Coral Snake and Homeopathic Remedies

Photo: Our Staff at Nik Omar Homeopathic medical Centre, Gelang Mas, pasir Mas, Kelantan.


Coral snake
Elaps corallinum / Micrurus corallinus

Often animals, including venomous snakes, have formed the basis for various homeopathic remedies. The homeopathic medicine elaps is one such remedy which is prepared from the venom of coral snake - as New World poisonous snakes are known as. In fact, they belong to the same family as the cobras of the Old World poisonous snakes. This medicine was first introduced into homeopathy by Dr Benoît Jules Mure.

Approximately 30 dissimilar species of coral snakes are found in Central America, North and South America and Mexico. Two species of coral snakes inhabit the United States. The eastern coral snake (scientific name Micrurus fulvius), also called harlequin snake, inhabits the south-eastern regions of the United States and northern Mexico. This species of coral snake is basically a burrowing snake having a petite, rounded head and a cylinder-shaped body. On an average, it is around 75 cm or 2 ½ feet long. The body of the eastern coral snake has alternate black, red and occasionally yellow rings, while the tail portion only has black and yellow circular stripes. On the other hand, the Sonoran (scientific name Micruroides euryxanthus), also called the Western coral snake, is somewhat an exceptional species found inhabiting south-western regions of the United States and north-western Mexico. Compared to the eastern coral snake, this rare species is smaller in size and normally has a length of 45 cm or 18 inches. In addition, the body of the Western coral snake has broader circular yellow rings compared to the Eastern coral snake.

There are several harmless snakes that have colors similar to the coral snakes. Nevertheless, it is possible to differentiate the coral snakes owing to the fact that this is the only snake species that has alternate red and yellow bands circling its body. Similar to the poison of the cobras, venom of the coral snakes also works on the nervous system resulting in paralysis. Most people who are bitten by the coral snakes succumb to its poison - making the mortality rate high. The bite of the coral snake is similar to that of any other colubrine. The part where this snake sinks its teeth into becomes swollen, painful and discoloured. Bleeding occurs not only from the place where the snake has sunk its teeth into, but also from all the orifices. Nevertheless, people seldom come across coral snakes owing to their burrowing nature. Moreover, the coral snakes rare bite, barring when they are handled.

The coral snakes survive on lizards and other snakes. These snakes are nocturnal and the bands on their body have significance - the conspicuous colors usually help to dissuade or scare the potential attackers.

Snakes are reptiles and all of them are without limbs. The body of all snakes is scaled and these predators have a carnivorous diet. In fact, relatively only a small number of snakes are venomous and almost all medicines that are derived from snakes come of the limbless reptiles belonging to the venomous group. To be precise, most of the familiar medicines including Lachesis (the bushmaster), Crotalus horridus and cascavella (the rattlesnakes), Elaps (the coral snake), and Naja (the cobra) come from venomous snakes. Presently, homeopaths are also experimenting as well as using medicines derived from non-venomous snakes like the python.

People who are said to belong to the snake type are generally bogged down by their survival issue and suffer from the concern of moving ahead in a world of fantasy - something akin to a soap opera, where there is envy, hostility, treachery and exploitation. When anyone tries to become intimate with such snake type people or assault them, they behave violently threatening others to withdraw with a view to avoid situations where they might bring down themselves to becoming revengeful and striking back. In addition, the aggressive behaviour of the snake type people enables them to keep away from feeling dirty, guilty and, at the same time, losing their sense of worth. Nevertheless, in case such snake type individuals are subjected to continuous advance and peril they do not have any hesitation or reservation in going for the kill.

Since almost all snakes are great in camouflaging, the snake type of individuals would usually have a preference for hiding behind a fake image and give an impression that they are secretive, shy and of high moral values. Similar to people who require other medicines derived from animals, the snake type people also might try to attract others by means of their clothes, riches, jewellery, dance and music. In fact, individuals who may require medicines derived from snakes usually possess the corner on animal appeal and frequently appear attractive to their gullible preys.

The homeopathic remedy elaps is prepared from the freshly pressed venom from the venom sac of a live snake. The venom is subsequently triturated with sugar of milk. Although the medicine is prepared from the venom of coral snakes, elaps does not retain any trace of the original substance and is completely safe for human use.
Parts Used

Fresh venom.
Uses

It may be noted that the coral snakes bite seldom and do not attack anyone until they are handled. However, the coral snakes are highly venomous and people bitten by them often succumb to the poison. The venom of coral snakes works as an anticoagulant preventing the blood from clotting, thereby resulting in hemorrhages. The therapeutic benefits of elaps, the homeopathic medicine prepared from the venom of coral snakes were first established by an American homeopath in the 19th century. This homeopathic remedy is generally prescribed to stop hemorrhages and strokes.

Like in the instance of any other snake venoms, the poison of the coral snake also puts the blood in disorder, thus, turning out black discharges, particularly hemorrhages.

In homeopathy, physicians use elaps for treating profuse bleeding as well as black discharges, for instance nosebleeds and menorrhagia (extreme blood loss during menstruation cycles). This homeopathic remedy is also prescribed to cure strokes, especially those which are right-sided and when the patient experiences spasms followed by paralysis. People who suffer from such health conditions also have a feeling of internal coldness and crave for things like ice and oranges. Strangely enough, the symptoms of these patients deteriorate when the patients take cold food, cold beverages and fruits. Their condition also worsens when there is humidity, any thunderstorm is imminent and when the patients sleep in a warm bed. In effect, individuals requiring the homeopathic remedy elaps are usually afraid of being alone, rain, strokes, death and even snakes.
Source

Coral snake, whose venom forms the basis of the homeopathic remedy elaps, inhabits the regions that have low to intermediary altitudes. This species of snake is also usually found in the tropical deciduous as well as evergreen forests. The coral snakes belonging to the genus Micrurus comprises 53 identified species that are found in places ranging from south-eastern United States, across Central America and Mexico to South America - to the central Argentina. In addition, snakes belonging to the genus are also found in some regions of Asia and Africa. Different species of the genus Micrurus are found in diverse type of habitations - ranging arid deserts to cloud forests