INSECTS, SPIDERS & SNAKES – A

COMPARISON
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spiders-and-snakes/

Introduction

(This article is excerpted from Chapter 3: Apis

mellifica.)
Insect remedies are potentially huge in number
and so studying the themes of many insect
families is a challenging but fascinating process,
especially as there are so many different types
of insects with their own unique behavior.
Perhaps the differences between insect remedies
are greater than with spider and snake remedies,
making the study of this family even more
interesting.  it is also important to understand
the differences between insect, spider and snake
remedies and this article seeks to look at the
major themes of all three families.
Insect themes:
Apis is often seen as the default insect remedy,
similar to Tarentula for spiders and Lachesis for
snakes. It frequently has to be compared with
spider and snake remedies as well as other
insect remedies. However, it is more difficult to
use Apis as a default remedy of the insect
family given the complexity of this family, the
sheer number of insects and the very different
behavior and types of insects involved.
However, given that Apis is the most well-
known of the insect family it will be used as a
comparison with other insects, as well as spiders
and snakes.
It is likely that insect remedies are needed in
homeopathy much more regularly than they
have historically been used. Often spider and
snake remedies would be used in their place and
therefore a careful distinction is necessary. The
concern of survival is common to all three, but
the reaction to the survival threat can be
different. Also, there is not a well-developed
picture of many insect remedies, forcing us to
consider the general themes of insect remedies
first before looking at specific insects.
However, one has to be careful when making
too generalized a picture of what is
characteristic about insect remedies. Loose
anthropocentric comparisons do not always
work. Also, any one person needing an insect
remedy will only express a limited number of
qualities of the remedy and insect family. Not
all insect remedies are busy, for example, nor
are they all intensely sexual. One has to be able
to move between general themes and specific
keynotes.
The key characteristics of many of the insect
remedies are as follows:
Quick, fast, sudden.
Busy, industrious, active – effective or fruitless.
Fastidious, order, linearity, communication.
Irritability, anger, rage, violence. Attacking and
being attacked.
Sexuality, attractiveness or repulsion, sexual
aggression, perversion, impotence, impersonal
sexuality.
Appearance, needing to be attractive; beauty,
clothing, and the opposite of feeling
unattractive. Masculinity in women.
Relationships, struggle with them. Superficial.
Needing to be in groups but no strong sense of
identity.
Self-centered, demanding, egotistical. Needing
attention. Contemptuous.
Low self-esteem. Feeling dirty, shame about the
body, self-disgust, self-hatred
Appetite voracious or ability to do without food
for long periods.
Aversion to water. Hydrophobic.
Swellings, puffiness, inflammation.
Burning, stinging, biting pains.
Affinity for urinary organs, joints.
Insect remedies can be classified in the
following groups:
(Courtesy of Peter Fraser, in his book
Transformation between the Realms – Insects)
The Odonata, the dragonflies and damselflies;
Enallagma carunuclatum     Damselfly
The Blattaria (or Blattodea), the cockroaches;
Blatta orientalis        Asian Cockroach
Blatta occidentalis        American Cockroach
The Mantodea, the mantids;
Mantis religiosa         Praying Mantis
The Orthoptera;
Schistocerca gregaria        Plague Locust
The Phthiraptera, the bird lice and true lice
Pediculus capitis        Head Louse
The Hemiptera, the bugs
Aphis chenopodii glauci     Aphid
Cimex lectularius         Bedbug
Coccus cacti            Cochineal
The Coleoptera, the beetles;
Cantharis vesicatoria     Spanish Fly
Coccinella septempunctata    Ladybird
Doryphora decemlineata    Colorado Beetle
Lamprohiza splendidula    Firefly
The Hymenoptera, the ants, bees, wasps, and
hornets;
Apis mellifica            Honey Bee
Apis regina            Queen Bee
Vespa vulgaris        Wasp
Cynips calicis (Galla quercina ruber) Oak Gall
Wasp
Formica rufa             Ant
The Siphonaptera, the fleas;
Pulex irritans             Human Flea
The Diptera, the mosquitoes, gnats, and true
flies;
Culex musca             Mosquito
Musca domestica        Housefly
The Lepidoptera, the butterflies and moths;
Bombyx processionea        Procession Moth
Inachis io            Peacock Butterfly
Lomonia obliqua (Lepidoptera saturniidae)
Pieris brassicae            Large Cabbage White
Butterfly
Limenitis bredowii californica California Sister
Butterfly
Morpho Menelaus occidentalis  Amazon
butterfly
The chronic picture of Apis and insects:
The main quality seen in people needing Apis
constitutionally is a tendency to allergic
reactions, with swelling, redness and puffiness,
all the characteristics that indicate its use
acutely. There may be a history of inflammatory
processes, with burning, smarting, stinging
pains, especially in the joints and the urinary
tract region. Any history of chronic UTI
conditions with intense acute flare ups should
make one think of Apis and other insect
remedies, especially Blatta, Cantharis, Cimex,
Coccinella, Doryphora, Lamprohiza splendidula
and Vespa, and mental characteristics such as
great activity and busyness, a sense of being
driven and of emotional intensity. There can be
an intense emotional nature – fiery,
argumentative and easily angered with often a
quite highly developed sexual interest.
However, there can also be a state of feeling
inadequate and lacking appreciation, leading to
the jealousy and envy seen in the remedy and
the hyperactivity to compensate for this lack of
recognition.
Insect Comparisons:
Other insect remedies that most closely
resemble Apis are Cantharis, Doryphora,
Formica rufa and Vespa. All can have much
irritability and have similar physical symptoms
with stinging, burning and redness of parts.
They all have an affinity for the bladder and
kidneys with characteristic burning and stinging
pains, often associated with inflammatory
processes. Cantharis, both physically and
mentally has the most frenzied state, feeling
tormented by their physical and/or emotional
situation. They can curse and become intensely
angry and despairing. Formica rufa has a
tendency to violence, anger, rage and cruelty
and can have great physical activity and
endurance. Physically it has a greater affinity for
the joints, with a rheumatic diathesis, often
found with hard nodes in the affected part.
Vespa and Apis are very close in their pictures,
with similar pain symptoms – burning, stinging,
“as if pierced by red-hot needles”. Both have an
affinity for the ovaries, though it is said Vespa
affects the left ovary more, whereas Apis affects
the right. Both can have low mental states, a
stupor, even unconsciousness, which would be
associated with more severe physical conditions.
Both remedies are effective in inflammatory
states of many parts, especially sharing an
affinity for the eyes, with chemosis, edema of
the eyes, hot lachrymation and suppurative
processes. Vespa can be more aggressive and
more jealous than seen in Apis. Apis may feel
more basically secure and while still feeling the
need to work hard, keep busy and active to
prove themselves and show that they are being
productive, they do not have the same level of
insecurity and compensatory violence that we
may see in Vespa. From an observational point
of view, the bee is a social insect working
within a strict hierarchy of function, whereas the
wasp (the proving is really on the European
hornet) functions more autonomously though
still within a social framework. Hornets are
highly defensive of their home and contrary to
the bee, can sting many times in succession if so
inclined.
The bee, along with ant (Formica rufa) function
in groups. They are part of a group think, that
rely on one another for survival. Survival of the
group is much more important than that of the
individual. This distinguishes them from other
insects. Organization, order and structure is
therefore all important for these insects and
therefore will often be seen in the context of the
homeopathic picture. The uniqueness of these
social insects has been written about in an
article on insects in LINKS magazine 1/11, by
Patricia Maher. To quote: “Eusocial insects
comprise 2% of the approximately 900,000
known species of insects in the world, but
comprise over half the biomass. They are
incredibly successful from a biological point of
view because they beat out solitary insects for
resources.” One essential theme is that this form
of collective cooperation gives the group more
intelligence than individual members. Even the
Queen bee is merely performing yet one more
role, albeit very important. She is not ruling the
colony though in a strict hierarchical sense. The
collective dynamic of eusocial insects also leads
to the incredible industriousness, seen more
clearly in the bees and ants than in other insects.
In the article by Maher, she contemplates the
possible homeopathic connection to the ‘group
think’ of eusocial insects. To quote: “The binary
decision-making algorithms utlilized by eusocial
insects is reminiscent of the binary code of
computer functioning – the ultimate in linear
thinking. Communication, sensory sensitivity,
and memory are focal – regardless of the role
the bee or ant plays in the colony. We would
look to these remedies for people who need
bureaucratic strategies to survive; for those who
exist in highly organized monocultural
organizations, such as the military or
corporations; for people with dementias or other
cognitive disorders who live in group quarters.
Along these same lines, remedies of bees and
ants would be indicated for people with
cognitive and memory disorders, and for people
who have an intolerance for chaos.”
A proving of the queen bee, Apis regina was
done by Mary Piper. A differentiation between
Apis regina and Apis mellifica was described in
the article. In Apis regina there was more
confidence and courage. There is more
emphasis on communication: desiring
communication, being clear, and able to
confront people (this may reflect in the different
role of the queen and worker bee). There is
more jealousy in Apis mellifica. There is less
emphasis on reproductive symptoms (the
worker bee’s sexuality is suppressed, whereas
the queen exerts reproductive dominance).
Other themes in the proving included: Energy –
increased, lots of ideas, thoughts, busy etc;
Organization, order; cleanliness, fastidiousness;
busy, industrious, positiveness; increase in
confidence/alternating with lack of confidence;
communication; weakness/dullness/memory
loss/drugged; intoxicated; confusion, out of
control; concentration difficult; memory loss
and mistakes; anxiety; sensory organs; eyes;
vision; ears; nose; smell; mouth; taste; skin.
Other insects may not show very much the
characteristics of Apis and other Hymenoptera.
This would especially be the family of The
Lepidoptera, the butterflies and moths. Of the
following categories described, one would see
the need for attention, the sexuality and child-
like themes more often. In the proving of
Morpho Menelaus occidentalis, there are
alternating states of cheerfulness, carefree
pleasurable feelings and the opposite, of feeling
heavy and overcome by emotions, sad and
irritable, wanting to be alone but feeling
isolated. There were not the signs of busyness
and activity as strongly seen in the
Hymenoptera. There was aggression, as seen in
dreams with fighting with knives and wounds,
dreams of animals and in dangerous situations
there is no guilt or worry, more an indifference
(maybe reflective of the fluttering nature of
butterflies). There were dreams of money and
fancy things (image) and dreams of children or
becoming a child again. The impression one
may get is of a child without responsibilities,
looking for pleasure and satisfaction. Physically
there was increased sensitivity, to vision, colors,
to odors, taste of food, neuralgic pains, sharp,
lightning like, worse cold, and pains in the
thorax area, with stiff neck. Spasmodic
abdominal pains with diarrhea were seen. The
author of the proving states the following of the
remedy image: “Morpho Menelaus is a light-
minded, careless, irresponsible and cheerful
figure who flutters here and there according to
his desires. He is standing very close to his
childhood, caring about how to get immediate
satisfaction and how to deal with fears of abeing
abandoned or abused. He compensates his
defect of emotional support with a hedonist and
selfish behavior because he cannot reach the
emotional and physical sharing of the
accomplished adult.”
Suddenness, Reactivity, Aggression:
One of the key qualities of Apis and other insect
remedies is the suddenness of experiences, both
physical and emotional. There is reactiveness to
situations, a sudden inflammation or sudden
emotional explosion. They can often feel under
attack and will defend themselves by being
verbal, even to real abuse. There can be
rudeness and a quarrelsome nature.
Cantharis is perhaps the most violent of all the
insect remedies, with a feeling of frenzy and
uncontrollable emotions. They can feel
persecuted and are intensely restless and feel
driven to destroy things, to be physically
violent. It is a similar feeling to the Cantharis
cystitis, a violent, cutting, burning, and
intolerable state. Cantharis is indicated in
hydrophobia, with an aversion to water and
bright lights and therefore will be compared
with Belladonna, Hyoscyamus, Lyssin and
Stramonium in such states. It is also indicated in
inflammations of the pleura, kidney, brain and
pericardium.
Other insect remedies which are aggressive with
verbal abusiveness are Blatta orientalis, which
shows easy anger, irritability and abruptness,
but which may feel remorse afterwards; Culex,
which can go into a rage over trivial events,
becoming totally rude and abusive; Formica rufa
and Vespa, which looks very much like Apis.
Formica rufa can show great anger and be full
of anger and rage.
The intense physical reactiveness will be seen in
the inflammatory states seen, described below in
Inflammations etc.
Busy, Activity:
Physically, Apis will tend to become very
active, doing lots of things, both productive and
not, the classic symptom of being fruitlessly
busy (Mind, busy, fruitlessly). In this rubric, one
also finds spider remedies such as Tarentula and
Theridion and also Lachesis. The only other
insect remedy mentioned is Cantharis. However,
it can be said to be a keynote of many insect
remedies, such as Cantharis, Cimex, Culex,
Formica rufa, Pediculus, Pulex and Vespa. In
Blatta, the busyness is mostly to do with
wanting to work so that one can be appreciated
and recognized for the work they are doing.
They need recognition and can get angry when
that is not being given to them, so the busyness
is not so much just to be active but to be
appreciated. (The desire to be appreciated,
praised and noticed comes from a proving by
Divya Chabra). Other qualities revolve around
feelings of being cheap, crude, vulgar, messy,
repulsive, dirty, stupid and dumb, compensated
by wanting to be sophisticated and to have high
status. This quality is also strongly found in
Culex but it could also be a more general
characteristic of insect remedies, as often they
do want to connect to people, as they can feel
isolated and inferior. They want to feel
appreciated but are quick to anger if this is not
given to them. In Blatta there can also be an
indifference and emotional numbness toward
family and friends and are easily angered and
irritable if disturbed.  In Schistocerca gregaria
(plague locust), the activity may be due to
feeling of pent up energy that cannot be released
easily. There is a need to be active, to do
exercise, to run or dance. Or there may be a
need to release this feeling through sexual
activity. In Lamprohiza splendidula (firefly),
there can be great energy, with a need to dance
or clean the house. There can be great
restlessness with a need to work or to travel,
easily bored and also there can be an
antagonistic attitude to others, always getting
into verbal fights.
The quality of busyness and activity can also
seem to observers as if the person is lost, not
really knowing where they are going or why
they are doing what they do. Often it is based on
a need to connect, to belong, to have an identity,
to be appreciated and the only way they know
how to do this is by being active. It may be seen
as the opposite, an orderly ‘militaristic’ type of
busyness, a relentless activity for very specific
goals.
In Doryphora there is a tendency to want to talk
of business all the time (mind, talking, business
of) and a general more garrulous nature. This
may be seen along with urinary conditions, or
gastric problems with burning etc and bloody
stool.
Disgust, Poor self-value:
Another key symptom associated with some
insect remedies is a very poor sense of the self,
with a lack of confidence and a more visceral
feeling of disgust, both for themselves and
others. Insect remedies likely to describe this
emotion are Cantharis, (Spanish fly), Cimex
(bed bug), Culex (mosquito), Musca domestica
(fly), Pediculus (head lice) and Pulex (flea).
Most of these insects are parasites, which would
also account for the feelings of disgust in these
remedies. They can all also have variations on
anger, irritability, even rage and the increased
activity and excitability. One other similar
remedy for that last quality is Hirudo
medicinalis (leech), also a parasite. Their
personality may be selfish, unpleasant and
greedy. The parasite insects in particular can be
selfish, narrowly focused on their own lives,
often hungry and focused on their basic needs.
Culex and Apis can seem particularly alike, in
that physical conditions often have a puffy,
edematous quality and the mental state can look
similar. In Cimex, this feeling of disgust also is
seen in the foul discharges experienced, from
urine, feces and general odor of the body. This
is also found in Pulex but Pulex tends to have
discharges that leave an indelible stain, that
doesn’t wash out. Pulex may not express a lack
of self worth so easily. They may in fact present
more haughtily as opposed to Cimex and
Pediculus, which are more demanding and
needy. In both Cimex and Pulex, however, their
behavior may often be of anger and impatience,
where they have generally poor relationships
with most people. They can be irritating and
demanding to other people.  Blatta may have a
poor sense of self but this is more likely to be
covered up and disguised by dressing well,
looking good or also being active and successful
(see above). In Musca domestica (housefly) and
other insects, this feeling of poor self-esteem,
even disgust, is compensated by being very
clean and fastidious. They may also feel they
are being taken advantage of but they internalize
these feelings. In Culex, they may be more
likely to fight back if they feel this is happening.
The quality of disgust may be projected onto
their own body with associated issues with food,
including anorexia/bulimia, which is also
commonly seen in spider remedies. In insect
remedies, particularly parasites, there may be
alternating states of being able to starve
themselves for long periods, followed by a
voracious appetite.
Many non-insect remedies have poor self-value
and show the quality of disgust. This is
discussed in the chapters on Lac caninum,
Platina and Sepia.
Need for Attention, Self-centered:
In many insect remedies, there can be a desire to
create attention, to look good and want to be
attractive, but also at times express behavior
which can have the opposite effect, even
repulsing people. Part of that can stem from the
demanding nature and a lack of awareness of
their impact on others. It is a type of basic
egoism or self-centeredness. Everything
revolves around them and how their needs can
be satisfied. Often this is unconscious behavior.
Their lives may seem very busy and they are
doing many things but their concern is about
themselves. Even when there is more concern
about others, a type of benevolence, they want
recognition and thanks for it. They want
reciprocity. This type of self-centeredness may
revolve around their health, with a type of
hypochondriasis, which is also seen in various
spider remedies. It is a type of victim feeling, as
if they are always afflicted by the adversities of
life. The world is not a benign place so they
have to get what they can when they can in
adverse situations.
There may be great difficulty in forming
relationships with others, either sexual or just
friendship. They may not be able to give much
to a friendship so stay on their own. But they
may also be demanding and feel the need to get
whatever they can from others. On the receiving
end of this, one can feel exploited, as if you are
being ‘sucked dry.’
Haughtiness, Demanding:
This desire to create attention, to be demanding
and self-centered may express itself as a type of
haughtiness. This is obviously seen in Apis (and
even more so in the Queen Bee as opposed to
the basic honey bee, which may feel that in spite
of all their effort, they are not getting the
recognition they deserve, hence the envy found
in the remedy Apis). It is also seen in many
other insect remedies, including Blatta,
Cantharis (more contemptuous), Coccinella,
Culex, Pulex and Vespa. At times, this
haughtiness is seen as a basic ambition, a
striving for success and recognition. This
recognition could be at work, in what they are
doing, as in remedies such as Blatta and Culex,
or more in just physical recognition of how they
look, as in Coccinella, Pulex and others.
It may express itself as a strong self centered,
ambitious, controlling and greedy quality. It
may be expressed in the need to have whatever
they want – food, experiences, clothes etc., a
kind of basic acquisitiveness. Coccinella can
have these qualities, especially regarding clothes
which have to be beautiful. They may have an
increased sexual desire. Contrary to other
insects there may be a more helpful aspect to the
personality, a desire to be liked and for a
concern for others in general. There can be a
fear of water. Physically we see the affinity for
the genito-urinary tract and also the neuralgic
symptoms of the mouth, teeth and face, often
with profuse salivation.
Sexuality:
Various authors have discussed the theme of
sexuality, the pattern being of extreme sexual
behavior, often with no emotions involved. The
word sexual perversion has been used but one
should be careful not to stereotype any group of
remedies too absolutely. However, there is
definitely a pattern of seeking sexual
connections to compensate for the inner feelings
of disgust or from a lack of other social
relations. Cantharis, as commonly known, has
the most extreme sexual feelings, that nothing
can satiate, and many of the other insect
remedies have an affinity for the genitalia and
UTI tract. At times, the sexual intensity is from
the need to release the physical tension and
restlessness felt in the body. This is found in
Lamprohiza splendidula, and a highly developed
sexual energy is also seen in Limenitis bredowi
californica. In Morpho menelaus occidentalis,
there was not so much overt sexual energy,
more that pleasure came from all sensations and
immediate satisfaction of desires.
While it can be seen that sexual activity may
express itself in many ways in people needing
insect remedies, and it is by no means always a
pathological expression, one overriding pattern
is that of using sexuality as a form of
compensation for incomplete emotional
relations. This is not uncommon human
behavior in general so one should not over
generalize this in insect remedies but it is a
pattern found in many people needing animal
remedies, and from every kingdom, whether
mammal, snake, spider, sea remedies or insects.
In insects however, the need for sexual
connection is based on both an emotional need
to connect which they may find hard to do,
combined often with a need to release physical
tension in the body and/or a feeling of irritation
in the genital/UTI region. In some women, one
may find a masculine quality, the body type
similar to Sepia.
Child-like, Immaturity or Early Independence:
This emotional challenge to sustain meaningful
relations may be expressed in a type of naivety,
innocence or childlike quality sometimes found
in those needing insect remedies. There is a lack
of ego development, of the human mammalian
experience needed to become fully human.
Something is missing here. It may be that the
early bonding with mother and family didn´t
happen, or that the mother was aggressive and
violent toward them. This experience can thwart
their normal human development, the person
living in an unsafe world. In this situation, one
strategy may that of staying young, like a child,
feeling dependent. Another strategy would be
seeking independence as early as possible,
escaping the family, becoming restless,
overactive, anything to avoid the horrible
feelings they carry underneath but which they
can´t acknowledge. This childlike quality can be
found in Limenitis bredowi californica where
they can feel as if they are lost in the world and
other butterfly remedies, including Morpho
Menelaus occidentalis. Also in Pediculus there
is a tendency to childish laughter and laughing
without a cause or childish enthusiasm. In
Pediculus, there may be stammering and
constrictions in the throat.
This child-like quality is also often seen in milk
remedies and is discussed in the Lac caninum
chapter.
Irritation, Anger, Easily feeling attacked:
The word “irritation” is a key word for most
insect remedies, both physically and
emotionally. It often describes the physical
symptoms on the skin, along with burning,
biting, stinging and is often how they feel
emotionally and how people feel being around
them. They can be irritating to be around, and
even behave in unconscious and obnoxious
ways. At other times though, they may be very
sweet and helpful, so one needs to be careful
again not to over generalize.
One of the common themes of animal remedies
is often that of being attacked and having to
defend themselves. This is seen in many of the
insect remedies. It can be seen in easily feeling
attacked and responding in an antagonistic way,
often being argumentative, angry, censorious,
contemptuous, full of rage, to fears of the dark,
of evil, of predators, a threatened feeling in
general. It can be seen as a type of immature
anger, a sense of easy irritation and reaction to
perceived slights when none was meant.
“Prickly” can be word used to describe this
state.
Insects, Spiders and Snakes:
The main difference between insects and spiders
is that the suddenness of the symptoms is more
intense for the insects. Both are hurried and
speedy, but the insects more so. The activity of
spiders tends to be relentless and repetitive in
nature, whereas with the insects, it can be
random, indiscriminate and less rhythmic, but
also at times it can be more productive than
spider activity. In the latter, there can simply be
a need to move and to do repetitive and
rhythmic actions, whether productive or not.
Both react instinctively but insects do so more
immediately. Spider remedies tend to be aware
of themselves and the risks around them (and
therefore more easily threatened) whereas those
needing insect remedies just react immediately
to whatever is happening to them. Insect, spider
and snake remedies all have similar ‘animal’
qualities – instinct, threat, possessiveness,
suspicious, jealousy, concern over appearance,
sexuality, death etc. but each reacts differently
to circumstances. Insect remedies tend to have
the least amount of self-awareness and self-
identity whereas snakes have the most and have
a clearer idea of who they are as individuals and
the threats they perceive. However, one has to
be careful here, as it cannot be said that all
people needing snake remedies will be more
evolved and more mature than those requiring
insect remedies. While this generalization about
the differences is true, one may see that the
particular qualities indicating an insect remedy
may fit very different personality types. The
insect or other animal energy is superimposed
upon the human character and personality,
which may be more or less mature and evolved.
However, it is still appropriate to make certain
distinctions between insect, spider and snake
remedies based on behavior of each of the
species and how that may be seen in a human
context.
Snakes tend to be more premeditated and
controlled in their reactions and do not have the
same hurriedness as the spiders and insects.
When they do attack, which is mostly verbal in
snake remedies, it can be intense and sudden –
mocking, sarcasm, anger etc., but it often takes
them a little while to get there. Spider remedies
tend to become very physically restless (though
not always) and then react emotionally and
physically with violence. They can be cunning
and manipulative, attracting people to their ‘lair’
but also can appear to be very ‘nice’ people. Not
all people needing spider remedies are violent,
intense and wild. They can appear to be calm
and not always agitated. However, one ideally
expects to find some feeling of threat and some
reactive activity in one form or other. In some
cases however, the feeling of threat is
sublimated under a general restlessness or a
more passive, victim mentality.
Those needing insect remedies, especially
remedies similar to Apis, tend to be reactive,
intense and often have a great sense of speed
and needing to do things fast. Often they feel
small and can even be physically very small. In
all three animal families – insect, spider and
snake, there may be a history of early
disconnection with the family – not being
breastfed, sudden cessation of motherly love,
not being wanted at all by the parents, a history
of physical and emotional abuse etc. That
establishes the feeling that the world is not safe
and a need to compensate by being speedy, fast,
busy, sensual, angry, defensive etc. Snakes feel
the most forlorn and isolated (as they are the
most evolved) and the least threatened;  spiders
are aware of being threatened the most and
insects the most active. Spiders are therefore
more hidden in their nature whereas with insects
they tend to be more open. There is not so much
to hide. Spiders and then snakes tend to be
cunning and deceitful.
Respiration
The respiratory functions are another area for
which some insect remedies have an affinity.
These are especially Blatta, Coccinella and
Coccus cacti. Another common quality of these
three remedies is that there is a lot less busyness
and hyperactivity. Blatta has keynotes of
asthma, with a hacking, exhausting cough, often
found with cold perspiration. Asthma is worse
in the rain and damp and better expectoration
and when in the knee chest position. The
affinity of Blatta orientalis is quite extraordinary
and well worth reading about in the old texts. It
was first written about extensively by Dr Ray
from Calcutta in the Homeopathic Recorder of
November 1890. An Indian man with bad
asthma was cure by drinking his normal tea, but
this time with an unfortunate cockroach in the
bottom! Since then its documented cures of
asthma have been impressive and used in low
potencies is virtually a specific in asthma. A
modern proving by Alastair Gray of Australia
summarizes this information and in the proving
there were significant respiratory symptoms,
with constriction in the chest, pressing tightness,
and much yawning with the need to take a deep
breath. Other features in the proving included
great fatigue and heaviness and it temporarily
cured a prover’s chronic fatigue symptoms.
There was a great heaviness of the body,
including the head and shoulders, the shoulders
and head being pulled down. The tongue felt
extremely heavy along with general heaviness.
There was slowness, physically and
intellectually with confusion and mistakes.
There was a sense of speed alternating with
slowness, and mental indifference. Physically
there was burning and acidity in the back of the
mouth. Coccinella can have whooping cough
with a deep hoarse voice and Coccus cacti is
one of the major cough remedies, with great
spasms of tickling, racking cough coming in
paroxysms and coughing up tough, stringy
mucus, often along with vomiting and a purple,
red face. There can be pricking, sticking pains
and a feeling of a foreign body or plug inside
throat and stomach. Mentally Coccus cacti can
have irritability, like other insect remedies and
also a feeling of disgust for what is around
them. There may also be a hypochondriacal
anxiety, as with other insects and a lazy quality.
They are not so prone to activity. Similar to the
cacti they feed on, there can be a delusion that
he is enlarged (Mind, delusion, enlarged).
Coccinella has a keynote of neuralgic pains in
the face, mouth and teeth, associated with icy
extremities and profuse salivation.
Skin, hives, allergies:
One characteristic skin condition that Apis is
known for is hives, the classic allergic reaction.
Vespa also has strong skin symptoms similar to
Apis, both hives and erysipelas-type eruptions,
as also can Cantharis and Bombyx. If a
tendency to hives is a chronic condition, then
many other remedies can be indicated, but
another family that can be considered are
remedies from the sea, especially Medusa,
Murex, Astacus, Homarus and Sepia. Apis tends
to have the strong keynotes of urticaria better
for cold applications, which is a general
characteristic in the remedy. If hives come with
a lot of edema, this helps confirm the remedy,
especially with cold applications ameliorating.
Apis has to be considered in any case with
strong allergies, in which the symptoms are
heat, burning, stinging, and swelling which is
ideally worse from heat and better from cold.
Ledum is often compared in simple allergic
states or stings that have edema better from
cold, but one distinction is that the part feels
cold in Ledum whereas it feels hot and stinging
in Apis. However, this is not always apparent. If
the reaction comes from a poisonous creature,
then Apis should be considered first. Apis has
much more stinging than Ledum. Allergic
inflammation of the eyes with great puffiness
indicates Apis first. In more serious allergic
reactions, especially if Apis hasn’t worked, then
Carbolic acid should be considered. In the
throat/larynx/trachea, inflammation of the
glottis indicates Apis first, along with Kali
iodatum, Lachesis, Stramonium and others
(Larynx/trachea, inflammation, glottis).