And Their Indications in Homeopathy Practice
Remedies from venomous snakes, Crotalus, Elaps, Lachesis, Naja, and Vipera sp., are well known and in use since late 1800s-early 1900s. Recent developments in homeopathy enable us to identify words and gestures used by people requiring remedies from these snakes, and prescriptions can also be based purely on symptoms and pathological indications.
However, some individuals express the language and gestures indicative of venomous snake remedies without presenting any hint of the ferocious energy and immense physical power of these snakes. Will remedies from venomous snakes still benefit them? Or do they need remedies made from nonvenomous snakes?
These questions led Dr Vatsala Sperling to explore the nonvenomous snakes belonging to Colubridae family, understand their natural behavior and the winning strategies they use for survival and compare these with the natural behavior and survival strategies of venomous snakes. The author draws from her study of animal remedies and Colubrid snakes to show their unique expertise – mimicry. She explores the place of snakes in the periodic table of animals developed by Drs. B and S Joshi and shows how mimicking bigger, and venomous snakes help the Colubrids attain self-protection. Six cases from her practice are used as examples. In these cases, repertorization points to venomous snakes. However, focusing on the words, energy and gestures used by clients in the clinical setting, instead of relying on rubrics, led her to differentiate between venomous and nonvenomous snakes, and choose remedies from nonvenomous snakes. Five different species of nonvenomous Colubrid snakes, Cyclagras, Elaphe, Lampropeltis, Natrix and Thamnophis sp. are described in detail with regards to their general, maternal, predatory, and anti-predatory behavior. The outcome after taking the indicated nonvenomous snake remedies shows the effectiveness of the remedy choice.
Identifying and including nonvenomous snake remedies in your own practice enables you to help a larger number of your clients who express themes, words, and gestures indicative of nonvenomous snake.
- Author: Vatsala Sperling
- ISBN: 9783955822644
- 336 pages
- Paperback
- Published in 2023
- Printed in Germany
Reprinted with the permission of The Society of Homeopaths, from the New Homeopath Journal, Summer 2023 edition. Reviewed by David Johnson.
Vasala Sperling's new book "Colubrid Snake Remedies: Their Indications in Homeopathic Practice" is a compelling and inspiring initiation into a relatively new group of homeopathic snake remedies. Colubrid snakes are generally non-venomous and harmless, and in turn their presentation in clinical practice differs in a number of distinct ways from venomous snakes. As one moves through the book is becomes increasingly clear that Colubrids are often overlooked in favour of venomous snakes in homeopathic practice.
After a broad introduction into Colubrid snakes in nature, including their predatory and "anti-predatory" or self-protective behaviours, Sperling shows how, in spite of the Colubrids' non-venomous and relatively harmless nature, they become the target of human persecution and exploitation for marketing. She then provides an overview and context for how Colubrid snakes are distinguished within the homeopathic animal kingdom in general; how Colubrids are distinguished from the more commonly prescribed venomous snakes; and how Colubrids are distinguished from each other.
Differentiation
More specifically, for purposes of context and differentiation the book provides an excellent summary of snake remedies in our repertories and materia medica, especially those of the Elapidae and Viperidae families. Contemporary authors and their work on venomous snakes remedies are reviewed, as are the most commonly used snake remedies. Sperling then compares how different venoms and snake behaviours in nature can be related to human behavioural tendencies and expression.
Included are Lachesis (bushmaster,) Crotalus horridus (timber rattlesnake,) Elaps (coral,) Cenchris (copperhead,) Naja (cobra,) Bungarus (banded krait,) Hydrophis cyanocinctus (sea snake,) Agkistrodon piscivorus (cottonmouth; water moccasin,) Dendroaspis polylepsis (black mamba,) Vipera berus (adder,) and Bitis arietans (puff adder.) Also included are Alligator mississippiensis (alligator) and Maiasaura lapidea (dinosaur,) which provide useful additions and context for snakes within the reptilian family. Her summary review then creates an important foundation for our specific understanding and differentiation of colubrids in practice, which are further articulated by exceptionally clear case studies.
Included in the case studies are the following Colubrids: Natrix natrix (European grass snake,) Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis (garden snake,) Cyclagras gigas/Hydrodynastes gigas (false water cobra,) Elaphe guttata (corn snake,) Lampropeltis triangulum (milk snake.) Individual chapters for each of these snakes describe their general predatory and anti-predatory behaviours, as well as their mirror in human behaviour.
Beyond the value of understanding five new remedies from the Colubrid family, Sperling shares invaluable step-by-step analyses for each case study. These help to distinguish the Colubrids in general as well as the respective Colubrid snake under consideration. Using bold print and parenthetical comments to help emphasize key points within the history, Sperling then outlines the main themes within each history (animal; snake; colubrid) as well as her analysis in graph form. She lists the specific symptoms she chose for repertorization, and adds waffle graph repertorizations with key rubrics and filters for the animal kingdom. Each of the repertorizations are further discussed to allow us to see her differentiation and rationale for each of the prescriptions. Finally, her assessment and successful follow-up confirm the prescriptions, giving the readers a platform for future prescribing.
Snake themes diagnosis
Case in point: during the process of writing this review, a challenging longer-term client was seen again after a number of only occasionally helpful remedies. In spite of her apparent lack of insight into how she comes across to others, she would often appear intimidating in her interactions and in turn provoke negative responses from others. She was very loquacious, stated her strong dislike for snakes and collars, and her history included repeated themes of victimization and exploitation. During the appointment she described herself as living in a state of fight or flight, and unless she's backed into a corner, she almost always chooses flight - "and even then I may still try to escape." Based on the general snake themes along with the client's Colubrid-like underlying fear of aggression, I (reviewer) was able to distinguish and choose a specific Colubrid remedy and am now looking forward to her follow-up!
Comprehensive
The end of Sperling's book includes a general summary, over 200 references, a comprehensive index, appendix and conclusion. It progresses from general, overarching homeopathic animal and snake themes, especially those of the better known venomous snakes, and moves seamlessly into more specific and distinguishing homeopathic features of the Colubrids.
It is a pleasure to recommend this book for all homeopaths looking to expand use of snake remedies in general, and Colubrids in particular. It is well-researched and transforms theory into tangible and immediate application in practice. Vatsala Sperling can be thanked for bringing attention to and clarifying this relatively neglected sphere of Colubrid remedies to the homeopathic community.
David A Johnson CCH, RSHOM(NA), graduated from Northwestern Academy of Homeopathy, Minneapolis, USA in 1997. His previous experience was working and teaching as a physician assistant in a variety of medical settings from 1986-97. He is the author of Radiance, Resonance and Healing: The Homeopathic Periodic Table (Emryss Publishing, 2018)
