TARANTISM - A WAY TO STUDY PERSONALITY
Merlin Liza James1 Srinath C Rao2
1 PG Scholar, Department of Materia Medica, Father Muller Homoeopathic Medical College, Deralakatte, Mangalore- 575018
2 Professor, Department Of Homoeopathic Materia Medica, Father Muller Homoeopathic Medical College, Deralakatte, Mangalore- 575018
ABSTRACT
Tarantula Hispanica, also known as Lycosa Tarentula or the European wolf spider, holds a significant place in homoeopathy due to its diverse therapeutic properties. Belonging to the spider family, its action on the nervous system, skin, and genitourinary system is well-addressed. What sets Tarentula apart are its characteristic traits of malingering, cunningness, and mischievousness, alongside unique symptoms ameliorated by dancing and music.
Each mind symptom is subjected to in-depth analysis, shedding insight on why these manifestations are characteristic of this remedy. Comparative analysis with other drugs enriches the understanding of Tarentula's. Furthermore, the article explores the physical features of Tarentula and how they manifest in clinical settings, providing practitioners the clue for effective prescribing. This article aims to provide homoeopaths with a comprehensive understanding of this remarkable remedy in practice.
KEY WORDS
Tarantism, mischievousness/ malingering/ ungrateful, cunning, hurriedness and impulsiveness, industrious/ busy/ high energy, restlessness, hysteria / mania, Love for music, dance &painting, Lasciviousness, shamelessness, Huntington’s chorea.
INTRODUCTION
In Greek mythology, Arachne, a skilled weaver from Lydia, challenged Athena and was turned into a spider by the gods. This led to the term "arachnid" being coined.[1] Among Hahnemann's special preparations, notable remedies include Mercurium vivus, Mercurius solubilis, Hepar sulphuris calcareum, Causticum, Kali carbonicum, Calcara carbonica, Carbo animalis, Elaps corallinus, Mygale, Tarentula cubensis, and Tarentula Hispanica, also known as Lycosa Tarentula or the Spanish spider. These spiders have stout bodies, measuring 3.8-5.1 cm long, with greyish-brown upper surfaces and deep saffron yellow undersides adorned with transverse black bands. They belong to the Arachnida class, Araneidae order, and Lycosidae family, and are found in South America and southern Europe.[1,2,3]
REPARATIONS IN DETAIL BY DR HAHNEMANN [2]]
Part used for the preparation: the entire spider.
a) Tincture: Drug strength 1/10
Tarentula Hispanica 1 part
Purified water 3 parts
Glycerine 2 parts
Strong Alcohol 5 parts
To take 10 parts of tincture
b) Dilution: 2x to contain one part tincture, parts purified water, five parts alcohol; 3x and higher with dispensing alcohol.
c) medication: 3x and higher.
CAUTION: Poisonous, not to be prescribed below 3x.
Prover: Dr. Nunez
REMEDY PROPER
CONSTITUTIONS - Tarantula Hispanica is suited to nervous, hysterical patients subject to chorea disorders to persons of foxy, mischievous, and destructive tendency.[4]
• Appearance: Medium built.
• Temperament: Nervous.
• Miasm: All three, more to tubercular miasm.
DISPOSITION [4]
Sudden mood swings; highly mischievous and destructive; cheerful yet foxy; intense sexual excitement; constant need to keep busy or walk; restless legs; music-induced excitement followed by perspiration; taciturn and irritable, with a tendency towards self-harm and aggression; extreme inclination towards laughter and joking.
MEANING OF TARENTULA [5,6]
Tarantella" is a dance named after the city of Tarentum. "Tarantism" is a dancing mania, occurring in persons bitten by the Tarentula or those who imagine themselves bitten. The cure is music and dancing. Francis Mustel, a peasant, was bitten by a tarentula and fell as if struck by a stroke. Dyspnea followed, and his face, hands, and feet became dark. When music was played... The victims, upon hearing the music, became excited and danced faster and faster until they felt tired and sweaty, thus ridding themselves of the poison.
HURRY AND IMPULSIVNESS [7,8,11,12]
Restlessness, a hallmark trait of Tarentula, presents itself in various forms. Alongside anxiety, there's a profound fear of being trapped, compelling the individual to seek open spaces to alleviate feelings of suffocation. Notably, this restlessness intensifies in the presence of music, especially hard, fast, and rhythmic beats.
One distinctive manifestation of restlessness in Tarentula is the irresistible urge to dance when exposed to music. Individuals may find themselves fixated on a single spot, unable to resist the call to move. This restlessness predominantly affects the lower extremities but can encompass the entire body, driving individuals to constant motion
Example: they spent the whole night tossing and turning in bed until he finds himself with his head at the foot of the bed and sheets tied in the knots.
Other remedies having restlessness are not extreme of tarentula.
FAST AND HURRY
Their activities are always fast. Everything must be done with the greatest speed. "He is even impatient with slowness in other people." If someone is walking slowly, Tarentula becomes angry and urges the person to move along more quickly.Top of FormBottom of Form
COMPARISON ON RESTLESSNESS [9.10,13]
ARSALB: mental and emotional plane restlessness is evident.
INDUSTRIOUS [7,8,11]
As previously mentioned, there is nervous tension (Tarentula seems wound up tight like a coiled string). They feel compelled to stay busy, to act, to move constantly without ceasing. This remedy is mostly apt for people in occupations requiring meticulous work under great pressure and responsibility, such as air traffic controllers, news journalists, etc.
The Tarentula patient may initially be a compulsive worker. Such individuals seem to possess super stamina, capable of and even compelled to work day and night, perhaps without sleep for weeks on end. They are industrious, capable, and efficient, albeit with ambitious but selfish tendencies.
MISCHIEVOUSNESS/MALINGERING/UNGRATEFUL/ CUNNINGNESS [7,8]
When devoid of observers, there is no manifestation of hysteria. However, when attention is directed towards her, she initiates a sequence of actions—twitching, feigning fainting, and displaying insensibility, all while covertly observing the reactions of those around her.
There exists within her a desire to strike either herself or others. She reflects a spectrum of emotions and behaviours, alternating between laughter, mockery, running, dancing, gesticulating, joking, crying, and singing until she is utterly exhausted.
Additionally, she exhibits kleptomania, along with angry outbursts characterized by despair, often expressed through violent and abusive language, causing harm to both herself and others. Moral depravity rules her character, marked by selfish tendencies.
LOVE FOR MUSIC & DANCE [7,8,13]
The Tarentula patient's wounded nervous system finds solace in rhythmic activities, songs, and dancing, which offer relief from their internal tensions.
Despite a deep-seated desire for dancing, their movements lack rhythm, though they remain cheerful and exhilarated throughout, wrong type of music exacerbates their condition.
The rhythm compels Tarentula patients to engage in frenetic movements like dancing, jumping, and running. These actions are not gentle or slow; rather, they are driven to wild, frenzied, rapid, and vigorous movements as a means of seeking relief.
At the same time the movements can be graceful, so the remedy considered for ST. VITUS DANCE OF HUNTINGTON’S CHOREA
MANIA& HYSTERIA
Excitement manifests in paroxysms, often accompanied by nymphomania. Laughter becomes involuntary and hysterical, often accompanied by a vacant expression. As the disease progresses, symptoms of insanity and madness become evident.
They exhibit restlessness, particularly in their legs, often tearing clothes and pulling their own hair. Gestures include reaching out or grasping at someone, or picking at others' clothes.
During periods of excitement, they cannot tolerate anyone near them, The start rolling on the ground when disturbed. Their behaviour becomes increasingly eccentric and inhuman. Mental occupation offers some relief from their symptoms.
DESTRUCTIVE IMPULSES
When restrained, they exhibit violence, along with wild and cunning behaviour. There's an attempt to conceal their impulses, often resulting in the breaking of objects and tearing of clothes, leading to self-injury.
Delusions of monsters, insects, and ghosts further exacerbate their condition, prompting them to strike themselves or others.
They engage in self-harming actions such as striking their head and body with their hands, as well as lashing out at attendants and close friends.
YET ANOTHER REASONTop of FormBottom of Form
UNREQUITED LOVER TARENTULA [15]
They suffer from unrequited love, experiencing a one-sided affection, often stemming from a belief that they are not attractive enough to garner the attention they crave. Consequently, they resort to various means to make themselves more appealing, such as donning bright-colored clothing and engaging in activities like singing and dancing. Phatak describes their condition as "ailment from the ill effects of unrequited love," portraying Tarentula as individuals longing to be noticed yet struggling to attract the attention of others.
PHYSICAL FEATURES
BODY LANGUAGE – TARENTULA HISPANICA [16]
• Always in a stage of COMMOTION (a state of confused and noisy disturbance).
• He is always on the go and is restlessness even without any purpose.
• A tall talker, he earns by befooling and amusing people.
• He wears the attire which is attractive and gaudy (tastelessly ornamental).
• He is charmed by colors like blue, green, red.
• Desires restless insanity, cheerful, bayont (danger, knife). He ideas to show off.
• Erratic, unreliable, undependable, subtle cruelty.
• Highly ambitious which never thrives without selfishness which there is here a full fare.
• music lovers or masters of elegant diction.
(Choice and use of words and sentences)
• Most dishonest, sweet tongue-saccharine, cunning, selfish.
TARENTULA IN CLINIC [16]]
• When he enters the clinic, he just roams around the corridor.
• He is dressed in bright colours to attract attention.
• Whenever a question is asked to them by the physician, either they do not follow.
• RUBRICS:
Answer, aversion to
Answer, abrupt
• During the interview, they are quite inattentive.
• Concentration difficult during conversation.
• When they are sitting in front of the physician, they make various gestures.
• RUBRICS:
Gestures, grasping, fingers in the mouth, children put
Gestures, grasping, hands restlessly busy
Pull, one's hair desire to
TARENTULA CHILD [17,18]]
DISOBEIDIENS 3+
If you tell a Tarentula child not to touch something, like an expensive Chinese vase, as soon as you move your attention away, they will slowly move their hand and drop it. Subsequently, they laugh about it, and finally, with a sorrowful and pitiful face, they say "sorry," expecting that you will eventually let them off.Top of Form
•Bottom of Form
HEADSTRONG AND STUBBORN 3+
This child does not listen or pay heed to his parents. He is HEADSTRONG and will do whatever he wishes to do. He does not want to be guided, scolded, or forced to do things. Right from infancy, he will resist anything that he does not want to do. As he grows up and is forced to do something, he gets angry and violent. He is physically abusive and uses foul language. These children are sly and crafty; they require constant vigilance and monitoring. Somebody must keep a check on them all the time.
CONTRADICTION DOES NOT LIKE
Slightest contradiction led to anger result in violence 3+ - in which they strike others or even themselves.
REVENGEFULL/ MALICIOUS/ SPITEFULL/ VINDICTIVE
Their response is destructive, full of mania and madness. They are cruel and brutal in their handling. They kill small animals and birds, taking pleasure in doing so. This child has a desire to hide from others, either out of fear or because he thinks he will be assaulted.
CHILD IS ALWAYS MALINGERING 3+
This child is always malingering or feigning. They take care that somebody is watching them. There is no hysteria when there is nobody to observe.
A RESTLESS CHILD
A Tarentula child is like that of a spider; they cannot be steady at one place. They desire movement and flexibility, unable to sit in one position. They are always on the move. In the doctor’s clinic, they will not sit at one place even for a short while; they will touch things, shake things, break things, and repeatedly go out and come inside the cabin, displaying restlessness.
CONCLUSION
This article provides a detailed study of the personality traits and physical characteristics of Tarentula Hispanica, shedding light on its core essence as a remedy. This understanding not only aids in recognizing and differentiating it in clinical practice but also facilitates comparison with other drugs. Moreover, the article delves into the underlying reasons behind the manifestation of its mental traits, enriching our knowledge of this remedy's psychosomatic dynamics.
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