STAPHSAGRIA AN ANGRY REMEDY

STAPHYSAGRIA: Anger and resentment but not showing it

Staphysagria is a powerful remedy suited to modern living where so much is being revealed about the long-term effects of physical, emotional and sexual abuse.

Any history of anger and resentment in a situation where one feels defenceless and at the mercy of someone else. Not being able to confront the perpetrator of your misery means anger suppression and the chronic ailments that result from that.

It is a polycrest (remedy of many uses) and one of the wondrous things about Homeopathy is that polycrest remedies have many seemingly unrelated uses. For instance, Staphysagria is effective for such conditions as styes, cystitis and surgical cuts as well as being an acute remedy for the effects of rape!

What is Staphysagria?

It is derived from the garden plant Staveacre or delphinia larkspur and from the Ranunculaceae family.

It has been used since Greek times. Hippocrates used it as a herbal remedy to kill lice and crabs and external parasites. Samuel Hahnemann proved it and started using it for other, deeper reasons.

What are some causations or typical scenarios?

. History of being humiliated in some way. They cannot confront or fight back. It could be grief from a

   broken relationship, being passed over by a younger person at work, rejection due to unrequited

   love. an abusive marriage where they stay for the “sake of the children”. The resulting (suppressed)   

   anger and resentment can lead to low self-confidence and possible depression.

. A child is told repeatedly that they are “dumb”, “stupid” or “not good enough”.

  This may be from a sibling, parent, teacher, sports coach etc. The child lives all day in the fear of

  being hurt. Feelings of humiliation result and a child will tend to blame themselves giving rise to   

  feelings of guilt, self-pity and worthlessness.

. Sexual molestation, incest, rape and other forms of inappropriate sexual advances, in both sexes,  

    bring up the symptoms of Staphysagria.

    They mentally bury the anger, shame and humiliation and tend to project a resigned demeanour.

     They have learnt to ‘give in’ because of the feeling of being trapped, and the sweetness,

     humbleness and passivity they present on the outside is a protective shield.

. Anyone who has a history of being a prisoner of war or a refugee.

Main mental symptoms leading one to consider Staphysagria:

   “Staphysagria has great value as a mind remedy” E.B. Nash M.D.

. Feelings of worthlessness or depression with a history of verbal, sexual or physical abuse.

. Overly nice, timid and passive with a pathological desire to please. Self-pity and resignation.

. Fear of failure.

. Grief with anger with a sense of an injustice has been done to them.

.  Morbidly sensitive to the least criticism and will take things to heart.

.  Deep guilt and shame, often from sexual abuse. Also, maybe resulting from the abuse,

   the tendency to either increased or the absence of sexual desire. Can fear sex due to past

   negative experiences. The mind can dwell constantly on sexual subjects.

. Violent outbursts of passion. This is suppressed anger coming to the surface. Can be

    always angry and throw things. Especially in children, they will be an angry child who throws

    things, fights and screams and yells.

Other diseases and conditions where Staphysagria is indicated

. The acute symptoms of a recent rape.

. Ailments linked to anger. These include colic. Ailments that are inflamed and sensitive like styes,

   chalazions, cystitis and inflamed bowel. Itching, sensitive skin. Sensitive ulcers on the skin.  

. Teeth have many symptoms to do with sensitivity. A child will be very sensitive during dentition.

    Receding gums and pyorrhea. Toothache during menses.

.  Cystitis, acute or chronic, a burning pain when not urinating or pain after urination. Staphysagria is

    for the irritable bladder in young, recently married women. (coyly titled “Honeymoon cystitis”!)

    Also, other female problems: vaginitis, painful sensitivity of genital organs, ovarian pains.

.  Prostate problems in old men with frequent urination and dribbling of urine afterwards.

.  Effects of wounds made with clean-cutting instruments. That includes stab wounds and

     it is very useful after surgery to heal cuts from the inside out. Also, lacerated tissue; most birthing

     kits include Staphysagria to help repair perineum tears.

.   Bulimia. Feels guilty and depressed and turns to food, then feels guilty about food.

.  Colon problems: Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, inflammations of the colon from anger.

.  Eyes.  Blepharitis, Chalazions and (recurrent) styes come under the symptom picture.

.  Dislocation of the jaw.

.  Ill-humoured children who cry for things then petulantly throw them away.

Modalities (What makes Staphysagria subjects better or worse)

. Craving for tobacco, stimulants, wine, brandy.

. Aversion to milk (or like it) and cheese.

. Worse from anger, grief, indignation.

.  Worse from emotions and excitement

. Sensitive to the least impressions, Sensitive to touch except

   teeth are better from pressure.

. Worse for consolation

. Periodicity is very marked. Worse evening to morning.

. Worse after urinating

Comparison to other remedies

Written here for interest and further reading but all treatment of long standing chronic

conditions should always be done under the guidance and monitoring of a professional

Homeopath.

History of grief, abuse or humiliation: Nat Mur, Carcinosin, Phosphoric Acid, Anacardium.

People who are angry and irritable all the time: Staphysagria, Chamomilla, Cina, Colocynthis and Nux vomica are all very close.

Marked action on the eyelids: Graphites

Healing of wounds: Calendula externally and in potency for cuts. Hypericum for painful lacerations.

Children who are bad tempered and throw things: Chamomilla, Cina.

Colic due to anger: Colocynthis

Worse for consolation: Nat Mur, but Nat Mur doesn’t usually cry.

How to Use Staphysagria

 It can be used effectively for acute problems such as surgery cuts or Chalazions, but long term (chronic) problems

  should be treated under the guidance of a professional homeopath.

• Potency: 30C for acute problems.

• Dose: Take one dose every 4 hours for 2 days and observe.

• The best result is a quick and complete removal of the problem. If that happens after 1 dose - stop the remedy. It may take a day - stop the remedy. In other words, there is no need to continue dosing once healing has happened.

• If it is improving, but slowly, space the doses out to twice a day for another 3 days

• If it is not improving or reaches a standstill, stop the remedy and seek advice from a homeopath.

  Case examples

                   1. Mark, 43, has been depressed since childhood. His ‘sadistic’ elder brother used to abuse him constantly until the age of 12.   He blamed childhood trauma for his present condition and is a talented musician who had been inhibited all his life. He had a terrible choking feeling when attempting to sing and converse, even to cry which gave him great anxiety.  When he sought out homeopathy he was sleeping 15 hours a day with no motivation.  If he did go out, he could not look anyone in the eye as he felt so insignificant. He was depressed and hopeless. He had many physical symptoms including chronic constipation.

                    Staphysagria was prescribed with immediate improvement in the first month -a brighter outlook, easily holding eye contact and some easing of the throat. Within 6 months Mark was performing in a duet on stage, writing music and about to record. He said he writes lyrics about the tough times which “would have been completely impossible before” and “I have waited my whole life to feel this way! “

                    2. Kate, 26, had been raped by a trusted church leader in her teens. Ever since then she has had extreme anxiety about her health. She had many chronic problems linked to her menstrual cycle and was unable to have a good night’s sleep. Emotionally she considered herself ‘ugly’ and undesirable, although she was an attractive looking young woman. She felt a lot of shame and blamed herself for the bad things that happen to those around her. Her libido was very low, and she tended to enter into unfulfilling relationships, having an abiding numb feeling and always putting her partner’s needs above her own.

                     There was an immediate response to  Staphysagria in the first month. Kate said she felt lighter and more positive about the future. Soon after she left her boyfriend on her terms and started having ‘fun dates’. All her menstrual symptoms were improving and within 4 months of treatment, she was ‘very happy in a totally different relationship to the past’. She had much more self-confidence and didn’t feel ugly anymore.

                     Later that year she reported that she was joyously pregnant. She was so happy about the wonderful outcome of getting her life back that she had enrolled in a homeopathic college.