EDUCATION AND DEBATE

The brown spider Loxosceles laeta: source of the
remedy Tarentula cubensis?

C Richardson-Boedler

1

*

1

2306 Kingston, Houston, TX 77019, USA

The homeopathic remedy Tarentula cubensis (Cuban tarantula), used in homeopathy
to treat abscesses with burning pains, gangrene, septicaemia, toxaemia, has been
grouped by homeopathic authorities with either the mygalomorph or wolf spiders. The
original specimen used for preparation of the mother tincture was decomposed,
leaving the spider’s exact identity in doubt. Investigation of the toxicological and
clinical literature, compared with homeopathic materia medica, reveals the brown
spider, Loxosceles laeta, indigenous to South America but present also in Mid- and
North America, as a more likely source. Venoms of spiders of the genus Loxosceles
cause severe necrotic arachnidism, as well as, in some cases, a life-threatening
systemic reaction marked by renal failure, disseminated intravascular coagulation,
thrombocytopeania, coma and convulsions.

Homeopathy (2002) 91, 166–170.

Keywords: necrotic arachnidism; haemolytic venom; Tarentula cubensis; Thera-
phosidae; Lycosidae; Loxoscelidae; Sicariidae; Agelenidae

Introduction

The homeopathic medicine Tarentula cubensis (syn.:
Mygale cubanensis) was allegedly prepared from the
Cuban tarantula,a dark-brown,hairy spider (Aran˜a
peluda),which reportedly caused,in bite victims,a
necrotic lesion with sloughing even of fascia and
tendons and accompanied by systemic effects capable
of causing death in children.

1

The spider was imported

from Cuba to the United States for homeopathic use
but arrived in a decomposed state due to breakage of
the container in which it was preserved in alcohol. The
medicine was nevertheless prepared,it is used for septic
boils,carbuncles or swellings marked by a purple
discolouration and atrocious burning pains.

2

As noted

in the original bite victims

1

and confirmed by later

clinical practice with patients suffering from similar
symptoms,

2

the local symptoms are accompanied by a

systemic reaction marked,primarily,by restlessness,

delirium,septic fever,and evening or night aggrava-
tion.

The spider was said to be of the genus Mygale

(mygalo=mouse),the large,mouse-shaped ‘hairy
tarantulas,’ though later proving with new specimens
from Cuba proved unsuccessful.

3

Other sources refer

to the spider as belonging to the genus Lycosa, which
also carries the name ‘tarantula’.

1,4

However,the

cerebrospinal action of the remedy Tarentula hispanica
contrasts with the toxaemic action of Tarentula
cubensis.

1

Allegedly derived from the wolf spider

(Lycosa tarentula), the proving symptoms and indica-
tions of Tarentula hispanica have recently been shown
to likely reflect the effects of envenomation by the
widow spider Latrodectus tredecimguttatus.

5

The controversial identification,coupled with tox-

icological,clinical evidence which show that mygalo-
morph and wolf spiders are relatively harmless to man,
warrants a re-evaluation of the remedy’s source and
suggests that it belongs to the genus Loxosceles.
Equipped with a haemolytic,proteolytic venom,

6

this

genus is known to cause necrotic arachnidism and
potentially fatal systemic reactions. L. laeta Nicolet,
first suggested in 1998 as a potential source of the

*Correspondence: Cornelia Richardson-Boedler, 2306
Kingston, Houston, TX 77019, USA.
E-mail: [e-mail]
Received 8 February 2002; accepted 11 March 2002

Homeopathy (2002) 91, 166–170
&

2002 The Faculty of Homeopathy

PII: S1475-4916(02)00060-7, available online at www.idealibrary.com on

remedy Tarentula cubensis,

7

has been dispersed from

its original habitat of South America to Central
America,the United States,and even Canada. It is
most dangerous species of this genus of spiders.

8

Tarentula cubensis

Bite symptoms and indications derived from homeopathic
clinical experience

The marked local and systemic symptoms caused by
the ‘Cuban spider’ (Tarentula cubensis) were docu-
mented by the Cuban physician Navarro and later
incorporated in homeopathic materia medica.

1,9

The

spider’s bite causes a gradually widening scarlet areola
around the bite site,followed by a swelling. A hard
painfully burning abscess develops over the next days;
it opens,exudes a sanguinous matter with sloughed
tissues (skin,fascia,tendons),then forms a large
cavity. Systemic symptoms including high fever often
beginning on the second or third day after the bite.
They are accompanied by delirium,anxiety,rest-
lessness,headache,thirst,perspiration,and retention
of urine. Later,as the ulcers form,intermittent fever
with evening paroxysms develops,with diarrhoea and
prostration. Children have died from the bite,but most
cases recover within 3 to 6 weeks. The septic
component was thought to be a symptom of enveno-
mation,but it has also been related to the decomposed
state of the original medicinal specimen,in comparison
with Pyrogenium made from ‘rotten meat’.

2

Therapeutic uses of Tarentula cub concentrating on

septic skin conditions,expanded from clinical experi-
ence to include: drowsiness,typhoid fever,malignant
diphtheria,respiratory conditions (whooping cough;
last stages of pulmonary tuberculosis); gangrene and
left-sided chorea.

2,9

Suspected sources: biology and
toxicology

Mygalomorph spiders (Mygalomorphae)

Mygalomorph spiders are a suborder of Orthognatha
(Mygalomorphae). The hairy variety,family Thera-
phosidae,may have a body length of 90 mm.
Mygalomorph spiders live in holes in the ground;
simple webs serve to line the hole rather than to
catch prey,which is more likely to be seized when
passing by the burrow. Mygalomorph spiders,unlike
true spiders (suborder Labidognatha) whose fangs
open sideways,have powerful jaws that move vertically
and may to catch small vertebrates such as lizards,
snakes,or,rarely,small birds,though the usual diet
consists of insects and myriapods. The prey is
predigested by secretions from the maxillary and other
glands to render it suitable for consumption by
sucking.

10–12

The largest families of the mygalomorph spiders,the

Ctenizidae,Barychelidae,Dipluridae,Theraphosidae,
are considered the most poisonous. The eggs,depos-
ited within the burrow between two sheets of woven
silk,are watched over by the mother spider for 6 – 7
weeks until hatching. In South and Mid America,this
family are known as the ‘hairy spiders,’ ‘aran˜as
peludas’,in the United States,they are known as
‘tarantulas’ and,outside the Americas,also ‘bird
spiders’.

11

According to this classification,the spider in

question,‘Mygale cubanensis’,belongs to the family
Theraphosidae.

This

family

would

also

include

‘Mygale lasiodora’,another spider prepared as a
homeopathic medicine. Leesers Lehrbuch der Homo¨-
opathie pointed to the species Eurypelma spinicrus of
this family as the source of Tarentula cubensis, based
on the local symptoms produced by this spider’s bite.

13

(This genus is also referred to as Dugesiella.).

Many species of the Theraphosidae,though not

readily biting humans,have urticating hairs affecting
skin,eyes,and breathing passages.

6,10,14

These fine

hairs,which the spider rubs off in defence from the
dorsal abdomen when threated,are carried by four
subfamilies of the Theraphosidae of America (Ischno-
colinae,Grammostolinae,Theraphosinae,Avicularii-
nae); the urticating hairs appear to be absent in the
genera of the Theraphosidae of other continents.

10

Toxicologically and medically,mygalomorph spiders
are generally not considered to be of importance,the
species Atrax robustus of Australia being an excep-
tion.

15

In a study of the effects of mygalomorph spider

bites in the Brazilian state of Sa˜o Paulo from 1966 until
1991 indicated that the family Theraphosidae caused
53% of recorded bites,with the species Acanthoscurria
gomesiana inflicting most bites. The mygalomorph
spiders,generally considered nonaggressive,were
found to cause only local pain,minor oedema and
erythema,with some cases showing formication and
itching; no necrosis of the tissues was reported.
Worldwide,some evidence points to certain species
of mygalomorph spiders,apart from A. robustus, as
capable of triggering systemic effects in humans;
isolated cases have been observed,though,generally,
local necrosis was not noted.

10

The homeopathic literature reports a case of

envenomation allegedly by Mygale avicularia of Cuba,
referenced in the materia medica under Mygale
lasiodora, but claimed by Houard

16

as belonging to

the ‘group Eurepelma’. The bite caused a large violet
spot to form within half an hour changing to a greenish
colour in a few hours; a systemic reaction occurred,
including transient violent chill,high fever with
trembling of whole body,strong pulsating and
radiating pains in the affected limb,difficult respira-
tion,anxiety with fear of death,and 2 days after the
bite,twitching in muscles of back and convulsive
motions of all limbs. The same species of spider
reportedly killed a 6-year-old child who suffered

The true Tarentula?
C Richardson-Boedler

167

Homeopathy

similar symptoms,with convulsions on the third day
leading to death.

1

Except for the greenish discolouration at the bite

site,the lack of necrosis,twitching back muscles and
convulsions,these symptoms resemble those ascribed
to the bite of Tarentula cubensis. Clinical practice
shows that the homeopathic medicine Mygale lasio-
dora was found useful in localised convulsions
(twitching of facial muscles,head moving to right
side),chorea,violent spasmodic movements of limbs
(better sleep and worse morning),thus differing from
the symptoms of Tarentula cubensis.

Wolf spiders (Lycosidae)

Wolf spiders,widely present in North and South
America,do not use webs to catch prey. They hunt by
night,seizing insects with their front legs. The largest
species of the United States,the Carolina wolf spider
(Lycosa carolinensis), normally measuring 25 mm in
length. Wolf spiders dig burrows. The mother spider
devotedly carries the egg sac which is attached to her
spinnerets. She allows the young to ride on her back
until mature.

11

The mild effects of wolf spider envenomation in

humans have been described previously,in contrast to
the neurotoxic symptoms of genus Latrodectus.

5

Systemic reactions to wolf spider bites are not
described,except for transient nausea or lightheaded-
ness.

17

Generally,wolf spiders envenomation does not

cause necrosis at the bite site in humans,although one
such case of envenomation by a spider identified as a
wolf spider,probably by the species Lycosa antelucana,
has been documented.

18

The bite caused,locally,a

purple discolouration and superficial eschar formation
typical of necrosis. The symptoms subsided after 10
days; antibiotics may have hastened recovery. The
symptoms,however,did not approach severity as-
cribed to the bite by Tarentula cubensis. Some
proteolytic and haemolytic properties are present in
the venom of L. tarentula; one experimental human
subject developed,atypically,a large necrotic lesion.

19

Animal experiments with the venom of South Amer-
ican wolf spiders have shown that only direct contact
of the venom with the dermal layer,rather than with
subcutaneous or muscular tissues,produces necrosis;
yet,direct injection of the venom was necessary to
produce this effect,actual bites by spiders proving
harmless.

20,21

In South America,necrotic effects were once

ascribed to the wolf spider Scaptocosa raptoria
(syn.: Lycosa erythrognatha, Lycosa raptoria),which
often invades human dwellings; but,later investiga-
tions revealed the genus Loxosceles as a more likely
source.

6,22

In Brazil,only mild reactions in humans

to

bites

by

wolf

spider

species

are

reported,

usually consisting of mild pain,some swelling and
erythema.

22

In conclusion,due to the mildness of

symptoms of envenomation reported,wolf spiders

cannot be viewed as a likely source of the remedy
Tarentula cubensis.

Brown spiders (Loxoscelidae)

Spiders of the genus Loxosceles, prefer to live in
corners and crevices and spin an irregular viscid sheet
web which also houses a loose egg sac. They frequently
enter dwellings where they may hide for months in
undisturbed areas. The most poisonous species of the
American continents are Loxosceles reclusa (brown
recluse spider or violin spider),which inhabits the
colder northern regions,and L. laeta (brown spider or
corner spider of Chile),indigenous to South America;
both species are hairy,brown in colour,the body of L.
laeta, measures 25 mm. Male and female spiders are
venomous.

23–25

The decomposed specimen used in the

preparation of the homeopathic remedy Tarentula
cubensis may have been a L. laeta. In size,shape,and
colour,wolf spiders,such as L. carolinensis, and L.
laeta are similar. The Loxosceles species L. reclusa, L.
refuscens, L. unicolor (deserta), L. arizonica, L. devia
are found in the USA.

27

In 1947,the pioneering work of Macchiavello

showed that the severe,and persistent necrotic lesions
observed

in

the

South

American

population

(‘gangrenous spot of Chile’) were due to L. laeta
envenomation.

27

The bite causes initially,induration,

inflammation,oedema and severe pains described by
victims as resembling the acute pain produced by a
burn. Hours or days later blisters or an eschar form
which,when removed,reveals a necrotising zone. The
tissues underlying the skin,including muscle are
exposed; they are insensitive to touch and cause no
pain to the patient though healing may take 3 months
or longer. A large area of the skin,measuring up to 30
on its longest axis,may be ulcerated; an extensive scar
remains. The phase of blister formation has led to a
misdiagnosis of anthrax. The symptoms are not
confined to local necrosis. The oedematous swelling
and pain may involve an entire limb. Systemic
reactions include anxiety and insomnia in response to
the pain; children may developed extensive oedema,
high fever,and threatened asphyxia.

Rarely,a more severe systemic reaction is observed,

with fever,haemolysis,renal involvement (haematuria,
haemoglobinuria),and possible hepatic involvement.
Great thirst,headache,vomiting are also noted,as well
as a cough with purulent expectoration and respiratory
weakness. This ‘viscero-cutaneous’ arachnidism is
produced by blood–bone spread of the venom.

28,29

A

recent review of loxoscelism,noted that haemolysis,
causing haemoglobinemia and haemoglobinuria,may
lead to renal failure and death. Anurea,liver injury,
disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC),throm-
bocytopaenia,coma and convulsions have also been
observed.

8

The similarity of this pattern of toxicity to the

materia medica of Tarentula cubensis suggests L. laeta

The true Tarentula?

C Richardson-Boedler

168

Homeopathy

as the most probable source of the remedy Tarentula
cubensis.

Six-eyed crab spiders (Sicariidae)

One other genus of spiders Sicarius, is capable of
producing severe necrosis in man. As noted above,the
species S. ruoepes,present in Chile,

27

has been alerted

to as a causative agent. The biology and toxicology of
this genus,in relation to its homeopathic use has been
described previously.

30

In contrast to the symptoms of loxoscelism,the local

necrotic center caused by Sicarius envenomation is
surrounded by a haemorrhagic region. Systemically,
this genus produces life-threatening haemorrhage
during the last stages of the illness,resembling Ebola
Haemorrhagic Fever. Both Loxoscelidae and Sicar-
iidae cause a DIC and thrombocytopaenia.

Homeopathic materia medica

The keynote symptoms of Tarentula cubensis, from
homeopathic materia medica,

1,2,4,9,31,32

are:

MIND/EMOTIONS: Anxiety; delirium from sepsis or
pain; soothes agony of death.
HEAD: Headache (vertex); shooting pains (left eye);
drowsiness.
STOMACH: Sore; loss of appetite; increased thirst.
ABDOMEN: Burning pains in glands of inguinal
region.
STOOL: Diarrhoea during sepsis.
URINARY ORGANS: Retention of urine; urine
escapes on coughing.
RESPIRATORY: Violent cough similar to whooping
cough; tuberculosis (last stages); malignant diphtheria.
EXTREMITIES: Restless feet; chorea; malignant,
burning felons (paronychia,onychia); oedematous legs
ooze water.
GENERALITIES: Prostration; collapse; restless sleep;
septic fever and chills; intermittent fever with evening
paroxysms; toxaemia; septicaemia; typhoid fever;
inflammation of glands and lymphatic vessels; great
intensity of pain; perspiration gives no relief.
SKIN: Carbuncles,abscesses,with mottled,purple
discolouration and burning pains; anthrax; bubonic
plague; cold gangrene; blackness,coldness of external
parts; skin bloated; cancerous or senile ulcers; scirrhus
or burning abscess of breasts; erysipelas.
MODALITIES: Worse at night; chorea,worse left
side; improvement from smoking.
COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINES: Arsenicum al-
bum (burning carbuncles; ulcers burn when exposed to
cold; blackish-blue discolouration); Lachesis (ulcers,
when touched,are sensitive and produce offensive
discharge; bluish-black discolouration; bleeding ul-
cers); Anthracinum (blackish,burning carbuncles;
gangrenous ulcers with offensive odour); Pyrogenium
(septicemia; burning abscesses; bleeding,putrid ulcers).

The materia medica of Tarentula cubensis reflects the

evolution of the illness experienced by bite victims of
L. laeta (from intense burning sensations to atonic
ulcers). Life-threatening systemic symptoms (renal
failure,DIC,thrombocytopaenia). The blackish le-
sions caused by L. laeta, with loss of skin and fascia,
are reminiscent of burns,the skin develops blisters,
becomes leathery,parchment-like as in burns. A
comparison with a gun-powder burn has been made.

27

Skin grafting,often necessary in victims of loxoscelism,
is also commonly required in burn victims. Therefore,
Tarentula cubensis (L. laeta) may be useful for burn
injuries.

I prescribed Tarentula cubensis for a case in

Houston,Texas,which had not responded to allo-
pathic or homeopathic treatment. The patient,a young
child,had suffered from severe blackish,grangenous
ulcers with sloughing and responded positively to
Tarentula hispanica. The cause of the illness was not
known,but necrotic arachnidism (genus Loxosceles) is
possible.

Conclusion

The evidence suggests that the spider L. laeta is the
source of Tarentula cubensis. Clinical use should
include the treatment of loxoscelism,it should also
be considered for burns and symptoms in patients
unaffected by spider bite,that resemble the life-
threatening systemic reaction caused by L. laeta. In
these conditions,especially should other well-chosen
remedies fail to act, Tarentula cubensis (L. laeta)
should be considered.

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