Tarentula. [Tarent]
Among the animal remedies — and they are all great produces of nervous symptoms — the spider poisons stand first in the production of symptoms simulating hysteria. Perhaps the most marked of these is the **Tarentula Hispana, not the **Tarentula Cubensis, which is the carbuncle remedy, but the Spanish spider. This remedy is useful in hysteria; the paroxysms are apt to be feigned, and the patient has immoderate attacks of uncontrollable laughter. The most prominent symptom of the drug, however, is restlessness and trembling of the limbs; the patient is compelled to keep continually on the move. There is excessive hyperaesthesia, the spine is sensitive, the ovaries are sensitive, and there is apt to be nymphomania. It has been found useful in hystero-epilepsy, which, by the way, is quite a rare affection. **Theridion and **Mygale are two of the spider poisons which may be found useful in hysterical conditions; the great predominating sensitiveness to noise will call **Theridion to mind, and the chorea-like twitchings will suggest **Mygale. **Tarentula will be easily recognized by the constant motion of the extremities, perhaps by the fact that music soothes, by a constrictive headache, and by the feigned fits of uncontrollable laughter. For great fidgetiness of the feet, thinks always of **Zincum valerianate; it is our best remedy for this condition. It is a common symptom in hysterical condition where chronic uterine disease is present.
Platinum. [Plat]
**Platinum has an altogether different form of hysteria than of the animal poisons, and it is quickly and easily characterized by its ***haughty mental condition. One might say, as an English girl put it: ” She walks about with the h’air of h’an h’empress.” Self-esteem is prominent, and she looks down on every one. No other drug in the Materia Medica has this symptom as prominent as **Platinum. There are also paroxysms of laughter, which are very loud and boisterous; in fact, oftentimes the condition borders on the maniacal. The genital organs are very sensitive; there is apt to be titillation, even nymphomania. It is in these genital cases that it finds its best use. Hysterical spasms will call for **Platinum when caused by nervous excitement; there is present constriction of the oesophagus and a suffocative feeling. **Platinum may be easily distinguished from **Ignatia by the mental condition above referred to. **Ignatia is decidedly undemonstrative, while Platinum is absurdly supercilious. Melancholic conditions are also found under Platinum; the patient is morose and discontented, and has a disposition to weep. The extreme nervous condition makes her sleepless. **Hyoscyamus must be compared with **Platinum. It has nymphomania, but with more desire to uncover one’s self. The proud mental condition of the drug will always distinguish it. **Palladium is very similar to **Platinum; in many respects it may be distinguished by lacking the haughtiness of **Platinum and having a tendency to be continually “slighted.”.
Valeriana. [Valer]
**Valeriana is a remedy largely used in the allopathic school for hysteria, and forms one of the main props of their treatment. As a remedy for hysteria in the homoeopathic sense it has some useful symptoms. As under **Tarentula, the patient must keep continually on the move; but exertion causes headache, and the slightest pain causes fainting. There is a sensation as if something warm were rising from the stomach; this causes a difficulty of breathing; there is also present fear, tremulousness, and palpitation. With **Valeriana there is a general state of nervous excitement; the patient is apt to be joyous, lively, and talkative. A tendency to flushes of heat is often present. It has also the **globus hystericus, and there are many pains simulating rheumatism. Nervous agitation is its most marked symptom, and this together with warm sensation rising from the stomach should distinguish. The alternations of mood which are prominent with the remedy should not be overlooked. It seems to be the remedy for the hysterical habit.
Nux moschata. [Nux-m]
This is also one of our good remedies in hysteria. It is especially adapted to nervous hysterical people who change rapidly from grave to gay, but its great distinguishing features are its ***sleepiness, its ***bloating, and its ***dryness of the mouth. It has also attacks of fainting, the patient is exhausted from the least effort. There is a continued constant nervous tension differing from **Ignatia in that the latter is paroxysmal. The symptoms of bloating, which usually occur after eating, will call to mind **Lycopodium and **Carbo vegetabilis, but both these remedies lack the hysterical element of the **Nux moschata bloat. **Nux moschata also has a dry, nervous, hysterical cough, oppression of the chest and fainting fits. Inclination to faint is quite common with the drug. Bayes say: ” In hysteria, particularly the **globus hystericus, few medicines act more promptly.” He recommends the 3 to 6 decimal dilutions. He also says: ” In violent hysteric attacks a drop of Rubini’s **Camphor on a little lump of sugar every five or ten minutes is invaluable.” This is probably palliative, as **Camphor has no special hysterical symptoms.
Professor of Materia Medica in the University of Michigan Homeopathic Medical College. Member of American Institute of Homeopathy. In addition to his editoral work he authored or collaborated on: Boericke and Dewey's Twelve Tissue Remedies, Essentials of Homeopathic Materia Medica, Essentials of Homeopathic Therapeutics and Practical Homeopathic Therapeutics.