Tarentula Hispania


Dr. S.R. Phatak describes the clinically confirmed symptoms of the homeopathic remedy Tarentula Hispania in his Concise Materia Medica, published in 1977….


Generalities

      `Tarantism’ is the term applied to the dancing mania set up in persons bitten by the Tarn; the cure is music and dancing. These symptoms give a key note indication to this remedy. It affects the NERVES which are highly strung; producing remarkable nervous symptoms; hysteria; chorea; many times reflex from generative sphere. HEART; spine; RESPIRATION and right side are also prominently affected. Symptoms appear suddenly; with VIOLENCE. The patient is restless, fidgety; hurried; in constant motion, though walking worse. Rolls on ground from side to side or strikes vehemently with his feet; or rolls the head and rubs it; to relieve her distress. Quivering; jerking; trembling; twitchings. Synalgias or associated pains; headache with pain in uterus, throat with eye pains; face pain with stomach pain; pain in the ear with hiccough etc.; or pains from sexual excitement. Violent pains, neuralgias, as if thousands of needles were pricking. Deep septic conditions; abscess, evacuates pus rapidly. Noma. Emaciation worse face. Ill effects of unrequited love; bad news; scolding; punishment; falls; sepsis. Can run better than walk. Irregular movements. Numbness with prickling. Emaciation, as if the flesh fairly fell off the bones. Cancer; fibrous tumours. Its action is similar to Arsenicum in many symptoms, therefore when Arsenicum seems indicated but fails, it is better to give Tarent.

Worse

      Periodically; yearly; at the same hour. TOUCH. Cold. Noise. Damp. Evening. After menses. Coitus. Washing head. Seeing others in trouble. Hands in cold water. Music.

Better

      Relaxation. Rubbing. Sweating. Smoking. Music. Open air. Riding in a carriage. In the sun. Bright colours.

Mind

      Aversion to colours, black, red, yellow, green. Dances up and down. Fits of nervous laughter then screaming. Suddenly changing moods, fancies or strength. Lacks control. Erratic. Impulsive. Moral depravity. Crafty, cunning. Selfish. Destructive, destroys whatever she can lay hand on, tears her clothes etc. Hateful. Adroit. Throws things away. Malingering; when there are no observers, there is no hysteria; when attention is directed to her, she begins to twitch, feigns fainting, insensibility, but looks sideways to observe the effect on those around her. Desire to strike herself or others. Laughs, mocks, runs, dances, gesticulates, jokes, cries, sings till hoarse or exhausted. Kleptomania. Angry despair. Death agony. Ungrateful. Melancholy. Discontented. Mental symptoms better p.m., after eating.

Head

      Vertigo; worse carrying burden on head; then spasms. As of needles pricking into the brain. Heavy pain in temples extending to face and neck, with nausea and impatience. Violent crushing headaches as accompaniment. Wants hair, brushed; pulled, or head rubbed. Meningitis. As if cold water were poured on head and body. Vertigo; night; when descending stairs.

Eyes

      Itching of the eyes with thick tears. Stitching in eyes as sand or thorn. Photophobia. One pupil dilated other contracted. Eyes wide open spasmodically; staring. Sees ghosts, faces, flashes.

Ears

      Snapping, cracking in ears (right) with pain and hiccough. Noises; ringing as of bells worse on waking, in the morning.

Nose

      Epistaxis better throbbing carotids and fullness in head.

Face

      Fiery red, bloated. Expression of terror. Wrinkled.

Mouth

      And teeth dry. Tongue drawn backward preventing speech.

Stomach

      Craving for sand or raw food. Aversion to meat, bread. Gastric disturbances are accompanied by sympathetic pains in head, face, teeth etc. Thirst for cold water. Bitter eructations; hysterical. Vomits all food eaten.

Abdomen

      Burning in hypogastrium with great weight, interferes walking. Stools; oily, black, offensive, excited by washing head. Severe constipation, not relieved by purgatives or enema. Constipation; with involuntary passing of urine on coughing or any effort.

Urinary

      Urine foul, with sandy sediment. Incontinence on laughing, coughing etc. Diabetes Mellitus. Polyuria.

Male

      Extreme sexual excitement. Lasciviousness almost to insanity; worse coition. Prostatic ailments after masturbation. Seminal emission hot, bloody. Sensitive genitals. Indolent tumours of testicles. itching vulva and worse scratching. Pruritus vulvae, after.

Female

      Violent nymphomania worse coitus. Dry, hot RAW, itching vulva and vagina worse scratching. Pruritus vulvae, after menses. Profuse menses, with erotic spasms. Menses early. Sensation of motion in uterus like a foetus or burning. Anguish, malaise in sexual organs. Expulsion of gas from uterus. Cancer of cervix. Leucorrhoea of clear acrid, sticky lumps. Ovaries, sensitive to pressure.

Respiratory

      Attacks of SUFFOCATION with crying, screaming and restlessness; must have fresh air; worse coughing. Cough, gagging, when expectorating, fatiguing, worse after coition, noise; better smoking.

Heart

      Twists around; takes sudden jumps. Trembling and thumping of heart as from bad news or fright. Diseases of heart worse by wetting hands in cold water. Chorea cordis, with arm symptoms. Pulse, hard, infrequent, irregular.

Neck and Back

      Painfully sensitive spine, touch excites pains in chest, heart etc. Coccygodynia better standing worse slightest movement, touch. Tumours around vertebral column.

Extremities

      Restless arms; keeps hands busy; picks fingers. Legs restless; impulse to walk. Festination. Can run better than walk. Cold moist feet and hands. Soles itching. Sawing bone pains. Extraordinary contractions and movements; erratic. Weak legs; cannot plant them firmly; do not obey will. Kneeling difficult.

Sleep

      Sleepless before midnight, from excitement. Dreams sad; with weeping.

Fever

      Alternate chill and heat. General heat with cold feet. Septic fever. Sweat profuse; excoriating.

Skin

      Purplish. Ecchymosed spots. Cold spots or as of a cold matter flowing or dropping on part. Carbuncle. Deep abscesses. Helps evacuation of pus. Dry eczema (after the failure of Arsenicum and Sulph.) itching; as of insects creeping and crawling.

Related

      Agar; Mygl.

Complementary

      Arsenicum

S.R. Phatak
A pioneer of Homoeopathy in Maharashtra, Dr Shankar Raghunath Phatak was born on 6th September, 1896. He did his MBBS from Grant Medical College, in 1924. Started his practice but somehow not satisfied with Allopathic Treatment.

He was convinced about Homoeopathy while going through Sir William Osler's writings on 'History of Medicine' so switched over to an entirely Homoeopathic Practice in 1932. He also started working on Homoeopathic literature along with his Practice.

He has contributed immensely to homoeopathic literature. He was an ardent follower of Dr Boger. His Repertory is based on Boger's ''A Synoptic key to Materia Medica'.