Asterias Rubens appears in 8 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.
“Star-fish (Radiata) For the sycotic diathesis; flabby, lymphatic constitution; irritable temperament. Easily excited by any emotion, especially by contradictions (Anac., Con.). Heat of the head, as if surrounded by hot air. Sanguineous congestion to the brain. Apoplexy; face red, pulse hard, full, frequent. Cancer of…”
- Allen TF — The raw proving record — symptoms as the provers reported them, unedited.
“Asterias (Uraster) rubens belongs to the Invertebratæ, class Radiata. Common name , Star-fish. Preparation , Tincture of the living animal cut in pieces. Authority. Petroz, Provings, Journ. de la Soc. Gal., 1, 225. Inclination to bite (fifth day), 5. Uncommon cheerfulness in the evening (first day), 6. Moral…”
- Boericke — The quick clinical read — keynotes, modalities and the conditions it is actually prescribed in.
“Red Starfish A remedy for the sycotic diathesis; flabby, lymphatic constitution, flabby with red face. Lancinating pains. Nervous disturbances, neuralgia, chorea, and hysteria come within the range of this remedy. Has been used for cancer of the breast, and has an unquestioned influence over cancer disease. Excitement…”
- Boger (GA) — Which general headings this remedy belongs under — the analytical scaffolding.
“RETRACTED, depressed, drawn back, etc.”
- Clarke — The widest entry — sources, provings, clinical uses, relationships and antidotes in one place.
“Star-fish. N. O. Radiata. Tincture of fish. Acne / Apoplexy / Cancer / Constipation / Convulsions / Epilepsy / Headache / Heart, affections of / Hysteria / Salivation / Sycosis / Tongue, paralysis of; swelling of / Ulcers / Uterus, affections of The star-fish was used by Hippocrates in uterine diseases. This shows its…”
- Hering — Graded symptoms, each weighted by how often provers and practice confirmed it.
“Star-fish. Radiata. Used by Hippocrates, and others, in uterine diseases. See Aldrovandi, Frankf. edition, 1623, p. 298. Brauns had given it homœopathically since 1835. Petroz proved and introduced it, by publishing his provings on seven persons and cured cases in the Journ. de la Soc. Gallicane, in 1850-51. It was…”
- Lippe (Red) — Keynotes with the most-trusted ones marked as red-line symptoms.
“Common name: star fish. Easily excited by any emotion, especially by contradictions (Anac., Bell., Con., Nux-V., Sulph.) (A.). Weeps from least emotion (Ign., Puls., Nat-M., Sep.) (B.). Irritable temperament (Nux-V.) (A.). Gait unsteady; muscles refuse to obey the will (Alum., Arg-N., Gels.). Hysterical and neuralgic…”
