What is Elaps corallinus?

Elaps corallinus is a homeopathic remedy. It is made from the venom of the coral snake, Micrurus corallinus. You may also see it sold as Coral snake venom.

Homeopaths choose it for people whose blood looks dark, almost black. The usual reasons are nosebleeds, discharge from the ear, and a cold feeling in the chest. It is a single remedy, not a blend of several.

Like all homeopathic products, it is diluted over and over again. At 30C there is, in practice, no venom left in the pill at all. Long use in homeopathy is not proof of effect, and no human trials support these uses.

How does Elaps corallinus work?

No one has shown how this remedy could work in the body, and it may not work at all.

Homeopathy follows an old idea called "like cures like". A substance that causes certain signs in a well person is thought to ease similar signs in a sick one. Snake venom can cause bleeding and dark blood, so homeopaths link it to bleeding complaints.

The venom is mixed with liquid, shaken, then diluted again and again. Each step is called a potency, such as 6C or 30C. By 30C essentially none of the starting venom remains.

Because there is nothing measurable left, there is no known way for it to act on nerves, blood or clotting. When people feel better after taking it, placebo effects and normal healing are the simplest explanations.

What forms does Elaps corallinus come in?

You will usually find it as small sugar pellets or tablets that melt under the tongue.

Common forms include: - Pellets or tablets in potencies such as 6C, 12C, 30C and 200C - Liquid drops in a water-and-alcohol base - LM or Q potencies, used mainly by practitioners

Avoid any product sold as raw, crude, undiluted or very low potency venom. Such a product is not a homeopathic dilution and is not safe to take.

Where it comes from:

Snake venoms entered homeopathy in the 1800s. Constantine Hering, a German-born homeopath who worked in South America and later the United States, led much of that work.

Elaps corallinus came in during the middle of that century. It has stayed a small, rarely used remedy, kept mainly for dark bleeding and ear complaints. It belongs to one tradition only, homeopathy, and has no separate record in herbal or other systems.

What does Elaps corallinus help with?

• Nosebleeds with dark blood: This is the best known homeopathic use, and there is no trial evidence for it. Old homeopathic texts describe blood that is dark and clotted rather than bright red. A nosebleed that will not stop, or one that keeps coming back, needs a doctor and not a remedy.
• Coughing up dark blood: Homeopathic texts list this remedy for dark blood in the spit. No human study has tested it for this. Blood in your spit can point to a serious lung or heart problem, so get medical care the same day.
• Discharge or pain in the ear: Homeopaths have used it for a runny, sometimes smelly ear with hearing loss, often on the right side. Evidence is limited to case notes in old textbooks. Ear discharge with fever or bad pain needs checking, since an untreated ear infection can spread.
• A cold feeling in the chest: A strange cold feeling in the chest after drinking something cold is the classic picture for this remedy in homeopathic books. No laboratory or human research supports it. New chest symptoms should always be checked by a doctor first.
• Right-sided head pain: Some homeopathic texts mention one-sided head pain with a heavy, throbbing feel. This rests on practitioner reports, not on trials. Sudden, severe or unusual headache needs urgent medical review.
• Fear of snakes and bad dreams: Homeopathy often matches remedies to mood and dreams, and fear of snakes is part of this remedy's picture. This is a traditional prescribing clue, not a proven treatment for anxiety. Talking therapy and medical care have real evidence behind them.

Which foods are rich in Elaps corallinus?

1. Not found in any food: it is made from snake venom, not from a nutrient

Practical Tips:

Homeopaths often advise avoiding coffee, strong mint and camphor near a dose; this is custom, not tested advice.

What are the side effects of Elaps corallinus?

• No effects at all in most people, since the pills hold no active venom
• Sweet taste, and a small amount of sugar from the pellets
• Upset stomach in people who react to lactose (milk sugar)
• Rash or itching from an allergy to something in the pellet
• A short flare of symptoms, which homeopaths call an aggravation
• Delay in getting real treatment, which is the main risk

Good to know:

Side effects from high dilutions such as 30C are rare and mild, because there is nothing active in the pill.

The real danger is not the pellet. It is using it for bleeding, ear discharge or chest symptoms that need a doctor. Bleeding can be a sign of serious illness, and time matters.

Raw or low-potency snake venom is a different matter and can cause severe harm. Never take a product sold that way.

How much Elaps corallinus should you take?

• Recommended daily: No dose has been set by research. Nothing here is a recommendation to take it. In practice, homeopaths often give 30C pellets, two to five pellets at a time, once to three times a day for a short spell. Liquid drops are used in a similar way. Amounts differ from one practitioner and one label to the next. Follow the label on the product you hold, or ask a qualified practitioner. Do not raise the amount hoping for a stronger effect.
• Best time of day: Any time of day. Homeopaths often suggest spacing doses away from meals, strong coffee and mint toothpaste. That advice is traditional and has not been tested.
• With or without food: Usually taken on a clean mouth, about 15 minutes before or after food or drink. Let pellets melt under the tongue rather than swallowing them with water.
• Time to effect: Homeopaths expect a change within hours to a few days. No trial has measured this. Do not wait on a remedy while bleeding, pain or fever gets worse.
• How long to take it: Keep any trial short, a few days at most. Homeopaths usually stop as soon as things improve. If nothing has changed after about three days, stop and see a doctor.