Aconite
(Aconitum napellus · Monkshood)
The remedy of sudden onset. In the materia medica, Aconite is associated with complaints that arrive fast and intensely, often after a fright, a shock or exposure to cold, dry wind, and come with marked fear and restlessness.
Source
The monkshood plant, a blue-flowered alpine perennial
Kingdom
Plant
Abbreviation
Acon.
Home acute kit
Commonly included
The classic picture
(a remedy is chosen when the whole picture fits the person, not from a single symptom)
Symptoms come on suddenly, often within hours, frequently after a cold, dry wind or a frightening experience
Strong fear and anxiety, sometimes a fear of dying, with physical and mental restlessness
Intense thirst for cold water
Often the picture in the first hours of an acute episode, before a clearer remedy picture develops
Tends to feel better
Open air
Rest
Tends to feel worse
Night, especially around midnight
Warm, stuffy rooms
Cold, dry wind
Fright or shock
How it compares
(remedies that are often confused with Aconite)
-
Belladonna
(Atropa belladonna)
Also sudden and intense, but with heat, redness and throbbing rather than fear and restlessness.
Read moreCompare side by side -
Arnica
(Arnica montana)
For the physical shock of an injury; Aconite for the emotional shock and fear around it.
Read moreCompare side by side -
Gelsemium
(Gelsemium sempervirens)
Gelsemium's illness creeps in slowly with heaviness and drowsiness; Aconite's arrives all at once.
Read moreCompare side by side
Side-by-side comparisons
Free printable guide
12 remedies to keep at home
Aconite is one of the 12 remedies in my free home-kit guide: when to think of each one, how to tell them apart and a printable checklist.
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From the classic texts
“A state of fear, anxiety; anguish of mind and body. Physical and mental restlessness, fright, is the most characteristic manifestation of Aconite.”
“Complaints caused by exposure to dry cold air, dry north or west winds, or exposure to draughts of cold air while in a perspiration…”
Articles that mention Aconite
Managing Acute Pain and Fever Naturally: A Deep Dive into Belladonna and Chamomilla
The Essential Homeopathic Duo: Arnica for Bruises and Aconite for Sudden Shocks
Homeopathic Support During Pregnancy: What’s Safe and When
Homeopathic Remedies for Motion Sickness, Jet Lag and Travel Stress
Safe Homeopathic Remedies for Cold and Flu Symptoms
Looking for more than a quick remedy?
Acute remedies can be a starting point for short-term complaints. Ongoing or recurring issues call for a full case: a detailed conversation about your physical, mental and emotional symptoms, so the remedy fits you as a whole person.
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