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.