Aconitum napellus is described in this text as a remedy whose original pathogeneses are found in Hahnemann’s Materia Medica Pura. It was also proved by the Austrian Society of Provers, with additional references given to Millard’s Monograph, Rudd’s Essay, Hartmann’s Practical Observations, Allen’s Encyclopaedia, and Hempel’s Materia Medica.
Aconite grows on the higher Alps of Central Europe, in damp, shady fields, and along brooks and streams. Its common name is Monkshood. Other named varieties include Aconitum stoerkianum, Aconitum lycoctonum, Aconitum ferox, and Aconitum variegatum.
Its alkaloid is aconitine or aconitia. The mother tincture is made from the entire plant, except the root, gathered at the time of flowering. The fresh plant is chopped and pounded to a fine pulp, the juice pressed out, then mixed with an equal quantity of alcohol, left in a well‑stoppered bottle for eight days in a cool dark place, agitated daily, and filtered. The text notes a drug power of one‑half and describes it as an imported tincture.
In brief, the general physiological action of Aconite is said to affect the sensory nerves, causing tingling followed by numbness. It accelerates the heart’s action and causes a rise in temperature, with chills, fever, and sweat. In large doses it produces paralysis of the heart and nerves, with collapse. Mental distress is described as an invariable concomitant condition.
The text emphasizes that Aconite should not be given merely to diminish the pulse or lessen temperature, since that would treat isolated symptoms rather than the totality of the case.
In fevers, Aconite is contrasted with Veratrum viride. Veratrum viride is said to show more arterial but less nervous excitement, with a characteristic bright red streak through the center of the tongue.
In neuralgias, Aconite is indicated when the affected parts are violently congested, hot, and swollen; when the condition has been brought on by exposure to dry, cold winds; and when the pains are tingling, with numb sensations that drive the patient to despair. The pains are worse at night.
Its abdominal symptoms are given as shooting pains all over the abdomen, with marked tenderness to touch, especially at the beginning of inflammatory processes.
Its stools are described as frequent and scanty, with tenesmus in dysentery, particularly in autumn when days are warm and nights cold. It is also noted in diarrhoea of inflammatory origin from cold drinks or checked perspiration, the stools being watery, slimy, and bloody.
In fever, Aconite is distinguished from Gelsemium as follows: Aconite has a hard, quick, bounding pulse and a restless, anxious, tossing‑about state; Gelsemium has a soft, flowing, compressible pulse and a drowsy, quiet tendency toward stupor, with a suffused countenance.
The thirst of Aconite is described as unquenchable thirst for cold water, with either large drinks at long intervals or little and often.
Its heart symptoms include pain in the heart extending down the left arm, with numbness, palpitation, and lancinating stitches, together with a full, hard, rapid pulse and uncomplicated hypertrophy of the heart.
Aconite is said to be most useful in the young and plethoric, especially when suddenly attacked with acute illness such as sudden congestions, violent fevers, acute colds, desperate pains, and benumbing, tingling neuralgias. It is considered more suitable for acute than chronic disease because of the suddenness of its symptoms and the short duration of its action.
Four leading characteristics are given:
- Terrible anguish and fear of death, with the patient even predicting the day of death, together with extreme restlessness and tossing about.
- Complaints brought on by exposure to dry, cold winds, or from sudden checking of perspiration.
- Hard, full, frequent pulse.
- Symptoms worse in the evening and at night, coming on suddenly and violently.
In brief, the indications for Aconite in fevers are: sthenic fever with chilliness from the slightest movement; dry heat of skin; thirst; red cheeks; quickened respiration; a full, bounding, rapid, tense pulse; mental anxiety; and aggravation toward evening. Every motion makes the patient chilly, while mental anxiety produces marked restlessness.
The text states that Aconite ceases to be of use in the second stage of inflammation, when the process has localized itself.
Other remedies noted for numbness and tingling of the left arm in heart disease are Kalmia and Rhus tox.
In chest affections, Aconite is especially indicated in pulmonary congestions with hard, dry, painful cough, anxiety, restlessness, and perhaps a little blood‑streaked expectoration.
In suppression of the menses, Aconite is indicated when this occurs in plethoric patients from fear, fright, or after exposure to cold.