Staphisagria

A toxic plant native to southern Europe, traditionally used to expel lice and parasites. The seeds are rich in alkaloids, notably delphinine, which acts as a strong neurotoxin.

First proved by Samuel Hahnemann and included in Materia Medica Pura; later confirmed clinically and expanded by Allen, Hering, and Clarke.

Staphisagria captures the core theme of inward suppression of anger, sexual shame, or humiliation, which then manifests in somatic dysfunction. The remedy suits individuals who have been wounded in their dignity—through insult, abuse, surgical invasion, or betrayal. They maintain outward politeness, even gratitude, while their vitality silently collapses under unexpressed emotional burdens. Their complaints often emerge after violated boundaries: emotionally, physically, or sexually. The essence is the “beautiful soul trapped behind silent suffering.”

• Genito-urinary organs – especially male sexual system and bladder
• Teeth and gums – caries, pain, and neuralgia
• Nervous system – oversensitivity, tremors, sexual neurasthenia
• Eyes and lids – styes, chalazion, eyelid inflammation
• Skin – itching, eruptions, acne, suppressed skin diseases
• Emotional and mental plane – suppressed anger, humiliation, wounded pride
• Right side – many symptoms predominantly right-sided

The mental sphere is highly sensitive, defined by suppressed indignation, insult, and wounded honour. The patient may present as mild, yielding, even apologetic, yet inwardly is seething with repressed rage [Kent]. This repression often leads to psychosomatic illness. The mind becomes disturbed after humiliation, injustice, or long-held grief. There may be a strong sense of dignity violated. Depression, nervous exhaustion, and irritability follow emotional shocks. Oversensitive to rudeness or sharp words. Indifference alternates with silent suffering. A key remedy for emotional abuse and post-trauma states. [Hering] and [Clarke] emphasise its value in the aftermath of insults, especially when anger is not expressed.

Sleep disturbed by dreams of humiliation, fights, or past abuse. Restless sleep from mental unrest. Starts from sleep. Daytime drowsiness with yawning.

Dreams of being wronged, violated, or insulted. Dreams of past trauma. Anxiety and helplessness dominate dream themes. Dreams of disgrace or exposure.

Oversensitive—emotionally, physically, and mentally. Injuries to pride or honour cause profound somatic reactions. Complaints follow suppressed emotions, surgical trauma, or sexual excess. Suits gentle, refined, cultured individuals who have been emotionally violated or humiliated. Tendency to tremble, twitch, and break down from inner stress.

Chilliness with heat in face. Internal burning with icy extremities. Fever after emotional strain or suppression. Intermittent or irregular fevers in sensitive, refined constitutions.

Chill after emotional upsets. Heat flushes with perspiration on face. Sweat clammy, especially during sleep. Offensive odour. Sweating does not relieve symptoms.

Dull, stupefying headache with a sensation as if a ball of lead were pressing inwards. Neuralgic pain in temples or above eyes. Worse from touch and mental exertion. Sensation of brain bruised or sore. Headaches follow suppressed anger or sexual excess. Vertigo on standing or motion. Pain from occiput to nape. Tendency to scalp eruptions.

Dryness, itching, and burning of lids. Styes and chalazion on upper lids, particularly recurring on the same eye. Sensation of sand in the eye. Lids agglutinated in morning. Painful stiffness of ocular muscles. Twitching of lids. Aggressive, ulcerating inflammations in sensitive, introverted individuals. [Boericke] noted its frequent use for post-operative irritation.

Dryness, itching, and burning of lids. Styes and chalazion on upper lids, particularly recurring on the same eye. Sensation of sand in the eye. Lids agglutinated in morning. Painful stiffness of ocular muscles. Twitching of lids. Aggressive, ulcerating inflammations in sensitive, introverted individuals. [Boericke] noted its frequent use for post-operative irritation.

Frequent sneezing with dry coryza. Bleeding from the nose after scratching. Itching of nostrils. Loss of smell. Coryza worse in morning and from cold air. Nose dry and crusted.

Pale, sunken, or puffy. Facial neuralgia from touch or after dental procedures. Acne, especially on chin and jawline. Tension in facial muscles, worse after anger. Twitching of corners of mouth. Lips dry and cracked.

Highly sensitive. Painful blisters and ulcers. Gums bleed easily and are sensitive to the slightest touch. Tongue feels cut or sore. Offensive breath. Metallic or bitter taste. Teeth feel too long, loose, or as if they will fall out.

Toothache from slightest touch, worse from cold air. Caries begins at roots. Painful dental neuralgia, worse at night. Particularly indicated for patients with recurrent abscesses or who have never been well since tooth extraction. [Clarke] noted Staph. as a prime post-dental remedy.

Raw, burning, or scraped feeling. Sensation of lump in throat when swallowing, especially saliva. Irritation from suppressed emotions. Worse from talking. Throat feels tight after grief or insult.

Constriction or oppression after anger. Palpitation with trembling. Stitching pains in ribs. Breast pain with swelling, especially in unmarried women. Dry cough worse in the evening.

Palpitations from suppressed emotions or excitement. Irregular pulse. Trembling with nervous anxiety. Sensation of fluttering or tightness in chest. Pain shoots into left arm.

Sighing respiration, especially after grief. Oppression or suffocation after emotional shocks. Shortness of breath when lying down. Feeling of weight on chest.

Loss of appetite with constant hunger. Nausea after anger. Sour or bitter eructations. Painful bloating after meals. Craving for milk, which disagrees. Pressure in stomach after food, worse from emotional upset. Sensation as if a stone lies in the stomach.

Colic from suppressed anger or indignation. Sensitive to slightest pressure, yet better from hard pressure. Flatulence with painful distension. Tenderness over bladder or pubic region. Drawing pain from navel to genitals.

Constipation with frequent but ineffectual urging. Painful hemorrhoids, aggravated after emotions or coition. Itching and smarting at anus. Sensation of sharp sticks or knives. Proctitis after sexual trauma or procedures.

Burning and cutting pain when urinating. Involuntary dribbling of urine. Sensation as if bladder not emptied. Pain after catheterisation or cystoscopy. Tenesmus of bladder with scanty flow. Very useful in post-surgical urinary discomfort. [Hering]

Craving for milk, sweets, or bread. Aversion to tobacco smoke. Milk aggravates digestion. Appetite low after emotional upset. Worse from cold drinks.

Marked effect on sexual organs. Frequent involuntary emissions without pleasure. Loss of sexual desire followed by intense irritability. Genitals feel bruised or burning. Orchitis after suppressed anger. Prostate symptoms, especially after coition. Complaints follow masturbation or excessive indulgence. [Kent] called it “the remedy for sexual abuse in sensitive constitutions.”

Painful coition with extreme tenderness. Vaginismus. Leucorrhoea acrid, thick, and worse after emotions. Aversion to sex. Menstruation too early and profuse or delayed with cramping pain. Suits women who feel violated or emotionally abused. Irritability before menses. Useful after surgical interventions like hysterectomy or dilation.

Stiffness in cervical spine. Drawing pain between scapulae. Weakness in lumbar region. Spine sensitive to touch. Sacral pain from suppressed anger. Backache after sexual excess or masturbation.

Trembling, twitching, or jerking. Cold hands and feet with heat in face. Drawing pain in thighs and calves. Cramps in soles and toes. Fingers numb, worse in cold. Writing causes pain in wrist. Joint stiffness after insult or shock.

Eruptions from suppressed anger or grief. Acne, especially in pubescent, sensitive individuals. Itching, worse from warmth or scratching. Skin ulcerates easily. Warts, especially on genitals or fingers. Long-lasting styes or chalazia.

• Ignatia – Acute grief and changeability, but more dramatic and hysterical
• Natrum muriaticum – Reserved grief and dignity, but more introverted and thirsty
• Nux vomica – Irritable, competitive, and easily angered, but expressive rather than suppressive
• Pulsatilla – Yielding and weepy, but lacks the righteous indignation
• Thuja – Sensitive, shame-filled, with delusions of deformity, but more sycotic suppression

• Complementary: Thuja, Pulsatilla, Natrum mur.
• Antidotes: Coffea, Chamomilla
• Follows well: Ignatia in lingering grief; Nux vomica in irritable collapse
• Precedes well: Natrum mur. in deeper introversion
• Inimical: Mercurius (in sensitive patients)

• A top remedy for post-surgical pain, especially after catheterisation or dental extraction
• Useful for sexual trauma, vaginismus, or impotence after abuse
• Indicated when urinary or digestive complaints follow emotional insult
• Excellent for recurring styes and chalazia, especially when upper lid is affected
• A remedy of choice in introverted, oversensitive patients with suppressed rage

Mind

• Ailments from indignation
• Suppressed anger
• Silent grief
• Oversensitive to rudeness
• Aversion to coition

Urinary

• Pain after urination
• Retention after surgery
• Tenesmus of bladder

Female Genitalia

• Painful coition
• Vaginismus
• Leucorrhoea acrid, post-coital

Eyes

• Styes, upper lid, recurring
• Lids inflamed and tender
• Twitching of lids

Teeth

• Pain after dental work
• Toothache from touch
• Caries at roots

Skin

• Eczema behind ears
• Warts on genitals or fingers
• Acne in sensitive youth

• Samuel Hahnemann – Materia Medica Pura: Original proving and primary proving symptoms
• T.F. Allen – Encyclopaedia of Pure Materia Medica: Expanded proving data and neurotic presentations
• John Henry Clarke – Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica: Deepened indications for sexual and emotional trauma
• C. Hering – Guiding Symptoms: Clinical confirmations for dental and genito-urinary issues
• William Boericke – Pocket Manual: Practical applications in surgery, ophthalmology, and psychology
• J.T. Kent – Lectures on Homoeopathic Materia Medica: Psychological core and portrait of the remedy