Latrodectus-mactans
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 2002 Jan / Feb VOL 4 NO 1.
Dr Guruprasad M N
'Lat-m
NO: ARACHNIDA
Proved by: S A JONES and A J TAFEL
Introduction: A Spider of the genus Retitelariae,
of the family theridiidae.
Preparation: Mother tincture is prepared from the live
spider.
Sphere of action: Heart, Vasomotor and Blood
By acting on the heart produces a typical picture of Angina
pectoris. Blood becomes thin, watery.
Toxicological effects:
Certain spiders of the genus Latrodectus have the power to
inflict poisonous bites, which may bring about the death of a human being. Cases
(September 4, 1853) in which a man was bitten on the prepuce. At first there was
itching, nausea, abdominal pains, precordial pain extends to axilla, fingers
with numbness of the extremities cold skin; bite produced tetanic effects.
By acting on the heart it produces symptoms of Angina. Spider poisons are akin to the serpent poisons in their property of producing a disorganization of the blood.
Key Notes:
1. Precordial pain, cardiac pain, violent pain, sharp to shoulder or both arms, with numbness: Angina pectoris.
2. Extreme apnoea with fear of loosing breath.
3. Coldness of entire surface: skin cold as marble.
4. Anxiety: screams with pain.
Mind:
Extreme anxiety, screams fearfully, exclaiming
that she would lose her breath and die. Anxiety and screams with pain.
Chest:
Extreme apnoea, gasping respiration, fears losing breath. Violent
precordial pain extending to axilla and down left arm, fingers with numbness.
Pain from precordium extends to the back of head, Restless with cardiac pain and
prostration. Pulse quick, feeble, rapid thready. Pulse is so frequent it could
not be counted and so feeble it could scarcely be felt.
Sinking sensation in the epigastrium, cramping pain from the
chest to the abdomen.
Extremeties:
Pain in left arm, feels as if paralyzed. Weakness of legs
followed by cramps in the abdominal muscles. Parasthesia of the lower limbs.
Coldness of the entire surface, skin cold as marble. Redness and itching of part bitten.
Relationship:
Compare: Latrodectus hasselti, Aran, Mygale; Their, Katipa( Newzeland spider)
Conclusion:
The resemblance between the symptoms of Angina Pectoris and the effects of the poison of Latrodectus mactans are striking enough to justify the presentation of a comparison; and it is hoped that physicians of wide reading will pardon what may seem to them a piece of supererogation for the sake of many a humbler practitioner whose opportunities have not been so happy.
Case
Mrs Z, 37 years old, hailing from a poor socioeconomic family presented in
OPD of our hospital on 25- 2-2002 with an acute presentation of the following
complaints.
| No. | Location | Sensation | Modalities | Accompaniments |
| 1 | CHEST Left side: Radiating to Neck & back. Since 2yrs on & off. Increased since a week |
Pain3 Lasts for few minutes Pricking, Burning, Heavy sensation3. Palpitation |
< Exertion, walking. < During menses < Lying on back. < Eating after < Climbing steps < Night > Lying on left side < Walking < Lifting things |
Fear of death Anxiety Appetite decreased Sleep disturbed Weakness |
On Examination:
Temp: Afebrile. Pulse: 97/min, regular, feeble, all
peripheral pulse felt.
RR: 18/minute.
BP: 130/80 mm of Hg, Pallor ++, Paedal
oedema - pitting on pressure ++, No cyanosis,
No clubbing. No significant lypmhadenopathy.
CVS:
I: No scars, no dilated veins, no precordial bulge, apex
beat is not visible, pulsation at suprasternal area.
P: Inspectory findings were confirmed. Apex impulse
shifted laterally, Tenderness over the precordial area (She is not allowed to
touch), No precordial bulge.
P: Normal cardiac dullness,
A: S1 S2 heard (even the touch of stethoscope at the
precordial region couldn’t tolerated by the patient), splitting of 2nd
heart sound
Investigation:
Hb: 9.8gm%, TC: 9,800, N 55, L 42, E 3, M 0;
Urine: Normal study.
ECG: T-wave inversion in lead 5 &
6 chest leads, Q waves in chest lead 3,5, Left axis
deviation.
Diagnosis: Ischemic heart disease
Patient As A Person:
1st & 2nd
Abortion: 6month. 3rd alive.
4th abortion (7 month), 5th
abortion (6month), 6th abortion (3rd month).
All deliveries conducted at home. Tubectomy done 8yrs back.
Life Situation:
Patient hails from a poor socioeconomic family. She has 3
brothers. She got married at the age of 16, and her husband is a coolie. Her son
is now 16 years old and working with his dad.
By occupation she does beedi rolling at home.
She developed her complaints 2 years back. Sudden onset.
Diagnosed as MI. Since then she was on sublingual tablets for the last 18
months, but found it too costly, so she completely stopped tablets for the last
3 months. In these 3 months she got 2 attacks again. She was hospitalized but
pain continued so she came for Homoeopathic treatment.
Basically she is a very kind natured person, mixes well with
others, she cries whenever others asks about her complaints; worries about her
health. Whenever she gets the chest pain, she feels she is going to die; if
somebody gives her little courage, she feels relieved.
She is also worried about her future as, if something happens
to her, who will look after her family. She is now staying in slums, she doesn’t
have her own home.
Physical Generals:
Desires: Vegetables, Aversion: Meat, Fatty food.
Perspiration: Increased on back.
Bowels & micturation: Regular.
Menses: Regular cycle, profuse flow, all her
complaints aggravate during menses.
Management:
Since the complaints are acute and she is in severe distress, advised for
immediate hospitalization with regular monitoring of vital parameters.
Follow Up
|
1. Appetite 3. Chest pain 5. Heavy sensation 7. Loss of breath(apnoea) 9. Giddiness |
2. Sleep 4. Chest burning 6. Palpitation 8. Weakness |
| Date | Complaints | Remedy | |||||||||
| 25/02/02 10 am |
Admitted to ward | Latrodectus-mactans 3 pills 3 hourly. |
|||||||||
| 2.15 pm | S | OK | >+ | + | >+ | + | >+ | S | >+ | 5 grain tablets 1-1-1 Continued the same | |
| O\E: Splitting of 2nd
Heart sound, Tenderness on precordial region even touch of the stethoscope is intolerable, Pulse: 98 \ minute, regular, feeble. Paedal edema pits on pressure bilateral++. |
|||||||||||
| 4.15 pm | S | Good | >++ | >+ | 0 | 0 | 0 | >++ | >+ | Lat-mac 6 3 pills 3hourly 5 grain tablets 1-1-1 |
|
| O\E: Precordial tenderness reduced( she
allows to keep the stethoscope on precordium) , Pulse : 78 \ minute, regular, feeble, Paedal edema reduced. |
|||||||||||
| 26/02/02 8.45 am |
OK | Good | >++ | >++ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | >++ | >++ | Lat-mac 6 3pills tds 5 grain tablets 1-1-1 |
| Generally she looks better; she had an acute
attack of chest pain at night that time medicine was repeated she had a
sound sleep afterwards. O\E: Pulse: 78\ minute, regular, feeble BP: 120 \ 86 mmHg, RR: 18\ minute. |
|||||||||||
| 27/2/02 | Good | Good | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | >++ | Lat-mac 6 3pills Twice daily. 5 grain tablets 1-1-1 |
|
| O\E: Pulse : 76\ minute, regular, BP: 120 \ 86 mmHg, RR: 17 \ minute, No precordial tenderness. |
|||||||||||
| 28 & 29 Feb'02 |
Patient was kept under observation ,no attacks
of chest pain Discharged on 29/02/2002. |
Latrodectus-mac 6 s o s |
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Conclusion:
Even in Homoeopathy we can manage an acute emergency condition like IHD, with a well indicated clinically verified medicine, for this we require faith in the system as well as cooperation from the patient.
