Two weeks ago I wrote about Anxiety, and remedies that can be useful for anxiety including panic attacks. Today I want to talk more about Aconite, because it is so much more than a panic attack remedy, and is one remedy I don’t go on holiday without.
When I first started studying homeopathy, I learnt the rhyme “Fear and fright, at midnight, think Aconite” and it is still a useful prompt to remember some key things about Aconite.
Aconite can be useful for shock, or for when complaints come on after a shock or fright. They have acute panic attacks with racing heart, and palpitations, hyperventilation and shortness of breath, flushed appearance, and they can have a real fear of death, they may feel they are going to die, or even predict the time of their death. Fear of death is one of the keynotes of an Aconite state.
Everything for Aconite is worse at midnight, so if waking in a panic at midnight is happening, Aconite is the remedy to take. Panic symptoms may wake them up 1-2 hours after going to sleep.
Aconite is also an excellent remedy to take at the first signs on many illnesses. Even in that anticipatory state when you *know* your child is brewing something but you don’t know what it is. Aconite complaints come on suddenly, and after exposure to a cold, dry wind.
Initial symptoms of viruses that indicate Aconite include restlessness, a high temperature, one cheek pale and one cheek red, and a sore throat. They can have an earache that comes on suddenly, with intense pain, high fever and bright red ears. Many acute and childhood diseases can indicate Aconite in the early stages, including tonsillitis, influenza, Roseola and measles. In these cases you may wish to differentiate with Belladonna, which also has a sudden onset fever with a flushed face. However Belladonna has dilated pupils, and they are constricted with Aconite, and Aconite will be thirsty, anxious and maybe afraid of death. Belladonna can be thirsty but is usually thirstless with a fever, and is more likely to be angry, hallucinate or be delirious.
Aconite is found in the combination remedy ABC – Aconite, Belladonna and Chamomilla which is a very useful remedy for babies and toddlers, and means you do not have to compare the remedies when you have an upset sick child.
Aconite is also the main remedy for the early stages of croup. Used for the first coughs when they wake up, Aconite can sometimes prevent progression and calm things down so they can go back to sleep.
Aconite could also be used in angina or an acute myocardial infarction when there is numbness to the left arm. (Other remedies may be indicated also, and if you suspect a heart attack this would be on the way to the hospital, Homeopathy does not replace conventional medical treatment in an emergency).
In childbirth, Aconite may help the Mum during labour if she is sure she will die, can be useful for urine retention in both baby and Mum after delivery, and if the birth is fast or there are other concerns baby might be in shock, a dose of Aconite can help ease the transition into their new world.
Aconite is an essential remedy in your home homeopathy kit, and it is one I could not live without. Have you used Aconite?