Animals Anhang
[David Little]
H.: 3 animal remedies: Sep., Ambra, Calc. The animal remedies form the
smallest number of homoeopathic remedies and possibly the most homogeneous of
the three kingdoms.
To get a larger understanding of the animal remedies our focus shifts to
study the nature of their sources and their habitats.
Farrington: offers a clue to the animal character in his Comparative
Materia Medica, in Lach. and other Allied Remedies.
"Medicines derived from the
animal kingdom act energetically and rapidly. They vary in intensity from the
fatal snakebite to coral, sponges, etc., which are more or less modified by
their mineral constituents".
The animal remedies are the most rapidly acting and destructive family.
The spectrum begins with the poisons of the Snakes,
Spiders, Insecta, Cnidaria and runs to the slower acting remedies
that
are influenced by their mineral constituents. For example, some mineral
influenced remedies are Cor-r. (Calcium and
Iron), Spong. (Iodine), and Calc. (Calcium). As in the plant remedies we
find that poisons act most quickly and violently while those with strong
mineral affinities tend to be slower acting. This shows the suitability of
certain animal remedies for crisis and others for more chronic miasms and
degenerative diseases. In general, all foreign animal substances that are not
nutritional act toxically on the human organism and invoke strong, instinctive,
defensive reactions.
"Many of the animal poisons are
distinguished by the violence and intensity of their action, and by the decided
alterations which they produce in both structure and function.
The blood is deranged in its circulation, composition and quality. The
nervous system suffers and even the lower tissues are affected. The whole
tendency of these remedies is to produce destruction (never astehic/always
destructive) tending thus to local as well as to general death of the body. We
therefore, look upon these poisons as medicines which suit deep-seated
diseases, such for example, as are accompanied by changes in the quality of the
blood; such as profoundly affects the nervous centres."
Since the ancient Greeks, healers have categorized reactions of the
vital force into the functional polarities: sthenic (hyper-functioning), and
asthenic (hypo-functioning). These categories
are symbolized by the polarities of the primordial homoeomeries, fire
and water, as well as earth and air.
In general, the more poisonous an animal substance, the more sthenic the
initial symptoms it produces in the provings. As the mineral constituents
become more dominant the nature of the symptoms align with the mineral family.
For example, Spong reflecting sthenic tendency of Iodine and the Halogen group,
while Calc. is more similar to the more asthenic symptoms of the Earth Alkali
group).
The Development of the Non Chordate
Phylums
Azoic and Archeozoic Eras
Zoology records the evolutionary history of the animal world. The Azoic
Era (5000*) begins with the origin of the Earth and the appearance of inorganic
elements and organic molecules.
In the Archeozoic Era (5000-3500) viruses formed a bridge between the
inorganic minerals and the organic molecules and the first living cells
appeared. The Animal Kingdom is divided
into two major categories, the Non Chordates (no neural tube), and
Chordates (neural tube-notocord).
In the Five-Kingdom classification, bacteria and blue-green algae
(cyanobacteria) are in the
Proterozoic &
Paleozoic Era
Proterozoic Era (2000-600) viruses, bacteria, and blue-green algae
(cyanobacteria) flourished in the Precambrian seas. This period introduced the
Porifera (sponges), Coelenterata (corals, medusae, sea anemone, hydromedusae),
Platyhelminthes (flat worms, flukes, tape worms), Ascheliminthes (round worms)
and Annelida (jointed worms).
Paleozoic Era (600-225) was one of great expansion among the animal
phylums and plant species in the seas and their first adaptation to the land
environment. The Paleozoic Era includes
6 periods.
1. Cambrian Period (600-500) where
viruses, bacteria, blue-green algae and red algae flourished and the 25
non-chordate invertebrate phyla became established. This period saw the
appearance of Molluscae/Echinodermata as well as
early Arthropoda classes, the Crustacea, Insecta, scorpions, spiders),
Chilopoda (centipedes) and Diplopoda (millipedes).
2. The Ordovician Period (500-435)
brought the origin of the first chordates, the lower Chordata (rudimentary
notochord), or Acraniata (no cranium), and the higher Chordata or Craniata
(notocord, vertebrae, and cranium).
The lower chordates are divided into
two classes, the Urochordata (notochord present only in larval tail i.e. sea
squirt) and the Cephalochordata (notochord along entire body i.e. lancelet). In
the lower chordatas the neural tube is in its rudimentary spinal development.
The higher Chordata or Craniata (notochord, vertebrae and cranium) are divided
into the Agnatha (without jaws, the jawless and armored fishes) and the Gnathostomata
(jaws and paired appendages), which includes all other vertebrates. In the
higher chordates the neural tube is connect to a brain that is contained in the
bony skull.
3. The Silurian Period (435-395) saw
the origin of the jawed fish and Arthropods, wingless Insecta, and
scorpion-like Arachnida and the first Lichens moved to land. This interesting
plant is a symbiotic combination of algae and fungi. The Insecta, Arachnida and
Lichens adapted to the new environment and evolved.
4. The Devonian Period (395-345) is
called the Age of Fishes as Pisces ruled the oceans. This period is the origin
of the Amphibia that left the seas seeking new
territory on land.
The fern allies and ferns developed
along with the early gymnosperms like the
Cycads (= Sagopalmen).
5. The Carboniferous
Period (345-275) is called the Age of Amphibians.
The great swamps and trees supported the amphibian transition from sea to land and
eventually became coal beds. The close of this period witnessed the origin of
the first winged insects and reptiles.
6. The Permian Period
(275-225) witnessed the mass extinction of many of the marine invertebrates. At
the same time, modern Insecta and Reptiles flourished on the land. This period
saw the evolution of the first deciduous plants.
The Mesozoic (Middle) Era (230-65)
The Mesozoic Era began with heavy glaciation and the extinction of many
previous species. It encompasses the rise and fall of the dinosaurs, the origin
of mammals, and the rise of modern birds and placental mammals.
The Mesozoic Era is divided into three periods, the Triassic Period, the
Jurassic Period, and the Cretaceous Period.
1. The Triassic period (230-180)
experienced heavy glaciation that caused the primitive gymnosperms to give way
to the higher gymnosperms. In this epoch the primitive amphibians became
extinct and the great reptiles like the dinosaurs appeared.
2. The Jurassic period
(180-135) is called the Age of the Reptiles. It gave birth to the first toothed
birds and mammals and gave rise to the flowering plants (angiosperms).
3. The Cretaceous period (135-65)
covers the extinction of the giant reptiles and toothed birds and the origin to
the ancestors of modern birds and placental mammals.
Cenozoic Era (65-0)
The Cenozoic Era (65-0) is from sixty-five million years ago to the
present day. This period introduced the modern monocotyledon and dicotyledon
plants as well as birds and higher mammals. This era is divided into the
Tertiary and Quaternary Periods.
The Tertiary Period
1. The Paleocene epoch
(65-54) introduced the archaic mammals and first primates.
2. Eocene epoch (54-38)
diversified placental mammals, and brought the birth of the ancestors of modern
horses, cattle, elephant, crocodiles, turtles, etc.
3. Oligocene epoch
(38-23) saw the appearance of monkeys and apes and the ancestors of cats, dogs,
bears, etc.
4. Miocene epoch (23-6)
found mammals flourishing and the early human-like apes (hominids) appeared.
5. Pliocene epoch (6-2)
gave rise to land mammals. Marine life was fully established as it is today.
The Quaternary Period
1. The Pleistocene
epoch (2 million-10, 000 years) witnessed the extinction of the great mammals
and the rise of early human beings.
2. The Holocene epoch
(10,000-to present) is called the Age of Man, which is the home to modern
humans, mammals, birds, fishes and insects. Farming and animal husbandry
developed. The year 2000 is at the turning point for humanity, as the species
shall either find solutions to the worldwide ecological and social problems or
face extinction.
Classification of Human Beings
All racial groups, Mongoloid, Negroid, Caucasoid and Australoid, are stocks
of the species Homo sapiens, which is classified as follows:
1. The Kingdom Animalia as humans
require complex organic food and pass out faeces and nitrogenous waste
materials.
2. Subkingdom Exmetazoa as humans
have digestive tract, tissues and organic systems.
3. Phylum Chordata as
humans have notocord and visceral pouches in the embryonic stage and dorsal
hollow brain and nerve chord throughout life.
4. Subphylum Vertebrate or Craniata as
humans have a cranium around the brain and a segmented vertebral column around
the spinal cord.
5. Division Gnathostomata as humans
have jaws to support the mouth.
6. Superclass Tetrapoda as they have
four limbs.
7. Class Mammalia as humans have
hair, pinnae, and mammary glands.
8. Subclass Theria as
human beings are viviparous (live birth).
9. Infraclass Eutheria
as humans have true placenta and prolonged intrauterine development.
10. Order Primates as
humans have nails over the digits.
11. Suborder
Anthropoidea as humans have rounded head and facial muscles that provide
emotional expression.
12. Family Hominidae
because humans have erect posture, bipedal locomotion and forelimbs (arms) that
are shorter then hind limbs (legs).
The Non Chordate Phylums
The Non Chordates are divided into 25 phylums of which 8 are in the
Homoeopathic Materia Medica. The phylums are listed from the lowest to highest
order.
1. Porifera, sponges
(Bad. Spong.).
2. Coelenterata,
corals, medusae, sea anemone, hydromedusae (Cor-r. Medus. Physala).
3. Platyhelminthes,
flat worms, flukes, tape worms (isopathy).
4. Aschelminthes, round worms
(isopathy).
5. Annelida, jointed worms
(Sanuisuga-leech).
The Porifera and Coelenterata are sometimes combined and called the
Radiata based on their radial symmetries. The Porifera, and the Coelenterata
corals, are very strongly affected by their mineral constituents and reflect
their mineral analogs. Medusa and Physala are remedies that show the rapid
onset and symptoms associated with the animal poisons. The worm remedies are
old isopathic remedies in many cultures and were experimented with by the
homoeopathic-isopaths of the 19th century. We have no provings of the
helminthes although they cause serious diseases in their human host. Perhaps
this is a lacuna in our animal materia medica?
The next important groups are the Mullusca and Echinodermata. They share
many homoeopathic symptoms and are suitable for some similar conditions. The
Murex and Cuttlefish share many symptoms. The remedies made from oyster and
conch shell show the characteristic symptoms of their related mineral remedies,
particularly the Calcium group. The starfish shares their seabed environment
with the oysters. These deep acting antimiasmic remedies have an action on the
phlegmatic temperament, the hydrogenoid constitution, and the sycotic miasm.
Such remedies particularly reflect mistunements of the watery element, the
genitourinary system, and venereal diseases.
6. Mullusca Class:
1.
Cephalopoda (Sep.).
2. Pelecypoda
(Calc. Calc-pecten.).
3.
Gastropoda (Conch. Murx. Helix.).
7. Echinodermata (Aster.)
The Arthropoda is the next important phylum. The Homoeopathic Materia
Medica includes remedies from four of the five classes of Arthropoda. This phylum
develops a homogeneous set of signs and symptoms, which is similar throughout
its classes. At the same time each class of Arthropoda has its own unique
family characteristics.
8. Arthropoda Class
1. Crustacea (Astac. Hom. Lim.
Onis).
2. Insecta (Apis,
Blatta, Canth. Coc-c. Vesp.).
3. Arachnida (Androc.
Lat-m. Mygal. Tarent. Ther.).
4. Chilopoda (Scolop.).
The symptoms of the Crustacea, Astac. (crayfish), Hom. (lobster) and
Lim. (king crab) are very similar as they reflect the nettle and bilious rash
of the shellfish family. All of these remedies are very allergenic and manifest
a similar pattern of symptoms. Onis, the sole land Crustacea, develops symptoms
more like the Insecta. The Insecta and Arachnida are easy recognizable by their
family symptoms although each remedy has unique differential symptoms. The only
Chilopoda remedy at this time is the centipede.
The Chordate Phylums
The Craniata of the Phylum Chordata include the subphylum Vertebrata and
the division, Gnathostomata. This includes the Pisces and the Tetrapods, which
are divided into the four classes, Amphibia, Reptilia, Aves and Mammalia. They
all share the complete neural tube but the brain and nervous system
demonstrates different states of evolution in the fish, land animals, and human
beings.
The Two Superclasses
Pisces and Tetrapods
1. Pisces. Class Osteicthyes (Eryth. Gad. Ol-j. Trach-d,
Trach-v.).
2. Tetrapods Class
1. Amphibia.
2. Reptilia Order
A. Lacertilia, lizards (Amp. Helo. Lacer.).
B. Snakes (Elaps. Crot-h, Lach. Naja, Vipera).
3. Aves (Corvus Corax Principalus (corpus) and
(sanguinious), Serinus Canaria, Indian Eagle, Ovi Gallinae Pellicula, Calcarea
Ovi Testi).
4. Mammalia (Ambr. Carb-an. Cast. Hipp. Meph.
Mosch. Ol-an.).
A. Milks
(Lac-c. Lac-d. etc.)
The use of a homoeopathic remedy often depends on its source. For example
Ol-j. made from the gallbladder of a Codfish. The bile. remedies have a deep effect on the hepatic
system, digestion, and choleric temperament. Trachinus is a poison fish whose
sting acts similarly to the other animal venoms.
The poisons of fish, lizards, snakes,
spiders all cause rapid destruction of tissue and
chronic sequels.
Mammalia include remedies made from glands. of Beaver (Cast.) and Musk Dear (Mosch.), and
the anal sac of a skunk (Meph.).
(Mosch. is sexual and hysterical while Meph. is nauseated and revolted).
The milks form a remedy group within the mammal family and reflect many
animal world characteristics. (Clearly noted in Lac-c.).
Therapeutic Hints
Acute and Chronic Diseases
The animal remedies are suitable for both acute and chronic complaints
depending on constitution, disease conditions, and circumstances.
Poisons mimic the most dangerous states of acute diseases, virulent
miasms, and toxic states. This includes virulent illnesses like influenza,
scarlet fever, yellow fever, meningitis, diphtheria, typhoid, ebola, and other potentially
fatal acute diseases. The rapid destruction of the blood and vital centers is
almost immediate. The rapid movement and destructiveness of the animal world
simulates this activity when compared with the more stationary plants and
stable minerals. The animal remedies are suitable for crisis, acute disorders
and miasms, and destructively chronic diseases. The animal remedies reach the
most destructive phases of pathology, like ulceration and necrosis, very
quickly. In general, the plants mimic the rapid development of crisis and acute
diseases while the mineral remedies are slower and more insidious like chronic
states.
The animal world remedies reflect both acute and chronic states in equal
measure. As the animals are the highest order they reflect both the attributes
of the minerals and the plants they depend on for life. (indicated in
potentially fatal crises or acute disorders as well as chronic diseases that
have the character of the rapid destruction of organic tissue). A chronic
disease with the tendency toward acute-like crisis and destructive organic
pathology suits the animal remedies well.
The Crustacea. mistunes
the choleric temper and produces bilious constitutions and causes allergenic
liver-rash and hives (shellfish reactions).
The Insecta. (Apis, Canth., Vesp.) are famous
for intense burning, heat, redness, and other signs of fiery inflammation.
The Arachnida (Lat-m., Tarent.), and Reptiles (Helo.), Snakes share the
rapid onsets and destructive degenerative states of the venomous creatures.
If one survives the potentially fatal crisis the poisons move on to
chronic sequels and progressive degenerative diseases. Many of these poisons
are known for the darker reds and blue-black colors of necrotic degeneration
associated with the destruction of the blood and excess of atrabilious humour.
Animals and Constitutions
The animal remedies of the materia medica reflect many clear
constitutional types that are well known by their mind/body portraits. The
first animal portrait was one of the Mollusk, Sep.
H.: wrote how the brownish-black ink of the Sepia produced a dejected,
weepy, gloomy melancholic state that is pensive, anxious, apprehensive, and
suffers aversion to work and indifference to the family. Melancholia is an
excess of "black bile" that is associated with feeling
"blue" or suffering "dark moods". Sepia affects the weepy
phlegmatic humour and mistunes the sexual system producing a downward pressure
as if everything would protrude from the pelvis. The complexion is yellowish
and the face often has a yellow or brown saddle across the nose and cheeks
demonstrating the hormone imbalances associated with this remedy. The
cuttlefish has a luminescent brownish body with white spots and stripes and a
beautiful violet lateral fin that acts as a colorful, scintillating cape. The
image of the Sepia squirting its dark brown cloud as a 'smoke screen' to attack
prey and hide from an enemy is symbolic of many of the symptoms of Sepia. These
images are part of Sepia's signatura rerum.
Animal Remedies and Chronic Miasms
The animal remedies play an important role in the treatment of chronic
miasms. The animal substances have a clear action on the non-venereal and
venereal miasms. Bufo, Lac-c., Lach., and Sep. have been confirmed in all the
four miasms Hahnemanni. The animals reflect some of the most degenerative and
corrupted states of the miasmic process. They over stimulate the life force
producing sthenic states and plethora that become progressively destructive in
nature and may end in exhaustion. The animal remedies produce some of the
foulest, vilest and most degenerative states of physical and mental pathology.
The clinically confirmed antimiasmic remedies are relatively few in number so
they are listed below:
1. Psora (Ambr. Apis, Bufo,
Calc-ostr. Canth. Carb-an. Coc-c. Crot-h. Elaps, Lac-c. Lac-d. Lach. Sep.).
2. Pseudopsora (Bufo, Calc-ostr.
Carb-an. Lac-c. Lac-d. Lach. Ol-j. Sep. Ther.).
3. Sycosis (Apis, Aran. Aster. Bufo,
Calc-ostr. Cast. Canth. Coc-c. Crot-h. Elaps, Dor. Lac-c. Lach. Mosch. Murx.
Ol-j. Sac-l. Sep.).
4. Syphilis (Apis, Bad. Bufo,
Canth. Cor-r. Crot-h. Eryth. Lac-c. Lach. Sep. Spong.).
Animal Temperament
The mineral remedies have a direct effect on the intellect and
intelligence (Geist)
The plants initially mistune the emotional disposition (Gemüt).
The animal remedies have a profound action on the animal instinct, the
vital force, and human sexuality. These remedies deeply affect the subconscious
and instinctive levels of the human being ruled directly by the vital force.
The animals stir primitive subconscious emotions over which the rational spirit
has little control. This struggle is between the higher neocortex ruled by the
rational spirit and the old instinctive reptilian and mammalian brain centers.
In reality such troubled souls are fighting with the "beasts" within
them. This conflict can bring out some of the lowest qualities of a human
being.
Farrington:
"You will find, too, that
these animal poisons are apt to affect the mind (emotions). They arouse the
lowest qualities in human nature, and produce a condition which is truly
shocking.
Some of them arouse the filthiest lust, the most intense anger, and
passions of a kindred nature. So we may find many of these drugs suitable for
persons affected with insanity, whether it be
the result of functional or organic, cerebral changes, whether or not it
be reflex from irregularities in bodily functions."
The spiritual and emotional symptoms of the animal world are distinct
yet complementary to the images of the minerals and plants. The animal poisons
are well known for stirring up the instinctual level within human beings and
producing "animalistic emotions" with altered states of
consciousness.
Instinctive, Subconscious, Animalistic
The instinctive animalistic emotions of the animal remedies are found
within all the animal remedies to one degree or another. The virulent poisons
like the Insecta, Arachnida, Reptiles
and Snakes produce the most rapidly developing delusions, delirium and dreams.
The animal realm is under control of the subconscious mind rather than the
rational human spirit. These emotions are seated in the "reptilian
brain" which rules over our early evolutionary epochs and are not under
the conscious control of the individual ego. The battle to control the
"beast" within is an essential theme of the animal world remedies.
The old reptilian brain has not changed much since humans lived in caves and is
confused by the rapid changes of the last century. The struggle between the
animal and human nature within our species is the source of many myths, fables
and religious teachings.
Combative, Aggressive,
Possessive and Jealous
The animal remedies tend to be dominant, competitive, aggressive (Apis,
Androc. Lach. Sep.), envious (Calc. Cench. Lach. Sep..) and jealous (Apis,
Bufo, Calc. Cench. Lach.). This jealousy is of a very sexual nature and they
are envious toward other dominant types in the "herd". The animal remedies
like to be the leader and will do almost anything to get to the top. The animal
temperament lives by the Darwinian law, the survival of the fittest, and tries
to control their territory and keep "intruders' out so they collect the
best "food" and "breeding stock". In the modern world much
of this animal instinct is compensated for by the intellect, but as time
passes, the rational spirit loses control to the impulses of the animal realm.
Altered States, Delusions, Heaven or
Hell
The animal remedies produce exalted states of fancy (Ambr. Apis, Bufo,
Canth. Crot-h. Lac-c. Lach. Sep. Spong. Tarent.) and visions (Calc. Canth.
Carb-an. Crot-c. Lach. Sep. Spong. Tarent.). They are also prone to fearful
states where they feel threatened. The animal remedies amplify subconscious
instincts and undermine the rational spirit producing delusions and delirium
(Apis, Canth. Crot-c. Crot-h. Lac-c. Lach. Lat-k. Mosch. Tarent.). The
animals have delusions of phantoms (Ambr. Calc. Canth. Carb-an. Lac-c. Lach.
Sep. Spong. Tarent.), of persecution (Calc. Crot-h. Lach. Spong.), and that
they are sick (Calc. Mosch. Murx. Sep. Tarent.). The Snakes hear voices (Cench.
Crot-c. Crot-h. Elaps, Lach.).
Fear, Fight or Flight
The animal remedies respond to danger with immediate fight or flight.
This response is instinctive in nature and takes place with no contemplation.
This state is neither like the emotional panic of the plants or the loss of
reason seen in the minerals. The animal remedies express a state of high
tension, fear, and fright in which the instinct for self-survival overpowers
the rational mind (Ambra, Androc. Bufo, Crot-h. Coc-c. Elaps, Lach. Mosch.
Murx. Sep. Spong. Ther.).
Violence and Intense
Anger
The animal temperament is more apt to fight over sex or territory than
over higher principles. When they become angry or afraid they can attack with
great ferocity (Bufo, Canth. Coc-c. Crot-h. Form. Lach. Lat-m. Mosch. Sep.
Spong.). The animals can be very hard on their own species and will use force
to control other submissive creatures. Some will destroy those who are in
competition with them for mates, territory, and leadership roles. The animal
anger is explosive and very dangerous to self and others.
Excessive Vitality and Perverted
Sexual Instinct
The animal remedies mimic plethoric states of vital energy that is
seeking an outlet. The animal substances pervert the sexual instinct and
produce states of nymphomania, lasciviousness and "satyriasis"
(Aster. Bufo, Canth. Lach. Mosch.) ). In the healthy state the animal remedies
are vital and sexual and seek release through sexual intercourse or
masturbation (Ambr. Apis, Bufo, Lach. Meph. Sep. Tarent.). The animal's desire
for sex is physical rather than emotional like the plants or mental like the
minerals. The animal remedies have the potential to descend into the lowest
levels of human sexual activity and can be completely immoral and shameless
(Bufo, Canth. Mosch. Murx. Tarent.).
Drinking and Substance
Abuse
The animal remedies have a desire for alcohol and are substance abusers
(Bufo, Cocc-c. Crot-h. Lac-c. Lach. Meph. Mosch. Sep). Using alcohol to
antidote the effects of snakebite is common to many traditional cultures.
Lach. offers a clear picture of the relationship of the Snakes drinking.
They crave alcohol because it makes them "feel better". In the
beginning drinking is part of an outlet for strong instinctive energy and a way
of letting go of
tension. It does not take long before the delusions and confusions hidden
in their subconscious mind begin to surface. When drunk their minds become a
kaleidoscope of strong repressed emotions and carnal desires.
This combination may stimulate unsolicited sexual advances or rape while
under the influence. Drinking also brings out the kind of violence that leads
to full-fledged animal attacks and brutality.
Senility, Madness and Insanity
The animal remedies demonstrate a great number of symptoms similar to
madness and insanity (Ambr. Apis, Calc. Canth. Carb-an. Crot-c. Crot-h. Lach.
Mosch. Murx. Naja, Sep. Tarent.) These remedies are suitable for mental
disorders based on functional changes as well as organic pathology and chronic
miasms. Under acute stress or crises the animals tend to become hysterical
(Ambr. Bufo, Calc-ostr. Canth. Crot-h. Elaps, Lach. Mosch. Mygal. Sep. Tarent.
Ther.). As time goes on and the stress builds their mind become more delusional
until they enter true madness. The marine animals (Ambr. Aster. Calc-ostr.
Murx. and Sep.), and Amphibia (Bufo) end in exhaustion while the Insecta (Apis,
Canth.) tend to amorous frenzy or shamelessness. The animal venoms (Ophidians,
Arachnida, Lacertilia) tend to produce altered states with raving, raging, and
delirium. The animal remedy's battle for survival ends in the most hideous
types of senility, dementia and insanity.
The animal instinct for self- preservation is very strong but they
sometimes end their torment with suicide (Ambra, Calc-ostr. Crot-h. Lac-d.
Lach. Naja, Sep. Tarent.).
Stages of Life
The animal remedies thrive in a competitive environment. In the
functional stage the animals are strong, vital and active individuals who are
sexy and full of animal magnetism. When this natural power is channeled in
creative directions they are capable of more energy output than the average
human being. They are ambitious, strong willed, and are not easily defeated. As
children they need lots of room and are difficult to keep indoors for long
periods of time. They are prone to sibling rivalries, jealousy, and envy. This
makes them it difficult for them to get along with other children. In a
dysfunctional home or abusive environment they become wild and unruly and may
imitate the most negative of behavior. As they are sexually magnetic they may
fall victim to sexual abuse. As they grow older sex becomes a power over which
they have little control. The animal temperament may have sex for the sake of
sex alone. They demand neither the emotional support that the plants need nor
the appreciation that the minerals expect.
When the animal remedies are placed under stress they react with crisis
much like the plant remedies. This crisis, however, displays dangerous signs
and symptoms immediately. The alarm reaction of the animals is violent and
potentially destructive. Only the most poisonous plants and minerals approach
the rapid destruction that the animal substances and poisons produce. This is
why many of the animal remedies are so useful in virulent acute miasms and
poisonings of the most dangerous nature.
In the stage of resistance and adaption the protracted battle with the
beast within begins. As time goes on their sense of healthy competition
descends into unhealthy rivalries, envy, and combativeness. They may
intellectually realize their faults but they can't help themselves when they
feel challenged. The animal instincts and the lower emotions that they seek to
repress drive them
to provocative actions. The more stress they experience the more they
react from instinct rather than intelligence. Life becomes a struggle that they
intend to win at all costs. Their sexuality also transforms from a healthy
state of vitality to a desire to conquer and control which makes them jealous
of any other potential mates. This leads to constant conflict in the home with
angry outbursts and accusations. They have difficulty with other animal types
of the same sex. Life becomes a struggle for them and everyone around them.
In the final stage of exhaustion the rational spirit and higher emotions
can no longer compensate for the baser instincts and perverted sexuality of the
animal realm. At the same time, their former tendency toward altered states of
consciousness is transformed into delusional states. Their jealousy now takes
on insane forms of suspicion when there is no reason behind such emotions. They
now see those who they perceive as a threat as enemies and begin the final
battle for supremacy. They do not realize that the true obstacle is the beast
within them. Their instinctive fears are projected onto the outer environment
and they may become dangerous. The law of the jungle takes over from more
civilized norms and they lose what little humanity they still possess.
The above rubrics for the animal family offer a glimpse of the general
nature of the animal remedies. Many of the animal remedies are poorly
represented in the repertorium. A study of the characteristic symptoms of the
animal world and its remedy families helps put these remedies into perspective.
Vorwort/Suchen Zeichen/Abkürzungen Impressum