Squilla maritima
Name: Squilla maritima, Urginea maritima
Abbreviation: Squil.
English: Sea Onion, Squills
German: Meerzwiebel
French: Ognon marin.
Dutch: Zeeui
Source: Allen, Clarke, Mangialovori, Vermeulen
Stage: 11
Indigenous to the Mediterranean region. All parts of the plant contain a heart glucoside. The variety with red bulbous scaly leaves is around 40 times more toxic than the white variety and was formerly used as rat and mouse poison. Strangely enough, it poisons only rodents; other animals vomit. The white variety was used in cosmetic preparations; the red variety is too toxic for such use.
The name Urginea is derived from the name of the Algerian tribe Ben Urgin, in whose region the plant is very common. Scilla comes from Gr. scillein, split, with regard to the ease with which the leaves [tunics] of the bulb can be split. It may also have been derived from a Greek word meaning to excite or disturb, as an emetic does the stomach, or a sea-monster does the sailor.
The name would suggest a relationship with Scylla, a monster in Greek mythology with six heads and the body of a dog who sat over a dangerous rock on the Italian side of the Straits of Messina, opposite Charybdis, and seized and drowned sailors from passing ships. Charybdis was an equally frightening monster that swallowed seawater three times a day including all the passing ships thereon. A proverb about this goes: Between Scylla and Charybdis, which means being "forced to steer a perilous or hopeless course between two deadly dangers, avoidance of one meaning almost certain destruction by the other." The proverb "jump out of the frying pan into the fire" has a similar meaning.
The specific name 'maritima' suggests it grows near the sea, the largest amount of water imaginable. Squilla is distinguished by its exceptionally large bulb, which may reach a diameter of 45 centimetres and a weight of several kilos. If exposed to the air after being dried it absorbs moisture. The essence of the plant would seem to be liquid and water, an element that distinctly reappears in the remedy picture.
Mind
WATER:"Dream that his body was excessively swollen, which, on waking, was so vivid that he felt himself to see if it were really so."
Delusions has been poisoned. Fear of evil Vexed about trifles.
Chaotic. Mood changeable
Greed, cupidity in eating, Bulimia Generals
Weakness of the whole body very noticeable on walking a long distance. Dry skin. Inability to perspire.
Thirst or thirstless.
Chilly < Cold < Cold drinks
< motion < inspiration (deep breathing) < undressing
>Rest. > Sitting, "Inclination to sit." >Lying. lying on left side.
>Covering
> seashore air
Red face after exertion (DD Ferr.) Food Aversion: Food, sight of
Desire: Sour (2); cold drinks; sour drinks
Worse: Cold drinks; cold food; sausages, sight of; warm food Better: Milk.
Physical
WATER. Watery discharges from all outlets:
Involuntary squirting of urine when coughing. Gushing of tears when coughing or sneezing.
Sneezing & coughing.
Complaints accompanied by excessive flow of urine.
Coryza & increased micturition.
Involuntary urination during asthmatic attack.
Nausea and vomiting & profuse salivation.
Swashing sensation in head on shaking head. Sensation as if eyes were swimming in cold water.
Bubbling in sides of abdomen.
Gushing sensation in abdomen.
Bubbling beneath scapulae.
"Hahnemann pointed out that the excessive flow of urine accompanying dropsy complaints was one of the best indications for its use."
and other
Hay fever, Astma, Bronchitis, “The cough is generally loose and rattling, with expectoration of much mucus, and the loose cough in the morning is more fatiguing than the dry one in the evening." [Nash]
Cardiac action same as Digitalis
Involuntary stool from coughing. Shopworkers with painful, swollen feet.
Smoky taste in mouth
Black discolouration of teeth