問題① Which remedy is characterized by the following symptoms?

1. This remedy is marked by a general sluggishness of the organism, especially in the circulation but also of the emotions and mind.
2. This remedy has a strong desire to be fanned.
3. This remedy may get fixed ideas and insists on them in an inflexible manner.
4. This remedy is often indicated in digestive disorders, extreme bloatedness, peptic ulcer, gastritis, colitis.

答え）Carbo vegetabilis

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"There are three primary characteristics which constitute the essence of Carbo veg. First, there is a general SLUGGISHNESS of the organism, especially in the circulation but also of the emotions and mind. This then is coupled with COLDNESS which runs throughout the body - coldness of the breath, of the nose, of the face, of the extremities. This coldness, however, is accompanied by a strong DESIRE TO BE FANNED."

"Carbo veg. may get fixed ideas - "arterio-sclerotic" ideas. A woman may read in a magazine that butter is bad for health and she insists on this idea in an inflexible manner."

"Carbo veg; is used more often as an acute remedy than as a deep constitutional, but there are nevertheless some constitutional indications. It is often indicated in digestive disorders - extreme bloatedness, peptic ulcer, gastritis, colitis."

問題② Which remedy is characterized by the following symptoms?

1. This remedy is characterized by loneliness and insecurity.
2. This remedy has a deep feeling of insecurity, a sense of vulnerability and weakness.
3. This remedy is aggravated from any motion, applies on all three levels.
4. This remedy has a strong desire to be left alone and to lie perfectly still in a dark room.
5. This remedy has a fear of poverty and is quite materialistically-minded.

答え）Bryonia alba

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"The descriptions which characterise Bryonia are LONELINESS and INSECURITY. Bryonia patients are withdrawn into themselves, purposely isolated from social contact. Always in the background is a deep feeling of insecurity, a sense of vulnerability and weakness. It is this that leads them to seek isolation. They do not want to be intruded upon, and they are quite content to live alone. The most well-known major keynote of Bryonia, or course, if AGGRAVATION FROM ANY MOTION, applies on all three levels. The Bryonia patient wants to lie perfectly still in a dark room, being left completely alone. In spite of the outward aggressiveness, Bryonia patients feel very insecure inside - especially about their financial well-being. When they feel ill, the first thing they want to do is go home, where they feel secure from any stress. In a delirium, they talk mostly of business because they fear for their financial security. This is most dramatically demonstrated by the fact that Bryonia is the most prominent remedy listed under Fear of Poverty. Bryonia patients, then are quite materialistically-minded." (Page 22-23)

問題③ Which remedy is characterized by the following symptoms?

1. This remedy is characterized by a sour temperament and dissatisfaction that is visible in the facial expression.
2. This remedy is very sensitive to confrontations and always tries to make peace.
3. This remedy has a strong sense of duty and easily overloads themselves with tasks, leading to anxiety.
4. This remedy is aggravated in the morning and may have a desire for milk but is strongly aggravated by it.
5. This remedy prefers to sleep on the left side and is aggravated by lying on the right side.

答え）Magnesia muriatica

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"Magnesias muriatica patients are people who eventually develop a SOUR temperament. They have a kind of bitterness, but one which is not hard or thorny. It is a dissatisfaction which shows vividly in the sour, facial expression. In their dissatisfaction they appear as if they are always in some, degrees of anguish. Mag.-mur. patients are very sensitive to any kind of confrontations, either involving themselves or other people. They are pacifists - always trying to make peace. It is not that they are cowardly; in war situations they may display lots of courage. Their vulnerability is a purely emotional sensitivity. They want others to be happy and satisfied, and they may go to excessive lengths to bring this about. They will suppress their own emotions for the sake of others - not as much as Staphysagria, but quite strongly nevertheless. If parents fight, the Mag. mur. child suffers tremendously and tries to bring about peace. If an adult of such type has subordinates at work who quarrel, he will work himself into an anxiety state trying to find a way to resolve the conflict. Mag. mur. patients also have a STRONG SENSE OF DUTY. They easily overload themselves with too many tasks, and then become very anxious when they find themselves unable to keep up. They become overwrought with nervous energy trying to meet the demands and then find themselves unable to sleep properly. This can be difficult to differentiate from Rhus tox. in some cases. The nature of the morning aggravation can be a keypoint, as mentioned. It would be very rare to find a Mag mur. patient who is not aggravated in his whole being in the morning. Also, Rhus tox. has a strong desire for milk. Mag. mur. may have a desire for milk as well, but it is strongly aggravated by it; Milk causes a general aggravation and also a diarrhoea - mushy, unformed stools. Mag. mur. patients often have a desire for sweets, and also for fruits and they have a strong desire for vegetables. Mag. carb., by contrast has an aversion to vegetables, especially to artichokes. A few more symptoms which stand out in my experience; Mag. mur. prefers to sleep on the left side, and it is aggravated by lying on the right side. There are severe jerkings or electric-like sensations - especially when lying down. All magnesias are very sensitive to slight touch; Mag. mur. and Mag. phos. in particular are also better from hard pressure. There may be numbness of the extremities during excitement - such as during a crisis or irritability or hysteria." (Page 73-75)

問題④ Which remedy is characterized by the following symptoms?

1. This remedy is often indicated in liver dysfunctions.
2. The patient may present an image of capability and courage to the world, but internally they contend with feelings of weakness and inadequacy.
3. The patient may suffer from bloating of the intestines due to weak digestion.
4. The patient may crave foods according to their taste, especially sweets and oysters.

答え）Lycopodium

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"The primary region of action of Lycopodium centres on the genitals, the urinary tract, the gastrointestinal system and the liver. This includes such complaints as impotence, frigidity, nephritis, peptic ulcer, colitis, haemorrhoids and liver disorders. The gastrointestinal tract, in particular, represents the qualities seen throughout Lycopodium. Just as there is a bloating of the ego presentation in compensation for the inner sense of weakness, there is also a bloating of the intestines in reaction to weak digestion. The patient is "full of wind" and suffers severely after eating. Also, just as there is an emphasis on superficial gratification in sex, the Lycopodium patient frequently seeks gratification of the palate by craving foods, according to their taste - especially sweets and oysters." (Page 72 of 132)

問題⑤  Which remedy is characterized by the following symptoms?

1. This remedy is a markedly right-sided remedy, especially during hepatitis pains, it has characteristic pain in the right hypochondrium which extends to the inferior angle of the scapula.
2. This remedy has arthritic pains which are secondary to liver disease, typically affecting the right shoulder and both knees, with some preference for the right knee.
3. This remedy has a strong desire for milk and milk products, especially cheese. It can have either a desire for or an aversion to cheese, but it is seldom neutral.
4. This remedy desires warm drinks and warm food - and is made better by them.

答え）Chelidonium Majus

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"Chelidonium is a markedly right-sided remedy; Especially during hepatitis pains, it has characteristic pain in the right hypochondrium which extends to the inferior angle of the scapula. Chelidonium has arthritic pains which are secondary to liver disease. These typically affect the right shoulder and both knees (with some preference for the right knee). The knee pains are markedly aggravated by walking. Chelidonium is one of the primary remedies to consider in knee pains aggravated by walking. Chelidonium has a strong characteristic which I have not seen emphasised in the books. It has a strong desire for milk and milk products, especially cheese. It can have either a desire for or an aversion to cheese, but it is seldom neutral. In addition, Chelidonium desires warm drinks and warm food - and is made better by them." (Page 45)

問題⑥  Which remedy is characterized by the following symptoms?

• The individual is ambitious, intelligent, quick, capable, and competent.
• The person is self-reliant rather than dependent.
• There is a tendency to become a workaholic dominated by work.
• The individual is sensitive to almost all kinds of food and may have an aversion to meat, yet there may be a desire for fat, stimulants, pungent things, and spices.
• The person may show congestion of the portal system, oesophageal varices, and particularly haemorrhoids.
• There is also a tendency to jaundice, corresponding in many instances to cirrhosis of the liver.

答え）Nux vomica

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"Nux vomica is one of the more commonly prescribed remedies in the homoeopathic Materia Medica, being one of the remedies absolutely essential for every homoeopath to know in depth. Generally, the Nux person possesses a husky, solid, compact, muscular body type, a basically strong constitution. They are ambitious, intelligent, quick, capable and competent. The Nux person is self-reliant rather than dependent. Their intelligence is pragmatic and efficient rather than philosophical or intellectual. The Nux person can become a workaholic dominated by work."

"There is great sensitivity to almost all kinds of food; in the broken down Nux state, especially there will be little appetite, and the patient will be found to be a very picky eater. There is an aversion to meat, yet there may be a desire for fat - as well as for stimulants, pungent things, and spices, which are craved for the stimulating effects but which may disorder the stomach. As is commonly seen in alcoholics, the Nux system may show congestion of the portal system - oesophageal varices, and particularly haemorrhoids. There is also a tendency to jaundice, corresponding in many instances to cirrhosis of the liver." (Page 90 and 93 of 132)

問題⑦  Which remedy is characterized by the following symptoms?

1. This remedy is marked by a strong-willed and forceful personality, often domineering and possessive in relationships.
2. This remedy is very opinionated and insistent upon their own point of view, often feeling unappreciated when others do not show the gratitude they expect.
3. This remedy is often suspicious of others outside their own circle and is very self-centered.
4. This remedy has a great anxiety about others, especially their health, and can exaggerate trifles out of all proportion to reality.
5. This remedy may be indicated in cases of idiopathic hypertension.

答え）Dulcamara

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"Both of these women have very forceful, strong-willed personalities. They were DOMINEERING and POSSESSIVE in their relationship with other people, especially those closest to them. Dulcamara patients are very opinionated, insistent upon their own point of view, and then feel unappreciated when those around them do not show the gratitude they expect. Outside her own circle, however, she is suspicious of others. She is on guard. Arising out of the Dulcamara patient's possessiveness is great anxiety about others. The Dulcamara state, as you can see, is very self-centred. UPTIGHTNESS is very characteristic of Dulcamara, and you may even discover that this state has gone so far as to produce idiopathic hypertension. Dulcamara is a excellent remedy for high blood pressure in patients of this type." (Page 46)

問題⑧  Which remedy is characterized by the following symptoms?

1. This remedy has a distinctive personality; committed dogmatically to a strong sense of duty to an inflexible, rigid degree.
2. This remedy is overly mentalised, with an over-use of the mind as a mechanism for control over emotional expression as well as physical functioning.
3. This remedy's symptoms are aggravated between 2 a.m. and 4 or 5 a.m.
4. This remedy has a strong desire for sweets.

答え）Kali carbonicum 

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"The Kali carb. patient has a distinctive personality; committed dogmatically to strong sense of duty to an inflexible, rigid degree. It is an uptight state in which the mind maintains iron control over experience, behaviour, and emotions. Such a person is compelled to see the world in terms of black and white, right and wrong, proper and improper. In his appearance and behaviour he is correct, uptight, proper. He, or she, will be stoic, uncomplaining, dogmatic, by the book. In the field of psychology, the Kali carb personality would be the epitome of the "anal-retentive" type To such a person, life seems to be solid, clear, immutable, functional. Such people often become police officers, prosecuting attorneys, translators, bookkeepers - occupations in which routine, properness and the sense of duty are valued. It this sense, the Kali carb. patient is overly mentalised. It is not mentalisation in the sense of philosophising or mental creativity or analysis, but rather an over-use of the mind as a mechanism for control over emotional expression as well as physical functioning. The Kali carb. mind is systematic, proper and routine-oriented. It thrives on clear-cut, black and white, dogmatic situations and functions. Characteristically, the symptoms of Kali carb, are aggravated between 2 a.m. and 4 or 5 a.m. The sleeplessness, the cough, the cardiac dysphonea, are all worse at this time of morning. This is a time when the mental control mechanisms have their least force. As the... The essential qualities of Kali carb. can be reminiscent of other remedies to which it is related. Of course, one cannot study Kali carb. without recalling Nux vomica. Kali carb. however, is different from Nux vomica in its essence. Nux is highly ambitious and impulsive, whereas Kali carb. is quite content to remain in his routine, only then becoming irritable because of his sense of correctness and not because of frustrated ambination as in Nux vomica. It is nevertheless common to see a patient, after responding nicely to Kali carb. progress into a Nux Vomica state. Another remedy that may follow Kali carb. is Phosphorus, particularly once the Kali carb. solidity has loosened up enough to enable the more etheric Phosphorus sensitivities and fears to manifest. The very presence of this essence, requiring only corroboration by one of he other key symptoms known in Kali carb. the 2 to 5 a.m. aggravation, the extreme sensitivity to drafts, the swellings of the inner upper eyelids, the anxiety felt in the stomach, the pathological states of the vital organs, and also the strong desire for sweets."

問題⑨  Which remedy is characterized by the following symptoms?

1. This remedy's patients can be unpredictable in their moods and behaviour, shifting between being refined and gentle to malicious and destructive.
2. This remedy's patients have a deep dissatisfaction leading to destructiveness and maliciousness.
3. This remedy's patients have a strong desire for change, often moving from job to job or location to location.
4. This remedy's patients have a strong desire for fat, especially pork and pungent-tasting meats.

答え）Tuberculinum Bovinum

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"Tuberculinum patients can be unpredictable in their moods and behaviour. One minute they are refined and gentle; the next, malicious and destructive. Inside, Tuberculinum patients are people who burn the candle at both ends. They feel that life is short and must be lived to the fullest. They are never truly satisfied with themselves, nor with other people. They tend to be people with much ability and vitality in the early stages but they do not conserve themselves. They dissipate themselves. They are full of contradictory feelings; on the one hand they seek fulfilment and change, and on the other they feel dissatisfied and irritable. Tuberculinum patients, because their metabolisms burn fat so readily, have a desire for fat. Especially they desire pork and pungent-tasting meats like salami and smoked meats."

問題⑩  Which remedy is characterized by the following symptoms?

1. This remedy's patients are warm, friendly extroverts who enjoy friendship and company very much, but also may enjoy solitude to pursue artistic endeavours.
2. This remedy's patients are highly intelligent and refined, with a tendency towards easy haemorrhages.
3. This remedy's patients have a strong thirst, particularly for cold drinks.
4. This remedy's patients have a strong anxiety for the welfare of others, whether friend or stranger.

答え）Phosphorus

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"The Phosphorus patient physically is usually lean, tall, and delicate in features, hair, skin and hands. As a child, this person is warm, outgoing, affectionate, artistic or musical and very sensitive. The Phosphorus patient is a warm, friendly extrovert who enjoys friendship and company very much, but also may enjoy solitude to pursue artistic endeavours. Such a person is enjoyable to have around, because he or she is truly sympathetic, freely putting the interest of friends above personal concerns. The Phosphorus person is highly intelligent and refined. There are no secrets for such person; whatever is on his mind he shares freely Warmth and affection diffuse freely towards friends and even strangers. Much of his or her life revolves around interpersonal relationships. During this stage, we also see the characteristic Phosphorus thirst, particularly for cold drinks. If there happens to be burning in the stomach (Phosphorus experiences burning and mild phase, yet with haemoptysis of bright red blood. There may be haematuria unaccompanied by any other symptoms. Laboratory tests and x-rays may be done, and nothing found. In these circumstances think of Phosphorus as a possible remedy. There is a true anxiety for the welfare of another, whether friend or stranger. It can be carried to a pathological degree of anxiety, dissipating even the energy of the patient himself."

問題⑪  Which remedy is characterized by the following symptoms?

1. This remedy's patients are slow to receive impressions and slow to express themselves.
2. This remedy's patients have a loss of memory, especially for words, which is excessive in relation to their age.
3. This remedy's patients have a distinct appearance with deep lines in the face and deep pores.
4. This remedy's patients experience trembling with the weakness of their muscles and may have difficulty holding a glass steady.

答え）Plumbum metallicum

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"The Plumbum patient is one which falls under the modern clinical category of ARTERIOSCLEROSIS. The Plumbum image is very similar to that seen in arteriosclerotic patients. It is a remedy which is very slow in its progression. The early pathology is barely noticeable but there is a slow and steady progression toward PARESIS on all levels. Intellectually, there is a torpor, a sluggishness of mental functions. This slowness is seen both in perceptive and expressive functions. These patients are slow to receive impressions and slow to express themselves. This impairment is expressed quite dramatically by a characteristic symptom on the physical level - when stuck with a pin, they are slow to react. There is slowness in perceiving external impressions, slowness of comprehension, and slowness in response. A most characteristic impairment on the intellectual level in Plumbum is loss of memory - especially for words. This loss of memory in Plumbum is excessive in relation to the age of the patient. They strain of find the correct word for what they want to express, but they cannot. Plumbum patients have a distinct appearance which is difficult to describe. As mentioned, they have been accustomed to having the best of everything, so there is a kind of self-satisfied look about them. They tend to be skinny, and their faces have a somewhat earthy hue. There are deep lines in the face and deep pores. Plumbum patients experience trembling with the weakness of their muscles. It may be difficult for them to hold a glass steady."

問題⑫ Which remedy is characterized by the following symptoms?

1. This remedy's patients are pre-occupied with an internal state, sitting and muttering to themselves, or talking to absent people, or to dead people.
2. This remedy's patients have a basic disturbance of jealousy and suspicion, which motivates much of their behaviour, including occasional violent outbursts.
3. This remedy's patients may experience severe neuralgic pains which drive them to mania.
4. This remedy's patients may refuse food and medicine because they are convinced that people are trying to poison them.

答え）Hyoscyamus niger

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"The mania in Hyos. has many similarities to that of the other remedies, but it is more passive in quality. The person is not as active, energetic, or violent. He is more pre-occupied with an internal state, sitting and muttering to himself, or talking to absent people, or to dead people. This is the kind of mania commonly seen in elderly senile patients - sitting alone, muttering about nonsense, picking at their clothes, oblivious to their surroundings. Of course, when pushed, Hyos. can explode into violence like any of the other remedies, thus explaining the fact that it is listed in bold type in the Repertory for Violent. The basic disturbance in Hyos., in all of its stages, is jealousy and suspicion. Jealousy seems to motivate much of the behaviour, including the occasional violent outbursts. This may begin with jealousy over his wife, or the suspicion that everyone at his job is talking about him behind his back. This state then grows to include more and more people, widening the circle of suspicion from intimates and colleagues, to acquaintances, and eventually to complete strangers. The result may eventually be a simple paranoid state in a person who is still within contact with reality, or it may become a florid paranoid schizophrenia. It may even include some cases of delirium tremens, full of suspicion, imagining insects crawling all over him, seeing people outside the window who want to kill him. Such paranoids are common in mental institutions nowadays, afraid of everyone, convinced that people are trying to poison them, refusing food and medicine because it is poisoned. Physically, other than the gastrointestinal and menstrual symptoms, there are severe neuralgic pains which drive the person to mania."

問題⑬ Which remedy is characterized by the following symptoms?

1. This remedy's patients are easily excitable and engage in many activities very intensely over a relatively brief period of time.
2. This remedy's patients experience sexual impotency, and they become very preoccupied with this problem.
3. This remedy's patients develop an anxiety about health which is almost hypochondriacal.
4. This remedy's patients tend to appear pale, anaemic, fatigued, anxious and lacking in courage.

答え）Agnus castus

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"Agnus castus is a remedy which I believe will be increasingly needed in our modern societies, especially by the younger generation. It is indicated after a lot of abuses common among young people - sexual excesses, the use of psychoactive drugs, loss of sleep, sporadic nutrition, etc. Such people have been easily excitable, and engaged in many of these activities very intensely over a relatively brief period of time. Then they become pale, anaemic, low in energy, absent-minded etc. Eventually these people begin to realize that their whole constitution is breaking down. They develop the fear that within a few years or a few months they are going to die. They feel they have over-exerted and dissipated their life energies to the point that their whole system has become rotten. Such people reach a stage in which they are unable to concentrate any more on their studies, their daily tasks etc. They experience sexual impotency, and they become very preoccupied with this problem. They become convinced that they are about to have a nervous breakdown, or that their vital organs are about to collapse. This concern becomes so great in Agnus castus that these people develop an anxiety about health which is almost hypochondriacal. Agnus castus patients tend to appear pale, anaemic fatigued anxious and lacking in courage."

問題⑭ Which remedy is characterized by the following symptoms?

1. This remedy's patients are skinny, exhausted, and pale.
2. This remedy's patients experience a tremendous exhaustion that renders conversation impossible.
3. This remedy's patients have a characteristic weakness in the chest, especially when talking.
4. This remedy's patients have a peculiar symptom of anxiety before menses, ameliorated with the flow.

答え）Stannum metallicum

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"The exhaustion of Stannum is almost without parallel. The weakness is so great that they have a feeling of heat under the skin. They even say that their eyes are "burning from weakness". Another description they use is that the weakness seems to be felt flowing through the veins. Fatigue, of course, is a fairly common symptom in sick patients, but in Stannum it is so striking that the patients use such vivid imagery to describe their feeling. The exhaustion in Stannum is so great that even the slightest exertion becomes a great source of aggravation. They become exhausted even from the effort of talking; whenever a patient tells you that he becomes short of breath after talking for a few minutes on the phone, be sure to think of Stannum. Because of the tremendous exhaustion, Stannum patients do not want to see people. It is not that they do not like people; indeed, Stannum people are very sweet, undemanding individuals who get along well with people - somewhat like Silica. They are simply too exhausted to cope with the exertion of greeting someone. Stannum patients often describe a characteristic weakness in the chest, even if they do not suffer from the usual tuberculosis, dyspnoea, or bronchial asthma. It seems to be a kind of emptiness, but patients usually use the term "weakness". It especially comes on while the patient is talking. There is a peculiar symptom in Stannum; anxiety before menses, ameliorated with the flow."

問題⑮ Which remedy is characterized by the following symptoms?

1. This remedy's patients have a nervous system wound up tight like a coiled spring, tense with boundless energy which must be expended to prevent it from breaking.
2. This remedy's patients are compelled to be busy, to act, to move constantly without ceasing.
3. This remedy's patients are relieved by rhythmic activities and influences, particularly the soothing and calming influence of the rhythmic vibrations of music.
4. This remedy's patients may become violent when restrained in some way, leading to a state of fox-like cunning, and the fox-like look in the eyes.

答え）Tarentula hispanica

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"Tarentula hispanica, although it has many symptoms in common with other remedies mentioned, it also has a particularly distinctive personality. The primary focus of action of Tarentula, especially in the first stages, is on the nervous system. The nervous system in Tarentula seems wound up tight like a coiled spring, tense with boundless energy which must be expended to prevent it from breaking. The Tarentula patient is compelled to be busy, to act, to move constantly without ceasing. The early stages may be found most characteristically in people in occupations requiring much detailed work while under great pressure and responsibility, such as air traffic controllers or news journalists confronted with deadlines. The constant pressures results in a keyed up, oversensitive nervous system. Like Nux vomica, the Tarentula patient may initially be a compulsive worker. Such people seem to have super-human stamina, capable of and even compelled to work day and night, perhaps without sleep for weeks on end. They are industrious, capable, efficient; but unlike Nux vomica which is driven by a mental ambition and competitiveness, the Tarentula patient is driven by the nervous tension, the sheer compulsion to move and to keep busy. Tarentula is - along with Sulphuric acid - the most hurried of all the remedies listed in the Repertory; many are listed in this rubric in strong grades, but Tarentula and Sulphuric acid lead them all. There is constant restlessness, most particularly of the lower extremities, but also of the entire body. Other remedies are characterised by such restlessness, but not to the extreme degree of Tarentula. The Tarentula patient will spend the whole night tossing and turning in bed until he finds himself with his head at the foot of the bed and the sheets tied in knots. The Tarentula restlessness and nervous tension affects primarily the nervous system from the cerebellum and downward into the spine. Reading the Materia Medicas, the collection of symptoms belonging to it seem often inseparable from Arsenicum, but the Arsenicum restlessness arises from the mental/emotional plane, and it never has the excessive energy of Tarentula; it is an anxious anguished restlessness which only secondarily causes the characteristic restless changing of positions. Veratrum is also very hyperactive, but from an overactive mind. In Tarentula, the restlessness arises out of a need to release extreme nervous energy, which results in anxiety and activity of the mind as secondary effects to the disturbance in the nervous system itself. Because of the wound-up state of the nervous system, the Tarentula patient is relieved by rhythmic activities and influences. Particularly striking is the soothing and calming influence of the rhythmic vibrations of music. Rhythm seems to channel and release the tension, thereby calming and quieting the nervous system. This is a different mechanism from the improvement from music seen in Aurum, which soothes more directly the mental level, orin Natrum mur. in which music produces a relaxing harmonious environment. Of course, the wrong type of music, particularly at a time when the Tarentula patient is under great pressure, can also trigger off and aggravate the wound-up state. The need for rhythm is the reason for the tendency of Tarentula patients to dance, to jump, and to run; and these movements are not merely gentle and slow. Tarentula patient are driven to wild, frenzied, rapid and vigorous movements. At the same time, however, the movements are graceful, rhythmic and flowing; thus Tarentula is a prime remedy to consider in choreas, such as St. Vitus' Dance of huntington's Chorea. Such a wound-up nervous system is not surprisingly affected by external pressures and influences. As mentioned, music of the wrong type may aggravate the condition. For the same reasons, Tarentula patients are markedly aggravated by touch. A striking feature is aggravation from bright or strong colours - red, yellow, green, black. There is a lot of anxiety in Tarentula, anxiety that things will not get done, that something will go wrong. It is often an irrational fear, but it is a fear that again arises out of the wound-up state of the nervous system. On the other hand, the Arsenicum anxiety is a primary state on the emotional plane itself. In the first stage, Tarentula is also a hysterical remedy. When the tension and external pressures become too great, the system collapses and produces physical symptoms which prevent the person from continuing. There may be spasms, fainting attacks, convulsive or choreic states, and other physical symptoms. These may last until the pressure is lessened, then disappear only to return again when the tension becomes unbearable. Merely removing stress, however, is not ultimately adequate in Tarentula patients, because the primary problem is the wound-up and tense nervous system. In the second stage of Tarentula illness, the person begins to lose control and becomes destructive. In such a state of tension, if the restless Tarentula patient is restrained in some way, he becomes violent. At first, the destructiveness occurs only when the patient is alone. It is done in secret, hidden as much as possible from the knowledge of others. This leads to the well-known Tarentula state of fox-like cunning, and the fox-like look in the eyes. Ultimately, however, the destructiveness becomes more uncontrolled and publicly evident. Tarentula may tear his clothes or break things. Most typically, the violence is directed at himself - self-injury, banging the head, etc - but it may also be directed at others, Stramonium also has a destructive violence, but this violence usually focuses on others and on objects, and it arises from an uncontrolled eruption from the unconscious mental levels rather than from an overly wound-up nervous system."