1 Asteraceae J. Scholten
Botanical
The Asteraceae are also called Compositae. They are the largest botanical family wih 1100 genera and 25000 species. Mostly herbs and shrubs, often annual or biennial. Commonplace all over the world, in the tropics as well as in the arctic zones - in the lowlands as well as in the mountains. Seldom are they trees, water plants or jungle plants.
They grow on open places and seldom in die shadow. They react strongly to the sun, the flowers open as soon as the sun appears. Sunflowers turn with the sun. Many of the Asteraceae have been used in botanical clocks in old herbal gardens, half of the species of plants in those clocks being Asteraceae. That's why the family is also called the "sunflower" family, the real sunflower being one of the most prominent and known of its members. The name of "compositae" refers to the fact that the flowers are composite. They are not one flower but a group of many flowers together. The composite flowers have two kinds of flowers: radiant and tubular flowers. The radiant flowers are the outer ones, radiating as a star and therewith attracting insects. The tubular flowers are die flowers in the inner part of the composite flower and they are the reproductive ones. The radiant flowers give rise to the name of the Asteraceae. This name means radiating, star like. Some Asteraceae only have radiant flowers: thistles (Cardueae), Taraxacum, Cichory. Some have only tubular flowers: Artemiseae, Tanacetum. But the most characteristic ones have both tubular and radiant flowers like the sunflower.
Psychological
Insecurity threat
They are very insecure. They lack self-confidence and autonomy. They have trouble fending for themselves, making decisions and showing their own ideas and emotions. They have the feeling that they cannot assert themselves, as if they do not have the right to do so. This can be an almost religious right, a right they do not have. It has to do with the development of their own identity, building a personality. In this they are identical to the remedies of the Carbon series, in the fears for the outside world, with its threats.
and the need for protection from parents. They are, in fact, remedies for the themes of childhood.
Integration
Typical for the Asteraceae is the theme of the Integration of parts of the personality. We can associate that witti a large number of small flowers within a bigger flower, which is the characteristic of the Asteraceae. It is like finding a central heart from which they can radiate. The wreath of leaves around the heart consists of flowers called rays.
Integrity boundaries
They have a strong feeling of integrity. They want to be autonomous and have an aversion of intrusion into their field. Intrusions into their bodily field can be very detrimental. So they have a strong aversion to doctors with their injections and operation. Arnica sends the doctor away. But also their psychological integrity must be defended. Others telling them what to do are very harmful. They have the feeling to protest their boundaries against attacks of enemies, so they can really build a fort as in Arnica. Achillea millefolium comes from Achilles, the Greek warrior that was almost invulnerable because of his protective layer on his skin except the ankle.
Their defence can go that far that they even see touch or being watched as an attack, like in Chamomilla. They have a strong desire to have enough resistance.
Personality Self-worth
This theme is in common with the Carbon series. They have a need for a strong personality. These remedies belong to this age and culture of individualism. In children we see that they get more personality, more independence and more self-reliance after the children's diseases with high fevers.
Ambition
They want to achieve things in order to get self-worth. They can be compared to this witti the Iron series. They have a desire to be someone to radiane in life. When things go well they can be optimistic and cheerful.
Life path
It's important for them to live their own life, to follow their own path in life.
Timidity pacifism
The theme of manifestation of the personality can go two ways. The first one is timidity. They restrain themselves and don't dare to stand up for themselves. The can be very shy and closed.
Aggression anger fight
The other side is aggression, bossiness and tyranny. They can express their aggression by kicking, screaming, beating, biting and stamping their feet. In doing that they cross die boundaries or limits of others, but underneath that lives the fear that others will cross their boundaries. They have the feeling that others are in their way and are belitthng and criticizing them. This side is wen known with remedies like Chamomilla and Cina. Here we see a strong connection with the Magnesiums. The anger can even go into being dictatorial.
Fears
Fears: being criticized, accidents, wounds, being smacked, touch, dank, being alone, of big scary animals, witches, monsters, vampires, ghosts, death of parents - father or mother.
Accidents, blows, operations, injections, doctors. Strangers
They can't concentrate very well; they soon forget what happened or what was said. Concentration difficult, dullness.
-> protection, parents.
Physical
Wounds
Accidents, wounds and injuries play an important part in the Asteraceae. Their physical integrity is being violated; their boundaries are being crossed.
Their pains are therefore as if bruised, sore, as from a slap or fall, as if their muscles have been beaten and their bones have been broken. Fibromyalgia is a frequent syndrome.
Bleeding
Another form of injury is hemorrhage, in many forms, such as epistaxis, haematemesis, menorrhagia and bruising. It is as if their boundaries are being transgressed, after which their blood, the seat of their power, can drain away. The blood is sometimes seen as the carrier of the ego. Bleeding then is symbolical for losing your ego through a hole in your boundaries.
Fever
Fever, high, flu, measles, children's diseases with spots. Experience tells (Verdeyen, personal memo) that children are often more inde- pendent after having had measles. The fevers have to high as an indication for the Asteraceae.
High fevers, more than 39 or 40 Celsius (102-104 Fahrenheit). Cold shivers, alternating with heat and sweating.
The forehead feels full. Aversion to food.
Hay fever
Eyes watering, red, itching, tears. Running nose, < grasses. Sneezing.
Sinusitis frontalis.
Aching forehead, with a full pressing feeling, < bending forward, stooping. They are absentminded and confused and can't think clearly.
Infections
Infections are also intrusions, of microbes. «< vaccinations, measles.
Parasites
They are very sensitive to all kinds of parasites - parasites that live off them and cross their boundaries. Worms are a good example. Insects that suck blood are another form. Warts and molluscum skin infections are common.
Liver complaints
These appear in the whole family, but mostly in the Cardueae, the thistles.
Spleen complaints
Epilepsy
Epilepsy, mostly in the Artemiseae: Cina, Artemisia vulgans, Absinthium, Abrotanum.
Dental problems
Pains of the teeth. Problems during dentition.
Gynaecological
Miscarriages are strong, with bleeding. Problems during parturation are strong with the bleeding again. In parturition we can sec also a struggle for more autonomy and individuality. The mother can be very sensitive to the movements of the foetus.
Skin
Warts, mollusca.
Generals
They are absent, careless, want to be left alone. On the inside they are working on new integration. They can't think clearly or they are irritated and angry.
The additional complaints determine which of the Asteraceae is needed: nausea, vomiting, muscle pain, bone pain, headache, diarrhea, and cystitis.
They lack resistance against all kinds of infections. They are nobody, and therefore cannot defend themselves. They are afraid of the world and its threats in the form of infection and violence. That is why Echinacea is praised for increasing resistance to infection.
Weather
They like fair and sunny weather, and cannot cope with long-lasting grey, dark weather. Asteraceae almost always grow in open fields and seldom in the shade
Usually they are chilly. Time
Often they are time sensitive. They have a special time aggravation. There is an annual periodicity, such as hay fever.
Food
Often we see an aversion to, desire for or aggravation by other members of the Asteraceae: lettuce, chicory, endive, and artichoke.
Aversion: meat, milk, fruit; cooked food, liver.