What Is Staphysagria Used For?

Throughout history, remedies made from plants have been incredibly common. In fact, these remedies make up the basis of modern medicine. For example, many people use chamomile to help them sleep, peppermint or ginger for an upset stomach, or honey for sore throats. Another plant that has been used in numerous forms for centuries is staphysagria, also called stavesacre. However, this plant can be deadly, and should be used with extreme caution. 

Staphysagria is a medical remedy that comes from the flowering plant Staphisagria macrosperma, previously known as Delphinium staphisagria. These plants produce multiple purple flowers on a stem and typically grow in hot, dry soils throughout Europe and the Mediterranean.

Staphysagria, as well as many other plants within the Ranunculaceae family, contains diterpene alkaloids. Diterpene alkaloids are complex substances, the most famous of which may be aconitine, a toxin found in wolfsbane. Diterpene alkaloids like aconitine are cardiotoxins and neurotoxins, meaning they mainly affect the heart and the central nervous system, but they can also cause gastrointestinal issues. 

The staphysagria plant is the most toxic while it’s young. An overdose of staphysagria often produces feelings of euphoria, which is then followed by depression and extreme nerve sensitivity. Eventually, paralysis sets in, the pulse slows, and the patient dies.

Despite the toxic nature of the plant, staphysagria has been used throughout history for a variety of purposes. Greek physician Dioscorides,  the “father of pharmacognosy,” recorded that staphysagria could get rid of scabies and lice, induce vomiting and soothe toothaches. Constantinus Africanus, the 11th-century physician from Tunisia, also recommended it for toothaches, as well as to reduce phlegm, clear sinuses, cure diseased gums, and remove internal obstructions. The 15th-century Latin natural history encyclopedia Hortus Sanatis stated that the plant could heal bites and relieve epilepsy.

Throughout history, staphysagria has also been used to cure or soothe a wide range of problems and conditions, such as:

• Adenoids
• Backache
• Bashfulness
• Blepharitis, a common eye condition in which the oil glands along the eyelashes become clogged, causing inflammation of the eyelid
• Bone diseases
• Cauliflower excrescences, a wart-like growth
• Chalazion, a red bump on the eyelid caused by a blocked oil gland
• Condylomata, warts caused by human papillomavirus (HPV)
• Cough
• Cysts
• Diseases of the hip joint
• Dislocation of the jaw joint
• Dysentery, a gastrointestinal disease caused by bacteria or parasites
• Eczema
• Excessive swallowing
• Eye tumors
• Glandular conditions
• Hoarse voice
• Hypochondria
• Impotency
• Ingrown toenails
• Mania
• Nasally voice
• Nausea due to pregnancy
• Neuralgia, sharp pain due to irritation and damage to nerves
• Night sweats
• Nymphomania
• Offensive perspiration
• Ovarian conditions
• Pain
• Painful intercourse in newlywed women
• Prostate conditions
• Ranula, a fluid-filled cyst under the tongue
• Rheumatism, swelling and pain in bones, joints, ligaments, muscles, and tendons
• Sciatica, pain along the sciatic nerve
• Scurvy, a disease caused by serious vitamin C deficiency
• Sea sickness
• Seborrhea, a common skin condition that causes a rash and flakey skin
• Self-abuse
• Spermatic cord conditions
• Steatoma, a benign cyst that grows in the skin’s sebaceous glands
• Stiff neck
• Stomach aches
• Styes
• Testicular conditions
• Tonsillitis
• Tumors
• Warts

Despite these multiple uses, the toxicity of staphysagria was known all the way back to the time of Dioscorides. He warned that drinking staphysagria in honey and water could be fatal.

Due to its incredible toxicity, staphysagria isn’t used often in modern herbal medicine. When it is used, it’s primarily for surgical wounds, to both promote healing and reduce itching. In this case, it is typically sold as diluted pellets that dissolve under the tongue. Some forms of staphysagria also claim to relieve the frequent urge to urinate and even reduce suppressed anger. However, these medications and claims have not been evaluated by the FDA.

Research and studies are still being done to assess the effectiveness of staphysagria on certain conditions.

A study published in a 2015 volume of the International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research tested a handful of homeopathic remedies against acetyl salicylic acid, commonly known as the NSAID Aspirin, to see what was more effective for soothing pain in rats.  Researchers divided the rats into groups of ten and gave each group either a homeopathic remedy, the acetyl salicylic acid, or nothing at all for the control group. Through measuring the main reflexes of these rats, researchers found that while staphysagria offered moderate pain relief, it wasn’t enough to compete with the acetyl salicylic acid.

Another study published in a 2015 volume of the International Journal of Advances in Pharmacy, Biology and Chemistry was conducted similarly, testing homeopathic remedies against another NSAID, ibuprofen, to test what was the best anti-inflammatory agent in rats. The rats were split into five groups of ten, with one group acting as the control, one receiving ibuprofen, and the others receiving one of the homeopathic remedies. The results showed that while staphysagria was the most effective homeopathic remedy tested, it did not have better results than the ibuprofen.

Yet another study published in a 2020 volume of the Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences aimed to assess the effectiveness of the same homeopathic remedies as above against the antidepressant Escatalopram in rats. They divided the rats into groups of ten and gave each group either one of the homeopathic remedies, the Escatalopram, or in the case of the control group, nothing at all. Of the groups, those taking the staphysagria appeared most improved. However, further study is needed.

If you suspect you or a loved one has overdosed on staphysagria, seek medical help or contact Poison Control immediately. You can reach the experts at Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 or through their online system at WebPoisonControl.org. Both options are free and confidential.

While staphysagria has been used for centuries to treat various ailments and conditions, the plant is highly toxic and can quickly become dangerous. Staphysagria tinctures and tablets have not been evaluated by the FDA. Currently, the risks outweigh the benefits of using staphysagria, though more research is needed. If you or a loved one overdoses on staphysagria, get medical help or contact Poison Control right away.