Murex purpurea
Bolinus brandaris (or Hexaplex trunculus) · Murex, purple snail,M. trunculus · Animal
Murex is given mainly to women. It is most appropriate for those who are thin, wiry, nervous, and affectionate, with a high libido. They may have a tendency to develop deep depression, hypochondria, or a fear of illness.
The remedy is strongly associated with problems of the female reproductive organs, especially intense menstrual pain accompanied by great impatience and a desire to die. It is also used if, prior to menstruation, there is pain so severe that it causes unconsciousness. In addition, breasts that are painful, perhaps developing benign tumors, may respond to Murex. Pain typically extends diagonally upward from the right ovary to the left breast. There is a great awareness of the uterus, which may feel constricted, dry, and sore, as if it has been wounded. The genitals feel as if they are being pushed out of the body, and there is nausea and great weakness, which may cause prostration.
Murex may be prescribed for digestive problems in women, particularly if the symptoms include a sinking, empty sensation in the stomach and a desire to eat. It may also be used during menopause if the bowels are very sensitive.
Key symptoms
- Consciousness of the womb; pulsation in neck of womb
- Violent sexual excitement from least contact of parts
- Pain from right side of womb to right or left breast
- Menses irregular, profuse, frequent, with large clots
- Must keep legs tightly crossed due to sexual erethism
- Sinking, all-gone sensation in stomach; must eat
- Worse from least touch; great sadness and dread
Worse (aggravation)
Better (amelioration)
Purple Fish (MUREX)
The symptoms of the female sexual organs are most-prominent, and have been clinically verified. Especially adapted to nervous, lively, affectionate women. Patient weak and run down.
Mind
Great sadness, anxiety, and dread.
Stomach
Sinking, all-gone sensation in stomach (Sep). Hungry, must eat.
Female
Conscious of a womb. Pulsation in neck of womb. Desire easily excited. Feeling as if something was pressing on a sore spot in the pelvis: worse sitting. Pain from right side of womb to right or left breast. Nymphomania. Least contact of parts causes violent sexual excitement. Sore pain in uterus. Menses irregular, profuse, frequent, large clots. Feeling of protrusion. Prolapse; enlargement of uterus, with pelvic tenesmus and sharp pains, extending toward breasts; aggravated lying down. Dysmenorrhœa and chronic endometritis, with displacement. Must keep legs tightly crossed. Leucorrhœa green or bloody, alternate with mental symptoms and aching in sacrum. Benign tumors in breasts. Pain in them during menstrual period.
Urinary
Urine frequent at night; smells like Valerian constant urging (Kreos).
Modalities
Worse, least touch.
Relationship
Compare: Plat; Lil; Sep (the latter lacks sexual erethism of Murex).
Dose
Third to thirtieth potency.
Murex purpurea. Purple-fish. N. O. Gasteropoda. Trituration of desiccated juice. Trituration or tincture of fresh juice. (The fresh preparation is to be preferred, though the dried is the usual one.)
Clinical
Abortion. Breasts, pains in. Cervix uteri, affections of. Climacteric sufferings. Diabetes. Dysmenorrhœa. Leucorrhœa. Menorrhagia. Metrorrhagia. Nymphomania. Pregnancy, affections of. Uterus, prolapse of.
Characteristics
Petroz first proved the Purple-fish, Murex, which, like the Ink-fish, Sepia, produces the chief intensity of its action in the female generative sphere. They are chiefly distinguished in that Murex produces frantic sexual desire, and tends to have excessive hæmorrhage with large clots, Sepia having, in general, scanty flow. Another leading feature of Murex is: Consciousness of the womb; sore pain in uterus. In addition there are cutting pains confined to the cervix and os. The sinking, all-gone sensation is very well marked in both remedies, and also the feeling of bearing …
A Mollusk (Muricidae)
Persons of a melancholy temperament. For the sufferings during climacteric (Lach., Sep., Sulph.). Great depression of spirits. Sinking, all gone sensation, in stomach (Sep.). Least contact of parts, causes violent sexual excitement (excessive sexual irritation driving to self abuse, Orig., Zinc.). Violent excitement in sexual organs, and excessive desire for an embrace (rev. of Sep.). Sore pain in uterus; a distinct sensation of womb (Helon., Lys.). Bearing down sensation, as if internal organs would be pushed out, must sit down and cross limbs to > pressure (but no sexual desire, Sep.). Menses: irregular, early, profuse, protracted, large clots. Leucorrhoea: < mental depression, happier when leucorrhoea is worse.
Female Sexual Organs
Sore pain in uterus; a distinct sensation of a womb.
Female Sexual Organs
Sore pain in uterus; a distinct sensation of a womb (Helon., Lys.).
Phatak's chapter on Murex purpurea is available in the app.
Read Phatak in the appClassical texts are in the public domain. Educational reference only — not medical advice.
