Lachesis

Bushmaster / Surukuku

Lachesis

The South American bushmaster snake grows to a length of seven feet and kills its prey, both animal and human, by constriction or by injection of its highly poisonous venom, known as Lachesis, from which this homeopathic remedy is derived. Small doses of the venom can destroy red blood cells and impair the clotting of blood. Larger amounts of lachesis poison the heart. Homeopathic practitioners believe that the conditions best treated with Lachesis are those accompanied by symptoms similar to the ones induced by the venom. To prepare the homeopathic remedy, venom is extracted from the snake and diluted in large quantities of lactose (milk sugar).

Parts Used

Fresh venom.

Uses

Lachesis acts mainly on the blood and circulation and is used to treat engorged, throbbing veins, such as varicose veins. It is also helpful when the skin on the face, ears, fingers, and toes appears purple-blue due to circulatory problems. A weak heart; a rapid, weak, irregular pulse; palpitations; angina; and difficulty in breathing are all eased by Lachesis. This is a key remedy for women during menopause and is given for menopausal hot flashes. It is also effective for premenstrual syndrome and spasmodic, congestive menstrual pain that is better for blood flow.

Throat complaints, including sore throats that are swollen and dark purple, left-sided with pain in the left ear, and worse from swallowing fluids, are helped by this remedy.

Lachesis is given for disorders of the nervous system, such as petit mal attacks (a type of epileptic seizure) and fainting. Other complaints it is used for include: slow-to-heal, blue rimmed wounds; red boils; nosebleeds; left-sided headaches; fever; hot sweats and shivering; throbbing sensations in parts of the body; ulcers and stomach pain and vomiting in appendicitis and gastrointestinal complaints; and bleeding hemorrhoids.

Source

Found in South America.

Personality profile

The coiled serpent is a fine image for representing the Lachesis individual, whose remedy is made from the venom of the Bushmaster snake. In esoteric traditions the coiled serpent represents the kundalini energy residing at the base of the spine. This energy is said to be of a sexual nature in most people, but it can be made to rise up the spine, being transmuted as it rises into creative potential, and ultimately into spiritual experience.

The Lachesis individual is like a highly strung bow, taut with sexual energy, which must find an outlet if it is not to backfire upon its owner.

For many the outlet is sex itself. Lachesis people are highly sexed, and when they make love they are very passionate. Sex is not only very enjoyable for Lachesis; it also relieves tension. Others sublimate their sexual energy into a passionate pursuit of art, career or spirituality. Lachesis is a very passionate type, and whenever she thoroughly indulges in and expresses her passion, the result is both ecstasy and relaxation.

From adolescence onwards, the Lachesis individual vibrates with sexual energy. It gives her a passionate appetite for life, for excitement, and for stimulation. As long as this appetite remains satisfied, Lachesis will be fairly healthy psychologically. It is when the sexual energy is repressed, when it cannot find an outlet, that Lachesis develops physical and psychological tension. It may be that she has a partner who is not interested in sex, or that she has been without a partner for a long time, or that she grew up with a moral teaching that prohibited sex before marriage, and hence has remained a virgin. In these cases all will be well if an activity can be found which channels sufficient passionate energy to discharge the tension within, but if this does not happen, anxiety, restlessness and irritability will develop.

Lachesis' powerful sexual drive is tempered by a refined, sensitive nature. Less sensitive types like Nux and Sulphur may pursue their sexual appetites in a rather crude, unfeeling manner, but for many Lachesis individuals (especially the women) sex is usually reserved for romantic partnership, and is all the more passionate because it an expression of their love. When a Lachesis woman is in love her sexuality is heightened, and she will become very emotional if she is not able to make love frequently with her partner. If his libido cannot keep up with hers, she is liable to feel that he does not love her, and her frustration and hurt will provoke both tears and anger. A sexually frustrated Lachesis woman is rather like a spurned Ignatia; touchy and highly emotional.

This theme of tension requiring discharge can be seen to run throughout the features of Lachesis, both mentally and physically. On the physical level discharges will ameliorate symptoms, particularly sexual discharges, and the discharge of menstruation. Vigorous physical exercise may also be used by Lachesis to discharge tension. On the psychological level talking is used as a means of discharging tension, hence the famous loquacity of Lachesis. The more sexually repressed a Lachesis individual, the more loquacious they will become.