Aconitum Napellus. Monkshood (Ranunculacea.)

 It is generally indicated in acute or recent cases occurring in young

persons, especially girls, of a full, plethoric habit who lead a

sedentary life; persons easily affected by atmospheric changes;

dark hair and eyes, rigid muscular fibre. Complaints caused by

exposure to dry cold air, dry north or west winds, or exposure to

draughts of cold air while in a perspiration; bad effects of checked

perspiration. Great fear and anxiety of mind, with great nervous

excitability; afraid to go out, to go into a crowd where there is any

excitement or many people; to cross the street. The countenance is

expressive of fear; the life is rendered miserable by fear; is sure

his disease will prove fatal; predicts the day he will die; fear of

death during pregnancy. Restless, anxious, does everything in great

haste; must change position often; everything startles him. Pains;

are intolerable, they drive him crazy; he becomes very restless; at

night. Hahnemann says: "Whenever Aconite is chosen

homeopathically, you must, above all, observe the moral

symptoms, and be careful that it closely resembles them; the

anguish of mind and body; the restlessness; the disquiet not to be

allayed.". This mental anxiety, worry, fear accompanies the most

trivial ailment. Music is unbearable, makes her sad (Sab., during

menses, Nat. c.). On rising from a recumbent position the red face

becomes deathly pale, or he becomes faint or giddy and falls, and

fears to rise again; often accompanied by vanishing of sight and

unconsciousness. Amenorrhoea in plethoric young girls; after

fright, to prevent suppression of menses. For the congestive stage

of inflammation before localization takes place. Fever; skin dry

and hot; face red, or pale and red alternately; burning thirst for

large quantities of cold water; intense nervous restlessness,

tossing about in agony; becomes intolerable towards evening and

on going to sleep. Convulsions; of teething children; heat, jerks

and twitches of single muscles; child gnaws its fist, frets and

screams; skink hot and dry; high fever. Cough, croup; dry, hoarse,

suffocating, loud, rough, croaking; hard, ringing, whistling; on

expiration (Caust. - on inhalation, Spong.); from dry, cold winds

or drafts of air. Aconite should never be given simply to control

the fever, never alternated with other drugs for that purpose. If it be

a case requiring Aconite no other drug is needed; Aconite will cure

the case. Unless indicated by the exciting cause, is nearly always

injurious in first stages of typhoid fever.

Aggravation. Evening and night, pains are insupportable; in a

warm room; when rising from bed; lying on affected side (Hep.,

Nux m.).

Amelioration. In the open air (Alum., Mag. c., Puls., Sab.).Relationship. Complementary: to Coffea in fever, sleeplessness,

intolerance of pain; to Arnica in traumatism; to Sulphur in all

cases. Rarely indicated in fevers which bring out eruptions.

Aconite is the acute of Sulphur, and both precedes and follows it in

acute inflammatory conditions.