Often mistrusted, sometimes loathed, these creeping, crawling creatures are among the most distinctive animal remedies in the homeopathic materia medica. Exploiting his zoological background and extensive clinical experience, Jonathan Hardy offers a vivid and enticing portrait of the arachnid group and its members, for both adults and children.

General themes, extracted from provings, cases and repertories, are presented for the arachnids overall, and there are clear differentiations for Spiders and Scorpions, old and new. Typical physical pathology includes neurobehavioural  and eating disorders, chronic fatigue and extremity symptoms.

These main strands are skilfully interwoven with information on miasms and specific biological features, offering choice morsels for individual remedies. We learn, for example, that size and self-confidence are central issues for the passive species aranea diadema, whose much smaller male risks being eaten during mating.  aranea ixobola has the greatest anxiety regarding family members, and may suffer from psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis; while concerns over safety loom particularly large for tegenaria atrica.

The analysis is supported throughout by colour photos and nearly twenty case histories, completing  a fine web of interconnected material and shedding valuable light on this corner of the Animal Kingdom.