Staphysagria 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.
“Stavesacre. (Ranunculaceae.) For the mental effects of onanism and sexual excesses. Very sensitive to slight mental impressions; least action or harmless words offend (Ign.). Great indignation about things done by others or by himself; grieves about consequences. Apathetic, indifferent, low-spirited, weak memory from…”
- Allen TF — The raw proving record — symptoms as the provers reported them, unedited.
“Delphinium staphisagria, Linn. Natural order , Ranunculaceæ. Common names , Stavesacre; (G.), Läusesamen; (F.), Staphisaigre. Preparation , Tincture of the seeds. Authorities. (From Hahnemann, R. A. M. L.) Emotional. He was joyous, enjoyed society, and was good-humored, 11 . [Curative reaction of the organism in a man…”
- Boericke — The quick clinical read — keynotes, modalities and the conditions it is actually prescribed in.
“Stavesacre Nervous affections with marked irritability, diseases of the genito-urinary tract and skin, most frequently give symptoms calling for this drug. Acts on teeth and alveolar periosteum. Ill effects of anger and insults. Sexual sins and excesses. Very sensitive . Lacerated tissues. Pain and nervousness after…”
- Boger (Syn) — Generals and modalities in a short analytical portrait rather than a symptom list.
“NERVES. TEETH. Genito - urinary organs. Fibrous tissues: Eyelids. Tarsi. Skin. Glands. Right deltoid. Emotions:Chagrin. Vexation. Indignation. Quarrels. Sexual excesses. Onanism. Touch. Cold drinks. Lacerations. Stretching parts. Mercury. Night. Warmth. Rest. Break - fast. Nervous tembling. Squeezing or stinging…”
- Clarke — The widest entry — sources, provings, clinical uses, relationships and antidotes in one place.
“Delphinium staphisagria. Stavesacre. N. O. Ranunculaceæ. Tincture of the seeds. Adenoids / Anger, fits of / Anus, itching of / Backache / Bashfulness / Blepharitis / Bones, diseases of / Cauliflower excrescences / Chalazion / Condylomata / Cough / Cysts / Dentition / Dysentery / Dysparunia; in newly married women /…”
- Hering — Graded symptoms, each weighted by how often provers and practice confirmed it.
“Stavesacre. Ranunculaceæ. A native of the south of Europe. The alcoholic solution is prepared from the ripe seed. Introduced by Hahnemann, and proved by himself, Cubitz, Franz, Gross, Gutmann, Hartmann, Hornburg, Haynel, Hermann, Kummer, Langhammer, Stapf, and Teuthorn, Arzneimittellehre, vol. 5, p. 291. CLINICAL…”
- Kent — The mental and general picture — who the patient is, before what the remedy cures.
“The mental symptoms are very important, and the impressions made upon the mind and thence upon the body guide to Staphysagria as a remedy. Excitable, easily aroused to anger, but seldom irascible, that is, easily disturbed and excited, but seldom manifests it. Suitable in cases where complaints come from pent up…”
- Lippe (KN) — Only the symptoms Lippe considered reliable enough to prescribe on.
“Painfulness of the muscles to contact and of the joints when moving. One-sided paralysis from anger. In the morning great debility and stiffness of all the joints (mostly in the shoulder, small of back, hip). Nightly twitchings. Drawing and tearing in the muscles. Deep, penetrating sharp stitches. Gouty nodosities in…”
- Lippe (MM) — The strict Hahnemannian reading — the symptom picture without clinical interpretation.
“Anger and indignation, with pushing or throwing away of what one holds in his hand. Justifiable ill-humor over what has happened or has been done by oneself; weeping and dejected over the supposed ill consequences of it. Continuous grief and anxiety about the future. Hypochondria and Hysteria after unmerited insults…”
- Lippe (Red) — Keynotes with the most-trusted ones marked as red-line symptoms.
“Common name: stavesacre. Drawing and tearing in the muscles (Carb-V., Nit-Ac., Valer.). Painfulness of the muscles to contact and of the joints when moving (Bry.). INJURIES FROM SHARP INSTRUMENTS (Hyper., Led.). Coxalgia with pulsating pain, as from suppuration. One-sided paralysis from anger. In the morning great…”
- Nash — The comparisons — the remedy set beside the ones it is most often confused with.
“Cross, ugly, scrawny, pot-bellied children; subject to colic; < after food or drink. Extreme hunger even when stomach is full of food. Styes, nodosities, chalazæ, on eyelids, one after another, sometimes ulcerating. Burning in the urethra when not urinating; very sensitive to slightest mental impressions; least action…”
