What is Bothrops lanceolatus?

Bothrops lanceolatus is a single homeopathic remedy, not a mix. Its Latin name is Bothrops lanceolatus (venom). It is made from the venom of the fer-de-lance, also called the yellow viper, a pit viper from Martinique.

The venom is diluted again and again in water and alcohol, with hard shaking at each step. At 30C, a common strength, no venom is left. What you take is a sugar pill, or water and alcohol.

Homeopaths offer it for nosebleeds, bruising, blood clots and trouble speaking after a stroke. Trials do not show it works better than a dummy pill. Long use in a tradition is not proof that something works.

How does Bothrops lanceolatus work?

Homeopaths go by a rule called "like cures like". Raw snake venom stops blood from clotting and makes people bleed. So the remedy is offered for bleeding and clotting problems.

They also believe that the shaking at each step leaves a trace or pattern of the venom in the water. No test has ever shown such a trace. There is no known way for this to work.

At 30C the venom is simply gone. If you feel better after taking it, the likely reasons are the placebo effect, the time and care of the visit, or the problem easing on its own.

This is not a small point. It is the main thing to know before you spend money on it.

What forms does Bothrops lanceolatus come in?

The remedy comes in a few simple forms. Sugar pills or small pellets are the most common. Liquid drops in alcohol and water are also sold.

Strengths are marked with a number and a letter, such as 6C, 30C or 200C. The higher the number, the more the venom has been diluted. At 30C and above, none of it is left.

Buy only from a known pharmacy or brand. Never use a home-made or hand-diluted version, because you cannot know what is in it.

Where it comes from:

Snake venoms came into homeopathy in the 1800s. The homeopath Constantine Hering worked with Lachesis, a related pit viper, from 1837. Other snake remedies followed his lead.

Bothrops lanceolatus was written up the same way. The notes came from reports of what the venom did to healthy volunteers and to people bitten by the snake.

It has never been a major remedy. Most homeopaths use it rarely. No tradition outside homeopathy uses it.

What does Bothrops lanceolatus help with?

• Nosebleeds: This is the classic use in homeopathic books. The raw venom makes people bleed from the nose and gums, so the remedy is offered for the same signs. No human trial backs this up. A nosebleed that will not stop after 20 minutes needs a doctor.
• Bruising and bleeding under the skin: Tradition lists dark bruises and blood spots under the skin. There is no trial evidence. New bruises with no cause can be a sign of a blood problem, so get them checked.
• Blood clots in a vein (a clot blocking a blood vessel): Homeopathic texts list this because the venom causes clots. This remedy is not a treatment for a clot. A clot in the leg or lung can kill, and it needs real medicine fast.
• Trouble speaking after a stroke: Older homeopathic books list slurred or lost speech after a stroke. No trial has tested the remedy for this. Speech therapy and stroke care are the treatments with real evidence behind them.
• Slow-healing skin sores: Tradition links the remedy to wounds that turn dark and heal badly, since the venom damages flesh. There is no human evidence. A sore that spreads, smells or will not close needs medical care.

Which foods are rich in Bothrops lanceolatus?

1. Not found in any food: the source is snake venom, not a plant or a nutrient

What are the side effects of Bothrops lanceolatus?

• Most people notice nothing at all at 30C
• A short flare of your symptoms in the first days, which homeopaths call an aggravation
• Mild stomach upset from the milk sugar in the pills
• Alcohol in the liquid drops, which matters if you avoid alcohol
• A rare allergic reaction to the milk sugar or the alcohol
• A delay in getting care that works, which is the main risk

Good to know:

At 30C the pills hold no venom. Side effects are rare and mild. Most people report nothing at all.

The bigger risk is not the pill. It is using it in place of care that works, for bleeding, clots or a stroke. That delay can cost you dearly.

Very low strengths such as 3X may still hold traces of venom. Those are not safe to use on your own.

How much Bothrops lanceolatus should you take?

• Recommended daily: No dose has been shown to work. What follows is common practice among homeopaths, not a proven amount. A typical choice is 30C. People often take three to five pills, or a few drops, once or twice a day. Follow the label on the pack. Do not take more than it says, and do not use two snake remedies at once.
• Best time of day: Any time of day. Homeopaths often suggest between meals, with a gap of about 15 minutes before and after food or drink.
• With or without food: Without food. The usual advice is to let the pills melt under your tongue, away from meals, coffee and strong mint.
• Time to effect: Homeopaths often expect a change within a day or two. No trial has shown any effect beyond a dummy pill, so treat any promise of speed with care.
• How long to take it: Homeopaths usually suggest a few days at most. They often say to stop as soon as you feel better. If nothing has changed in a week, stop and think again. Do not keep taking it for months while a health problem goes unchecked.