Ornithogalum umbellatum
Name: Ornithogalum umbellatum
Abbreviation: Orni.
English: Star of Bethlehem, Snow drop, Nap-at-noon, Dove’s dung, White field onion German: Doldenmilchstern
French: Ornitogale
Dutch: Gewone vogelmelk
Source: Boedler’s Bach remedies, Grand George, Laila Alberts (SSC 4/2000), Murphy Stage: 12
Ornithogalum shows beautiful, pristine-white six-petalled flowers. The buds are egg-shaped and are actually formed by the petals themselves which show a green stripe on the back. This bud resembles the closed-down heart or the egg concealing life. As the petals open, this happens only in bright sunshine, a star seems to unfold in perfect symmetry of six pointed petals. This symbolizes the healing of the heart, as balance, openness, and receptivity to experience take hold again.
The leaves are long and narrow, with straight edges and pointed at the tip, resembling a blade or a sword. Their rather aggressive appearance reminds of adversity or hardship. Out of this bed of swords grow the stars of healing, the heralds of comfort and inner light. As the Star of Bethlehem announced the coming of Christ and his healing message to all mankind, this plant brings rescue to those overcome by grief and sorrow.
Ornis is the greek for ‘bird’ and Gala means ‘milk’.
According to Bach (Flower essences) the remedy is for shock or trauma, either recent or from a past experience; need for comfort and reassurance from the spiritual world
Star of Bethlehem is a deeply restorative remedy, with calm, soothing properties for people who have experienced shock or trauma. It is particularly helpful for individuals who have never adequately addressed a disturbance from the past. Such persons often seek to anesthetize this trauma in inappropriate ways, such as through drugs, occult ritual, or a numbing of awareness. The nervous system often becomes deadened, and the mental faculties are lacking in vibrancy and coherency. In some essential way, the personality is out of alignment with its higher components, and is stymied from full and vibrant functioning. Star of Bethlehem is also one of the ingredients of Rescue remedy.
Ornithogalum umbellatum is to be considered in chronic gastric and other abdominal indurations (ulcers), possibly cancer of intestinal tract, especially of stomach and caecum (appendix).
Mind
Balm for the soul (Laila Alberts)
Despair
Homesickness
Depression of spirits, and desire for suicide.
Sighing: grief, with (DD Ign., Cimic., Nat-m.)
Hateful.
Generals
Cancerous affections.
Emaciation: general.
Food: onions: agg.
Physical
Status after pyloric stenosis in babies (Grand George Links 2/2001) Pains increased when food passes pyloric outlet.
Frequent belching of offensive flatus.
Vomiting of coffee-ground looking matter
"Fluid sack" that rolled from side to side as she turned in bed.
Legs and feet go to sleep on sitting
Urination: involuntary: cough and sneezing
Nervous astma