What is Mygale lasiodora?

Mygale lasiodora is a homeopathic remedy. It is made from the black Cuban spider, a kind of tarantula. Its Latin name is Avicularia avicularia.

It is a single drug in homeopathy, so it is given on its own and not as part of a mixed formula. Homeopaths have used it most often for chorea (jerky movements a person cannot control). They have also used it for twitching, nerve pain and some skin problems.

The remedy is made by diluting the spider material again and again, with hard shaking at each step. At 30C, a common strength, no spider material is left at all. Trials have not shown that it works better than a placebo (a dummy pill), and long use in a tradition is not proof that something works.

How does Mygale lasiodora work?

There is no known way for this remedy to act on the body at normal strengths. At 30C the liquid or pill holds no spider material, so there is nothing left to have a drug effect.

Homeopaths work from an old idea called "like cures like". They say a substance that could cause twitching and restlessness in a healthy person can settle the same signs in a sick person. This idea has not been shown to be true in tests.

Most of what people notice is likely to be a placebo effect, the natural ups and downs of an illness, or care and attention from the person treating them.

What forms does Mygale lasiodora come in?

You will usually see it as small sugar pills or tiny round pellets that melt under the tongue. Liquid drops are also sold, and these are normally preserved in alcohol.

Common strengths are 6C, 30C and 200C. The number tells you how many times the material was diluted and shaken.

Most pills are made with lactose (milk sugar) and sucrose (cane sugar).

Where it comes from:

The remedy came into homeopathic use in the 1800s, when homeopaths were testing many animal and insect sources. Spider remedies were linked in that tradition with restlessness and jerky movement.

It has always been a minor remedy. It is far less used than the better known spider remedy Tarentula hispanica, and it has no place in any tradition outside homeopathy.

What does Mygale lasiodora help with?

• Chorea (jerky movements a person cannot control): This is the use the remedy is best known for in homeopathy. Old homeopathic texts describe it for jerky movements of the face, arms and legs. There are no human trials testing it for this. Chorea can be a sign of a serious problem with the brain, heart or nerves, so it always needs a doctor's opinion first.
• Muscle twitching and restlessness: Homeopaths have used it when a person cannot keep still and the muscles jump or flicker. No trial has tested this. Twitching that lasts, spreads or comes with weakness should be checked by a doctor.
• Nerve pain running down an arm or leg: Traditional homeopathic notes mention burning or shooting pain along a limb, often on the left side. There is no human evidence for this use. Nerve pain has many causes, and finding the cause matters more than the remedy.
• Skin sores and rashes: Some old sources list it for sore, angry-looking patches of skin that are slow to heal. This use is based on tradition only. A sore that will not heal needs to be looked at by a doctor or nurse.
• Restless, anxious feelings: Homeopaths have described it for a keyed-up, jumpy state of mind that goes with the physical twitching. No trial has tested it for anxiety. Talking therapies and proven treatments have far better support.

Which foods are rich in Mygale lasiodora?

This is not found in any food. It is a prepared remedy made from a spider, not a nutrient.

What are the side effects of Mygale lasiodora?

• No effects at all, which is the usual outcome at 30C and above
• Upset stomach or wind in people who cannot digest lactose (milk sugar) in the pills
• A brief flare of symptoms, which homeopaths call an aggravation
• Irritation of the mouth or stomach from the alcohol in liquid drops
• Rare allergic reaction such as rash, itching or swelling
• Harm from delay, if the remedy is used instead of needed medical care

Good to know:

Direct side effects are very unlikely at normal homeopathic strengths, because there is no spider material left in the product. Most reports involve the sugar or alcohol used to carry it.

The real risk is different. If you use this remedy instead of treatment for a nerve, heart or brain problem, the delay itself can cause serious harm.

How much Mygale lasiodora should you take?

• Recommended daily: There is no proven dose. No trial has set a safe or useful amount for this remedy. In practice, homeopaths often suggest a few pills of a 30C strength, once or twice a day, or drops in water. Follow the label on the pack you buy, and do not take more than it says. Never use it in place of medicine a doctor has prescribed.
• Best time of day: Homeopaths usually suggest taking it away from meals, drinks and strong tastes such as coffee, mint or toothpaste. This is a custom of the tradition, not a tested rule. Any time of day is fine.
• With or without food: Usually taken on an empty mouth, about 15 to 30 minutes before or after food or drink. Let the pills melt under your tongue rather than swallowing them whole.
• Time to effect: No reliable time can be given, because the remedy has not been shown to do anything beyond placebo. Any change you notice in the first days is most likely the illness settling on its own.
• How long to take it: Keep any trial of it short. A few days to two weeks is enough to see whether you feel any different. Stop and speak to a doctor if your symptoms stay the same, come back, or get worse. Do not keep taking it for months in the hope of a slow change.