
Less anxious before menses
PR: 78/min, fair volume, regular
BP: 120/80 mm Hg
Prescription: Saccharum lactis 30, tds, for a mont
09.12.02:
General condition: same as on 7.11.02
LMP: 18.11.02, flow was normal, remained for 5-6 days
Colic pain in abdomen 2-3 days before menses and pain is of less intensity
Leucorrhoea: better but still there
PR: 80/min, fair volume, regular
BP: 110/80 mm Hg
Prescription: Lachesis mutus 1M/single dose divided in 3 equal doses/every 15 days.
Saccharum lactis 30, tds, for a month
20.02.03:
General condition: much better
LMP: 16.02.03, flow was normal, remained for 4-5 days
Slight pain in abdomen, 1-2 days before menses
Leucorrhoea: Absent
PR: 80/min, fair volume, regular
BP: 110/80 mm Hg
Prescription: Saccharum lactis 30, tds, for a month
Advised: Ultrasound lower abdomen
24.04.03:
General condition: Apparently normal
LMP: 14.04.03, flow was normal, remained for 5-6 days
Slight pain in abdomen 1-2 days before menses
PR: 82/min, fair volume, regular
BP: 110/80 mm Hg
Prescription: Saccharum lactis 30, tds, for a month
Investigation Reports
Ultrasound lower abdomen:
Uterus size: 7.5 x 5.3 x 2.8 cm. Uterus is normal in size and echotexture. No hypo echoic mass seen
Right ovary 3 x 2.3 cm
Left ovary 3.1 x 1.9 cm
No fluid in pouch of Douglas
Impression: Normal Ultrasound
See figure 1.2
Figure 1.1: USG report as on 17.8.02: Figure 1.2: USG report as on 24.4.02:
before the Treatment After the Treatment
After taking Lachesis mutus, patient’s menses were normal, complaints before menses subsided, blood pressure became normal and U/S showed normal uterus.
The patient was followed up yearly she continued to have regular periods and did not develop any previous complaints
Bibliography
1. Farrington, EA 2003, Comparative Materia Medica, B. Jain Publishers, New Delhi, India.
2. Farrington, EA, Lectures on Clinical Materia Medica, B. Jain Publishers, New Delhi, India
3. Boerieke, W 2004, Pocket Manual of Homoeopathic Materia & Repertory, B. Jain Publishers, New Delhi, India.
About the Author
Dr Archana Narang (MD) is Reader, Department of Medicine,
at Nehru Homoeopathic Medical
College and is currently posted at SHMC (Govt of Delhi). The author has many papers published at
National & International level to her credit.
