Agaricus muscarius appears in 12 of the 13 classic books on Similia. Each was written to do a different job — here is what each adds on this remedy, with the opening of its entry.
- Allen HC — The keynotes that separate this remedy from its nearest neighbours.
“Toadstool (Fungi.) Persons with light hair; skin and muscles lax. Old people with weak, indolent circulation. Drunkards, especially for their headaches; bad effects after a debauch (Lob., Nux, Ran.). Delirium: with constant raving; tries to get out of bed; in typhoid or typhus. Headaches: of those who readily become…”
- Allen TF — The raw proving record — symptoms as the provers reported them, unedited.
“Agaricus muscarius, L.; Nat. order , Fungi. Common names , Bug or fly Agaric; Germ., Fliegenschwamm; Fr., Fausse orange. Preparation , Tincture of the fresh fungus. Authorities. [Nos 1 to 11 , from Hahnemann; 12 to 30 , and 48 , Austrian provings; 81, A. H. Z., 2, 62; 32, A. H. Z., 46; 33, A. H. Z., 82, 180; 34…”
- Boericke — The quick clinical read — keynotes, modalities and the conditions it is actually prescribed in.
“Toad Stool-Bug Agaric (AGARICUS MUSCARIUS-AMANITA) This fungus contains several toxic compounds, the best known of which is Muscarin . The symptoms of poisoning do not develop at once, usually twelve to fourteen hours elapse before the initial attack. There is no antidote, treatment, entirely symptomatic (Schneider)…”
- Boger (Syn) — Generals and modalities in a short analytical portrait rather than a symptom list.
“SPINAL AXIS: OCCIPUT. NERVES. Lumbar region. Peristalsis. Heart. Circulation. Respiration. Chest. Air: COLD. FREEZING. OPEN. Stormy. Exhaustion: Mental. Coition. Debauchery. Alcohol. Pressure. Touch. Morning. During menses. Gentle motion. Gradual onset . Many symptoms (Tub.). IRREGULAR, ANGULAR, UNCERTAIN AND…”
- Clarke — The widest entry — sources, provings, clinical uses, relationships and antidotes in one place.
“Amanita muscaria. Agaricus muscarius. Fly Agaric. Bug Agaric. Champignon fou. (Europe, Asia, and America; in dry places, especially in dry pine woods.) N. O. Fungi. Trituration of the carefully dried-up cap (pileus); or tincture of the fresh fungus. Acne rosacea / Blepharospasm / Brain, softening of / Bunion /…”
- Hering — Graded symptoms, each weighted by how often provers and practice confirmed it.
“Fly Fungus. Nat. order, Fungi. One of the most poisonous fungi known as Agaricus muscarius , abused by Asiatic tribes of savages in the form of a real intoxicating drink, the effects of which have been reported by numerous travelers. The usual name of "Agaricus" given by Linnee is too vague. Persoon and Fries have…”
- Kent — The mental and general picture — who the patient is, before what the remedy cures.
“Generalities: The most striking things running through this medicine are twitchings and tremblings, jerkings of the muscles and trembling of the limbs; quivering and tremors, everywhere these two features are present in all parts of the body and limbs. The twitching of the muscles becomes so extensive that it is a…”
- Lippe (KN) — Only the symptoms Lippe considered reliable enough to prescribe on.
“Itching with burning and redness, as if frost-bitten, of the nose, ears, fingers and toes. Great sensitiveness of the body to pressure and cold air. Great debility and heaviness in the limbs. Boring or dull pains. Sensation of soreness in the nose and mouth. Tearing pains in the limbs, which are continuous while at…”
- Lippe (MM) — The strict Hahnemannian reading — the symptom picture without clinical interpretation.
“Indisposed to talk. Indisposed to perform any kind of labor, especially mental. Exuberant fancy. Ecstasy. Prophecy. He makes verses. Vertigo, giddiness, as from intoxication, especially in the morning, in the open air, and caused by the bright rays of the sun. Sensation of heaviness, in the morning, as after…”
- Lippe (Red) — Keynotes with the most-trusted ones marked as red-line symptoms.
“Common names: bug agaric; fly agaric; toad stool. It acts as an intoxicant to the brain, producing more vertigo and delirium than alcohol, followed by profound sopor with lowered reflexes. GREAT DEBILITY AND HEAVINESS IN THE LIMBS. Nervous prostration, after sexual debauchery (A.). Boring or dull pains. Every motion…”
- Nash — The comparisons — the remedy set beside the ones it is most often confused with.
“Ears, face, nose and skin in general, red and itch as if from chilblains. Twitching in eyelids (especially), face, extremities, even choreaic jerkings, which cease during sleep. Spinal column painful and sensitive to touch, aching extending into the lower limbs. Agaricus has some very characteristic skin symptoms…”
