Asterias rubens
Red starfish. · Animal
Tearfulness is typical of those who respond best to Asterias, and they feel better after crying. They like to have people around them, yet prefer to retain a degree of independence. If contradicted they may become angry and irritable, especially in hot weather. Asterias is generally used in the treatment of left-sided symptoms that occur particularly in women, as well as for circulatory problems in both sexes. It also has the odd feature of apparently making old scars, particularly those in the breast area, become painful again.
Asterias may benefit women who experience an increased sex drive so intense that it causes restless sleep, erotic dreams, a bad temper, and weepiness. Further symptoms that may respond to Asterias include obstinate constipation, particularly during menopause, hard, swollen glands in the armpits, or sharp pains in the breasts at night with a drawing sensation in the nipples, especially in the left breast. These symptoms may be accompanied by a high libido.
The remedy is also used for circulatory disorders such as strokes, especially if they are preceded by great impatience, dizziness, and muscle spasms in the limbs.
Key symptoms
- Sycotic diathesis; flabby lymphatic constitution with red face
- Cancer of the breast; axillary glands swollen hard and knotted
- Left breast feels as if pulled inward; pain extends over inner arm to little finger
- Acute lancinating pain in breast; ulceration in cancer mammae
- Pimples on side of nose, chin, and mouth at adolescence
- Excitement of sexual instinct with nervous agitation
- Heat in head as if surrounded by hot air; shocks in brain
- Gait unsteady; muscles refuse to obey the will
- Constipation; stool like olives; or diarrhea watery brown gushing out in jet
Worse (aggravation)
Better (amelioration)
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 in both sexes.
Head
Cannot bear contradiction. Shocks in brain; throbbing; heat in head, as if surrounded by hot air.
Face
Red. Pimples on side of nose, chin and mouth. Disposition to pimples at adolescence.
Female
Colic and other sufferings cease with appearance of flow. Breasts swell and pain in breasts; worse left. Ulceration with sharp pains, piercing to scapulæ. Pains down left arm to fingers, worse motion. Excitement of sexual instinct with nervous agitation.
Nodes and indurations of mammary gland, dull aching, neuralgic pain in this region (Conium).
Chest
Breasts swollen, indurated. Neuralgia of left breast and arm (Brom). Pain under sternum and in muscles of præcordial region. Left breast feels as if pulled inward, and pain extends over inner arm to end of little finger. Numbness of hand and fingers of left side. Cancer mammæ even in ulcerative stage. Acute, lancinating pain. Axillary glands swollen hard and knotted.
Nervous System
Gait unsteady; muscles refuse to obey the will. Epilepsy; preceded by twitching over whole body.
Stool
Constipation. Ineffectual desire. Stool like olives. Diarrhœa, watery brown, gushing out in jet.
Skin
Destitute of pliability and elasticity. Itching spots. Ulcers, with fetid ichor. Acne. Psoriasis and herpes zoster worse left arm and chest. Enlarged axillary glands, worse, at night and in damp weather.
Relationship
Antidotes: Plumb; Zinc.
Compare: Conium; Carbo; Ars; Condurango.
Incompatible: Nux; Coffea.
Modalities
Worse, coffee, night; cold damp weather, left side.
Dose
Sixth potency.
Star-fish. N. O. Radiata. Tincture of fish.
Clinical
Acne. Apoplexy. Cancer. Constipation. Convulsions. Epilepsy. Headache. Heart, affections of. Hysteria. Salivation. Sycosis. Tongue, paralysis of; swelling of. Ulcers. Uterus, affections of.
Characteristics
The star-fish was used by Hippocrates in uterine diseases. This shows its pathogenetic relationship to Sepia and Murex. It is also an ancient remedy for epilepsy. It powerfully affects the mind and head, producing symptoms strongly suggesting apoplexy. The face is red, and there is strong congestion to the head, which is hot and feels as if surrounded with hot air. Certain forms of cerebral congestion with obstinate constipation. Electric shocks in the head. Nightly lancinating pains in the breasts have led to its successful use in cases of mammary cancer. Petroz used Aster. r. successfully in old skin affections, old ulcers, and in cancers. He found that it only acted on the latter when on the left side. (I have a case─probably not cancerous─of …
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 mammae; acute lancinating pain; drawing pain in breast; swollen, distended, as before the menses; breast feels drawn in. A livid red spot appeared, broke and discharged; gradually invaded entire breast, very fetid odor; edges pale, clevated, mamillary, hard, everted; bottom covered with reddish granulations. Gait unsteady: muscles refuse to obey the will (Alum., Gels.). Epilepsy: twitching over the whole body four or five days before the attack. Constipation: obstinate; ineffectual desire; stools of hard, round balls, like olives. Diarrhoea: watery, brown, gushing out in a violent jet (Crot. t., Grat., Gum., Jatr., Thuja). Sexual desire increased in women (Lit.).
Phatak's chapter on Asterias rubens is available in the app.
Read Phatak in the appClassical texts are in the public domain. Educational reference only — not medical advice.
