Aconitum appears in 12 of the 13 classic books on Similia. Each was written to do a different job — here is what each adds on this remedy, with the opening of its entry.
- Allen HC — The keynotes that separate this remedy from its nearest neighbours.
“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…”
- Allen TF — The raw proving record — symptoms as the provers reported them, unedited.
“A. napellus, L. (including also A. Stoerckianum, Reich., in part). Nat. order , Ranunculaceæ. Common name , Monkshood. Preparation , Tincture from the whole plant and root when beginning to flower. Authorities.”
- Boericke — The quick clinical read — keynotes, modalities and the conditions it is actually prescribed in.
“Monkshood A state of fear, anxiety; anguish of mind and body. Physical and mental restlessness , fright, is the most characteristic manifestation of Aconite. Acute, sudden, and violent invasion, with fever , call for it. Does not want to be touched. Sudden and great sinking of strength. Complaints and tension caused…”
- Boger (Syn) — Generals and modalities in a short analytical portrait rather than a symptom list.
“MIND: Brain. NERVES: Medulla. Sympathetic. Vagus. Respiratory centre. HEART: Arterial. Circulation. Viscera: Larynx. Chest. Abdomen. Joints. Violent emotions: FRIGHT. SHOCK. Vexation. Sleeping in sun. Chilled by: COLD, dry winds. While sweating. Pressure and touch. Noise. Light. Dentition. During menses. Night; in…”
- Clarke — The widest entry — sources, provings, clinical uses, relationships and antidotes in one place.
“Common Aconite. Monkshood. Wolfsbane. (Moist pastures and waste places in mountainous districts, Central and Southern Europe, Russia, Scandinavia, and Central Asia.) N. O. Ranunculaceæ. Tincture of whole plant with root when beginning to flower. Amaurosis / Anger / Apoplexy / Asthma / Blindness, sudden / Bronchitis /…”
- Hering — Graded symptoms, each weighted by how often provers and practice confirmed it.
“Monkshood. Ranunculaceæ . Abundant in the mountain forests of France, Switzerland and Germany. Also cultivated in gardens. The root is stronger than the herb, and the seed most uniform in strength. The symptoms of the herb, root and seed have not been separated, not even those of somewhat different species. Now…”
- Kent — The mental and general picture — who the patient is, before what the remedy cures.
“Aconite is a short-acting remedy. Its symptoms do not last long. It is a violent poison in large doses, either destroying life or passing away in its effects quite soon, so that if the patient recovers, the recovery is not delayed. There are no chronic diseases following it. Like a great storm, it comes and sweeps…”
- Lippe (KN) — Only the symptoms Lippe considered reliable enough to prescribe on.
“Sensation of soreness of the body, and of heaviness in inner parts. Tearing in outer parts. Tingling in the fingers, oesophagus and back. Painfulness of the whole body to contact (he does not wish to be touched). Pulsating pain in the head and teeth. Inflammation of inner parts (mucous membranes). Stitches in internal…”
- Lippe (MM) — The strict Hahnemannian reading — the symptom picture without clinical interpretation.
“Great, inconsolable anxiety. Complaining fear of approaching death; predicts the day he is to die. Sensitive irritability. Sadness. Maliciousness. Fitful mood, changing from one thing to another; now he is full of mirth, whistles and warbles a song; and then he is disposed to weep. Delirium, especially at night -with…”
- Lippe (Red) — Keynotes with the most-trusted ones marked as red-line symptoms.
“Common name: monk's hood. 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 fibres (A.). THE PAIN IS INSUPPORTABLE, DRIVING TO DESPAIR…”
- Nash — The comparisons — the remedy set beside the ones it is most often confused with.
“Fear: of death; of crowds; of going out. Anything, always fearful. Complaints from exposure to cold, dry cold. Congestions and inflammations, acute, first stage with great anxiety, heat and restlessness; tosses about in agony; throws off covering. Inflammatory fever. Pains insuppressable < at night, especially in the…”