Gymnura natalensis (Gymnu-n.) = (Backwater) butterfly ray/= diamond ray
[Vanishree
Naidoo]
The
particular species chosen, Gymnura natalensis is the only ray in
common
name, butterfly ray, which is in reference to its
extended wing-like pectoral fins. Fully developed adult rays attain a disc
width of 2.5 meters and at least 90 kilograms.
The disc is
flexible near its margin, which is an important aid in swimming, burying and
feeding. The dorsal surface appears gray, brownish or olive green with a darker
mottling whilst
the under surface is white. The diamond ray also possesses the ability to change the colour of the dorsal surface rapidly to match that of the environment or substrate.
The tail
which is separate from the disc is variably developed depending on the
particular species. In Gymnura natalensis, the tail is shorter than the body
with black and white bands and may
have one or
two sharp serrated spines at the base. The head flattened and not raised above
the disc. There are five pairs of gill slits on the underside of the head and
no dorsal or tails fins.
The
majority of stingrays live exclusively in the sea, occupying a variety of
habitats but spends a part of their lives in estuaries. They may be found
swimming tirelessly in midwater or lie
buried in
the substrate of the ocean floor. Gymnura natalensis is endemic to the Southern
African coast from
beaches),
offshore banks down to 75 m and muddy estuaries along the coasts of the
Gymnura natalensis
is carnivorous and tends to target mainly bottom-dwelling fish, sea-lice,
flat-fish, mole crabs, polychaete worms, crabs as well as sardine, gurnard and
squid.
Being
bottom-feeders, the mouth is located on the undersurface and food is directed
into the mouth by manoeuvring directly above the prey. Stingrays in general are
selective feeders; the
various
shapes of the mouth and teeth are an indication of their food preferences.
Gymnura natalensis possesses a modified feeding apparatus of a strong jaw with
68 – 93 rows of small,
sharply
pointed teeth arranged as a pavement to facilitate the crushing of hard-shelled
prey.
Both male
and female diamond rays mature at a disc width of 1.1 meters. Mating takes
place in the winter. The male fertilises the female internally by means of
claspers which are the
modified
inner edges of the pelvic fin. The developmental strategy of Gymnura natalensis
is of an aplacental viviparous type, whereby the young are born alive but there
is no placental
attachment
of the embryo to the mother during the gestation period. During the 12-month
gestation period, the pups are nourished by uterine secretions (milk) which is
absorbed by accessory
gill
filaments. There are usually 5 to 10 pups in a litter which are born in summer
at a disc width of 40 centimetres.
Nature of
the animal
Stingrays
have been described as sociable animals with a reasonable learning capacity.
Generally non-aggressive but males tend to display aggression during the mating
season. They tend to
be shy and
depart rapidly if approached. Most stingray attacks occur when the animal is
threatened in its environment causing it to reflexively raise its tail above
its head and thrust a spine
into the
victim. Although normally solitary, Gymnura natalensis have been found in large
shoals often comprising animals of one sex. Single rays tend to be found on the
seabed, whereas
shoals are
often found in the midwater region.
Stingrays
move by vertical undulations of the disc and are adapted to ripple and glide
through the water with very little effort. Propulsion is mainly achieved by
lateral and horizontal
movements
of the tail or vertical movements of the pectoral fins. In the case of Gymnura
natalensis, movements of certain parts of the well-developed disc enable it to
dive, climb, turn or
stop,
offering a great advantage when seeking prey. The flattened disc also enables
it to glide for long distances without any active movements.
Venom and
stinging apparatus
The venom
apparatus of stingray consists of the caudal appendage, a bilateral spine which
is covered by an integumentary sheath and associated venom glands, and the
cuneiform area of the integument with which the sting is in contact when at
rest. The caudal appendage is cylindrical and showing tapering in cross-section.
The caudal fin is present as a cutaneous fold or is
may be
indistinct. The cuneiform area is not usually well developed.
The spine
is attached to the tail of the stingray by dense connective tissue. The spines have
a serrated edge with two grooves on the underside which house the venom glands.
All
stingray venoms are very similar. They contain serotonin, 5-nucleotidase, and
phosphodiesterase. The latter two enzymes are responsible for the necrosis and
tissue breakdown seen
in stingray
envenomations. The envenomations by a stingray usually occur when the animal is
disturbed, it reflexively whips its tail xxyy upwards and thrusts a spine or
spines into the
victim,
producing a puncture wound or laceration. The sheath covering the spine
ruptures and the venom, along with mucus and fragments of the sheath and spine
are released into the tissue surrounding the wound. This results in intense
pain, oedema and variable bleeding. The venom causes tissue damage by means of
proteolytic enzymes and therefore heating the venom to a temperature above 50º
C diminishes some of its biologic effect. Reported systemic effects of stingray
envenomations include: diaphoresis, nausea, cardiac arrhythmia (flattened and
biphasic
T-waves), anxiety, headache, tremors, skin rash, diarrhoea, generalized pallor,
delirium, neuritis, limb paralysis, paresthesias, lymphangitis, abdominal pain,
arthritis, fever,
hypertension
and hypotension, dyspnoea, congestive heart failure and syncope. Some of these
effects can be due to allergy to the venom and psychological reactions to
attack.
Penetration
of the body cavities (chest, abdomen and groin) is a serious medical emergency.
Introduction of the ray’s necrotising venom directly into the body cavity of a
person has been
known to
cause insidious necrotizing effects on the heart and other internal organs, and
death is often inevitable. Tissue necrosis and subsequent secondary bacterial
infection that occurs
as a result
is extremely difficult to treat.
Repertory:
Mind: Alert
Alone –
desires to be alone
Anxiety –
from anticipation/beside oneself from anxiety/causeless/from excitement/with
hurry
Cheerful –
in morning on waking
Company
aversed to
Concentration
– active/difficult (cannot fix attention)
Confidence
– want of self- confidence
Despair
Detached –
“As if”
Discontended
Doubtful –
himself
Dull (“As
if intoxicated”)
Dyslexia
Forsaken –
“As if isolated”
Irritable
(in morning/easily/from trifles)
Mistakes in
writing
Mood –
alternating/changeable
Prostrated
mind
Restless
(in bed)
Sadness
(extreme/gloomy)
Spaced out
Speech –
low, soft voice
Stupefaction
Thoughts –
rush, flow from sleeplessness
Weeping
from despair
Vertigo: and pain in head/and blurred
vision
>
Closing eyes
“As if
intoxicated”
6...
Sitting
“As if head
is turning round”
While
walking
Head: “As if empty, hollow”
Heavy
(bending forward/forehead/temples)
“As if
light”
Pain
[afternoon/bursting (after eating/in forehead/temples)/> closing eyes/dull
(occiput/vertex)/ext. to eyes/ext. to forehead/behind eyes/forehead r./sides
(l.)/pulsating/caused by strong odors/< motion/pressing/pulsating/>
pressure/after eating]
Eye: Wants to close the eyes
Closing
eyes involuntary
Red
“As if
full”
Heavy
Opening the
eyelids difficult – hard to keep the eyes open
Pain –
r./morning “As from sand” (r.)/sore in morning on waking/sore (r./morning on
waking)/pulsating/”As if warmth”
Vision: Blurred with vertigo
Face: Red
Throat: Dry
“As if a
foreign body”
Inflamed –
painful/on waking
Pain – swallowing/l.
tonsil
Prickly
Tickling
(night)
Stomach: Appetite – diminished/easy
satiety/increased
Thirst
(extreme on waking/drinking cold water)
Abdomen: Pain – sharp
Rectum: “As if a ball in rectum”
Constipation
Stool: Thin after eating
Bladder: Burning during urination
Urination
frequent
Urine: Burning
Female
organs:Leukorrhoea
– bloody/brown/cream-like/thick
Menses too
short – 2 days
Respiration: Anxious
>
Deep/difficult (at night/> deep breathing/on inspiration/lying/> yawning)
Cough: in general
6...
daytime/at
night
Dry
Tickling in
throat
Chest: Conscious of heart’s action
Oppression
with difficult respiration
Palpitation
of heart (with anxiety)
Back: Eruptions (like
sand/pimples/painful pustules
Eruptions
red
Heat in
spine
Pain
[aching between scapulae/in cervical region ext. occiput/cutting in lumbar
region – rising from sitting/descends/dull/in lumbar region (r./ext. glutei
muscles in thighs/rising from seat/
walking)/rising
from sitting/while walking/stitching in dorsal region r. scapula/ext. down to
back]
Extremities: Cramps [l. foot/leg (>
motion)/ext. to calf/> stretching leg/lower limbs)
Heaviness –
lower limbs/shoulder
Itching –
Hip
Pain
(cramping l. foot/cutting r. calf/sore (lower limbs/upper arm on motion)
Tingling in
foot (lying in bed)/hand
Sleep: Anxious
Deep
Disturbed
(from anxiety/by dreams/by heat/by the slightest noise/by perspiration)
Falling
asleep difficult (from a rush of thoughts)
Interrupted
(by desire for micturition/by restlessness)
Light
Need of
sleep
Restless
Sleepiness
(evening/overpowering)
Sleepless
(from anxiety/from dreams/from slight noise/from palpitation/from
perspiration/from restlessness/with sleepiness/from activity of thoughts/with
urging to urinate/in spite of
Weariness)
Waking – by
dreams/easy/from slight noise/with desire to urinate
Yawning
frequent
Dreams: Accident with a car/acquaintances/amorous/books/conversation/(impending)
danger/dead of pets/dogs/driving a car/frightful/past events/impending evil/fantastic/old
friends/frightful (waking him)/like the house of youth/lucid/many/people not seen
for years/pleasant/relationships/repeating/(detecting) robbers/sad/school/sea/sexual/strange/swimming/threats/unremembered/
Vivid/water/time
of youth
Fever: # with chills
Heat [flushes
(with palpitation)
Perspiration: cold
Profuse - at
night (and sleepless)/during sleep
Skin: Heat without fever
Itching –
burning
Generals: < after morning on waking
Excess of
energy
Food and
drinks: Desires: cold drinks, cold water/fish/salt; <: cold food;
Flushes of
heat
Heaviness
Lassitude –
must lie down
Prickling -
internally
Changes of temperature
Weak
Weary
A review of
the major themes of the remedy illustrated a possible essence or state as one
of „alternation‟. The alternation or oscillation of states is clearly evident in the
mental and physical
spheres of
Gymnura natalensis and is represented by symptoms produced by many provers. On
the mental level, there was an alternation between the present and going back
to the past,
which is
clearly depicted in the dream state. The alternation of mental function was
evident in the symptoms of clarity of mind versus „spaciness‟. There was an oscillation between
states of sleeplessness and sleepiness. On the physical level, there was an
alternation of states of tiredness and increased energy. The alternation is
further confirmed by the fluctuation in body
temperature
noted by Prover 03F and 13M. “My temperature regulation has changed – I seem to
oscillate very easily – if it is a colder day I am dressed with fewer clothes
than normal and
if it is
slightly warmer I am dressed with more clothes. It is out of kilter. Feels like
a backward mercury thermometer.” “Fluctuating temperatures i.e. my entire body
feels hot then cold.”
It is of
the researcher‟s opinion, that Gymnura natalensis possibly has specific indications in
the treatment of disorders of the female hormonal system. This is evident from
prover reports citing specific symptoms such as breast tenderness related to
premenstrual syndrome and heat flushes. This is yet to be verified through
clinical trials and the use of the remedy in homoeopathic practice. Additional
conditions that could be indicated: Anxiety Palpitations Lower back pain
Insomnia
The
evaluation of the proving symptoms of Gymnura natalensis yielded the following
prominent themes.
Anxiety The
most prominent theme to emerge from this study was that of anxiety. The central
feeling of the anxiety of mind was of nervousness and not being in control.
This is then reflected as
an increased sensitivity to the environment – a
„pseudo-paranoia.‟
There is also an element of self-doubt and lack
of self-confidence experienced with the anxiety.
Disorientated
There is a central idea of disorientation of
the mind with loss of control or composure. Seen in the inability to focus,
relatively poor concentration or difficulty carrying out normal tasks.
It is reflected as a feeling of being „spaced
out‟ similar
to that of intoxication with drugs. “As if in a dream-like state. Irritability
and dissatisfaction The central feeling is one of being
dissatisfied – in a situation, with others or
with events of the past. There is a decrease in tolerance levels leading to
instability of mood and irritability. There may be associated
frustration.
Depression
and sadness
The central idea of depression is a perceived
sense of „doom‟ or „gloom.‟ It is expressed as heavy sadness and may be significant enough to cause
one to isolate themselves despite there
being some degree of loneliness. The feeling
may be expressed as „disconnected and detached.‟ There is despair and associated
negativity. Connection to the past an element of „going
back to the past‟. This theme was clearly portrayed
as the central focus of the dreams. It was depicted by way of going back to one‟s childhood – a situation of being
back at school or in the childhood house. There was a tendency to dream of
people, acquaintances and friends from the past with the resurfacing of sad
events and past relationships with people.
Tiredness
and weakness Prominent prostration of the mind and body. There was a
significant amount of tiredness and weakness experienced as exhaustion and
lethargy. This lassitude is characterised by a loss/lack of energy making
physical activity difficult.
The
homoeopathic drug proving of Gymnura natalensis 30CH produced a variety of symptoms
on the mental, emotional and physical levels of the body. Most prominent were
the symptoms of anxiety; sadness and depression; disorientation of mind with
concentration difficulties; headaches; sleep disturbances and weakness or
tiredness. This symptomatology is indicative of the potential of Gymnura
natalensis to provide cure to patients with similar conditions. It is hoped
that further provings and clinical application of this remedy will provide
verification of its indications in the scope of homoeopathic treatment. The
group analysis as per family of remedies derived from sea animals and the
comparative study served to highlight a minimal number of common themes and
characteristic symptoms of this group. During this study, it was noted that insufficient
literature on certain remedies e.g. Medusa did not allow for the complete
analysis of the group and extraction of common symptoms, as these remedies were
limited in the symptomatology constituting their remedy pictures.
Clinical
use of Gymnura natalensis will help verify the symptomatology recorded during
the proving. During the course of the proving, the remedy seemed to have had a
curative effect on certain symptoms e.g. premenstrual breast tenderness. It is
recommended that the information obtained during this proving be published in
relevant journals so that it is freely available to the homoeopathic community.
This will allow for the use of the remedy in clinical practice thereby helping
to verify its therapeutic indications.
6.2.5.
Indigenous substances
Provings of
other members of the Gymnuridae family, indigenous to SA, are recommended. In
recent years there has been a tendency of homoeopathic students at the Durban
University of Technology to consider indigenous substances as the subject of
their research provings.
Vergleich:
Comparison of
Gymnura natalensis and
Ambra grisea (whale secretion)
Galeocerdo cuvier (tiger shark liver)
Lac delphinium (milk of dolphin)
Medusa (jelly-fish)
Murex purpurea (purple fish)
Sepia officinalis (cuttlefish)
Trach-d = Stingray/= Rochen/= Große Petermann
Urolophus halleri = sting ray
Siehe: Pisces xxyy +
Meeresgruppe
Vorwort/Suchen Zeichen/Abkürzungen Impressum