by C.M. Boger — General Analysis
Historical reference for practitioners and students. The statements below reflect the named author’s homeopathic teaching and do not establish treatment effectiveness. This text is not medical advice and must not replace appropriate diagnosis or care.
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Aranea diadema appears in 10 of the 21 classic books on Similia. Each was written to do a different job — here is what each adds on this remedy, with the opening of its entry.
“Epeira diadema. Nat. order , Arachnida. Common names , Cross spider; Araignée a croix papale. Preparation , Tincture prepared by putting the living animals into alcohol. Authorities. Nos. Confusion of the head after eating (first day), 1. Confusion of the head, with lassitude, 1. Evenings on studying, confusion of the…”
“Papal-Cross Spider All spider poisons powerfully affect the nervous system (See tarentula, Mygale, etc). All symptoms of Aranea are characterized by periodicity, and coldness , and great susceptibility to dampness. It is the remedy for the constitution favorable to malarial poisoning, where every damp day or place…”
“Nerves. Blood. Bones. Right side. EXACT PERIODICITY. DAMPNESS: Cold. During rains. Bathing. Smoking. Cold to very bones (Calc-c.); can't get warm. Every damp day chills. AS OF ENORMOUS ENLARGEMENT or numbness of parts; on waking. Hæmorrhage. Periostitis. .................... Nervous temperament. Violent pain in all…”
“The Cross Spider. N. O. Arachnida. Tincture. Bones, affections of / Catalepsy / Chills / Dysmenorrhœa / Dyspepsia / Hæmorrhages / Hæmorrhagic diathesis / Headache / Hydrogenoid constitution / Intermittents / Malarial cachexia / Menstruation, irregularities of / Neuralgia / Punctured wounds / Scorbutic affections /…”
“Aranea was suggested by Grauvogl as one of the remedies for what he called the hydrogenoid constitution, this being a constitution which could not tolerate moisture. Under Aranea, all the symptoms are worse during damp weather or from dwelling in damp localities. Especially is this true with what we may call chronic…”
“{Diadem Spider.) (Eperia diadema. Fr. Araiynee Porte-croix, Araignee diadema, Araignh a'croix papule; Gr. Kreutz-spinne.) This spider is found all over Europe and America, in stables, on old walls, etc. It may be distinguished by its ovoid form of body; often aslarge as a small nut; a longitudinal line on the back…”
“The Cross Spider. Arachnida. A large spider found in Europe and America, its body ovoid, a longitudinal line on back, of yellow and white points, intersected by three similar lines. Used as a remedy by Wm. Gross as early as 1833, and mentioned in the older homœopathic works, but not proved until later by Grauvogl, see…”
“Headache, relieved by smoking tobacco and going out in the open air. Painfulness of all the teeth as soon as he goes to bed in the evening. Bitter taste, with coated tongue; relieved by smoking. Swelling of the spleen (after intermittent fever was suppressed by Quinine ). Hæmoptysis. Women. Catamenia too early, too…”
“Another spider which Grauvogl classed with his so-called hydrogenoid remedies, i. e., the patient always suffered, with whatever she had, most in wet weather. It is well to remember such positive modalities, for it may narrow down the case to a few remedies from which our curative must be chosen; for instance—Aranea…”
Kent's Repertory lists Aranea diadema in 263 rubrics. These are the ones where it carries the highest grade — the symptoms Kent treated as most characteristic. Most of them sit in EXTREMITIES (49), CHILL (32), GENERALITIES (29), HEAD (24), TEETH (14).
