Spider Cases
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 1993 Jul / Aug Vol II No 4. 
Dr Ranga Krishnan.
` Ther / Cocc / Staph / Tarent-c

Case 1: The Hysterical Headache
Mrs. A., a 36 years old finance manager of a large group of companies, used to have periodical headaches. She was a very warm and affectionate person, diligent both at home and office. She was very chilly with no food preferences. Very gentle, enjoyed comedies and was artistically inclined. She had a tendency to constipation and was not very thirsty. Her menstrual cycles were normal. She had a history of rheumatic fever as a child for which she was treated homoeopathically.

During one of the headache episodes, the following were observed by her sister -

1. Shuts all doors and windows and makes the room dark. Ties a cloth around the head in such a way that the eyes and ears are covered.
2. Desires to lie quietly.
3. Would constantly ask for the radio and TV to be switched off in the adjoining room.
4. Nobody in the adjoining room should even talk. If anyone even knocked at the door she would shriek and then cry uncontrollably.

Remedies Theridion 1000 three doses in one day.
The headache comes but no longer with that hysterical manifestation. Most of the time, the headache resolved on its won. She has also taken up yoga and adopted a more wholesome diet at regular hours.

Case 2: Unknown Fear and Anxiety
Mrs. M.N., 29 years old, happily married with two kids has a history of jaundice as a child. She was very warm, affectionate soft spoken and gentle. She loved outdoors and took part in competitive athletics in her school and college years. She was a very chilly person. She was brought up in a very wealthy family and was married in a similar one. She carried out her social functions with joy. She was carefree and enjoyed life.

Last year her father-in-law suffered from terminal cancer and was at home, bedridden, for 9 months. Mrs. M N boldly took over the household duties managing the kids, house, visitors etc. very well. In the midst of this hectic activity she had an attack of jaundice. She took the necessary dietary restrictions and did not take any other medicines. The jaundice gradually subsided and she started her normal household activities. However, she now had a lot of weakness and needed to sleep longer. During this time her father-in-law expired.

Over a period of time, every time she heard of any news of death, she would experience the following:-
Palpitation, undefined pain in the chest, entire left side heaviness, sleeplessness, chilly and at times she would break into a sweat. She would get panic attacks and expected something to happen to either her or her family members.
She was scared to travel and if she had to travel out of compulsion, she would mentally make a note of a doctor in the near vicinity. She was scared of telephone calls, reading newspapers. This unknown fear took over her mind and as a result she was not capable of performing even her daily chores. Going to sleep was an ordeal as the palpitation would start off.
Nothing abnormal was detected in all the investigations done.

Treatment: Cocculus was prescribed which made her relax a little. 
But the panic syndrome recurred.
From 17^th of Oct. 92 to 23^rd of January 93, I tried a number of remedies for her complaints and when they were indicated. For e.g. Aconite, Ars-alb, Arnica, Lach, Proteus and Mimulus, Aspen, Rockrose in flower remedies were also given with only temporary relief.
I was at my wits end wondering how to help her out. The investigations also were normal. One thing that was obvious was that it was a case of a chronic miasm. First the sensations are distorted followed by a functional change and lastly structural change. If homoeopathy could do anything to save the deranged vital force it was now.

So, I selected the rubric - Anxiety, hysterical (SR I Pg 82) in which a few drugs were listed. I then referred to Kent, Clarke, Hering and Boerickes materia medicas. The remedy emerging was Theridion. Theridion 200 8 hourly three doses were prescribed on 22^nd January 93 which incidentally was also a new moon day.
On her next visit she appeared calmer and was able to tell her fears better. She was sure that noises and a very cold place used to trigger the panic attacks.

6^th Feb. 93 - Panic syndrome returned. This time it started due to her husbands sneezing at night. Theridion 1000 one dose.
22^nd March 93 - Due to some family tension she had another attack of panic at night. It was aggravated by the turn of papers by her husband which sent shock waves all over the body.
8^th April 93 - Medorrhinum 200 one dose as an intercurrent for the prevailing chronic miasm.
28^th April 93 - She wanted to go on a vacation. Theridion 1000 one dose was given which was to take SOS. She did not use this at all.
19^th July 93 - Leptospira 30 one dose for complaints of a past and family history of jaundice.
4th Aug. 93 - There was some family tension but she did not get panic attacks. She could face it well. She felt indignant but avoided any confrontation. Staphysagria 1000 single dose was given.
Till date there is no return of the panic attacks and patient continues to be well and is under observation.

Case 3 : My Familys Faith in Homoeopathy Reinforced.
In 1970 when my son was 18, he went trekking. He returned with a lacerated knee. The pain was intense. It was a spreading wound which was infected. There was oozing of pus at the site and he had a mild fever. Ars-alb, Arnica were tried but did not help. His condition was deteriorating.
The family members wanted me to consult another doctor. I had just finished my course and had a new copy of M.L. Tylers drug pictures. As luck would have it the first drug that I read was Tarentula-cub. The remedy was given in 200th potency every three hours for two days along with Calendula dressing. As there was a strong family history of diabetes it was followed by a dose of Insulin 30. Needless to say, Tarentula won laurels for homoeopathy with everlasting converts. I have repeated the same prescription in a lot of children with non healing wounds and a diabetic inheritance with success.

(EDITOR : I second that. My maids niece who lives with me, got recurring suppurative ulcers after shoe bite. It did not respond to any of the anti-suppurative remedies for two weeks. One day I examined the wound closely and saw a purplish discoloration. One dose of Tarentula-cub 200, repeated after one week healed it completely and then I found that her mind also fitted well: over-joyous, over-friendly, over-cheerful, over-inquisitive, over-alert, over-helpful, over-loving and obstinate. In short all reactions and feelings exaggerated especially for a servant girl. A dose of Tarentula 10M calmed her and gave me less complaints from the neighbours.)

Case 4: Non Healing Felon of a Recent Diabetic.
Mrs. AB, 63 years of age, a classical music teacher, had a left radical mastectomy done in 1976, which later affected her larynx. 10 years ago she was diagnosed as having an enlarged heart with hypertension. She was detected as a diabetic two years ago (NIDD). She has been under exclusive homoeopathic treatment since one year. Under treatment, her hypertension and blood sugar remained within normal limits. Four months ago a felon appeared on the left fore-finger. The felon had occasional discharge of pus and serous material. It had no peculiar odor. She had a constant pain. Hypericum, Calendula, Aur-met, Nit-ac, Fluor-ac and Carc were given with temporary relief.

Finally Tarentula-cub was prescribed and the felon healed in no time. Again the Diabetic background clinched the prescription.

Case 5: A Spider, Cancer and a Peaceful End.
Dr. V, a gynaecologist came on the 12^th of October 91, with all investigations done and diagnosed as having a malignant right ovarian cyst with ascites and hydrometra.

She was a widow since 1979. Her brother, maternal uncle and she herself, had no children. She had a simple cyst removed from the right mammae in 1984. She had her menopause at 53^rd year and since then had bronchial asthma infrequently.

She had been married to a physician and lived in a joint family. She had a tyrannical mother-in-law, who did not allow her to practise.

The patient was always suspicious that some relative would steal her wealth and so zealously guarded her belongings. She was very fond of eating though at the end, she could not digest it without trouble.

During the course of her visits a lot of medicines were prescribed as and when indicated. She was able to sleep better and the ascites were a little less. By the 6th of December there was no pain but a hard mass had developed in the right hypochondrium. Her digestion continued to be troublesome but she still wanted her regular diet. On 8^th February 92 she developed dysphagia although taste and appetite were present.

On 18^th March there was a very hard swelling in the abdomen and her brother called me up for a visit. She was shrunk and shrivelled. Thirsty but difficult in drinking. Hungry but could not eat. She was slowly sinking. Yet she did not complain of pain but only that of dis-satisfaction that she could not eat.

I remembered Phataks materia medica which gave a vivid description of Tarentula-cub. Hardness of the affected part, alarming prostration, malignancy, remedy for pain of death, soothes the last agony. So, Tarent-cub 200 six hourly was given for the next three days. She slept peacefully throughout the night. She was then admitted to a nursing home for dyspnoea. She was given two more doses and after a few hours she passed away peacefully.