Your Medicine Chest - Understanding the Power of Aconite

by: Caroline Walrad Ph.D., CN

Aconitum Napellus, the homeopathic remedy known to most as ‘Aconite’, is a welcome addition to a well- stocked home medicine chest. When someone is physically and mentally restless due to a sudden event, think of giving Aconite. For example, my daughter was sleeping in her California bed as the Northridge Earthquake started. Unlike other areas of our home that remained unshaken, her bedroom felt the brunt of the tremor (although the earthquake was many miles away.) Books dropped from shelves, she was bounced around, and she awoke to a clear violent out-of-nowhere shock. And, this shock included the fear of dying. For days afterwards, she seems restless and agitated and fearful of going anywhere. She developed a headache and she suddenly developed a thirst (she did not usually have one) for cold water. She seemed to her mother to be walking around in a nervous dazed anxiety. Well, I guess we all should feel ‘shaken’ from the news, but my daughter was the only one in a shaking room. Suddenly, mother thinks of Aconite and one dose of five pellets under her tongue allowed an instant change in her. She became her alert, focused and happy self and her headache diminished.

Think of Aconite for headaches or flu symptoms that start ‘out of nowhere!’. A person is well in the morning and almost within an hour begins to cough or ache. Also, one may need a dose of aconite when something causes him to feel he will lose his life and it happens very suddenly, such as an unnoticed car darting in front of him, making his heart skip a beat. Remember Aconite for those acute symptoms that appear suddenly from a cold dry north wind. This remedy helps symptoms associated with nerves, heart, brain, abdomen and joints. Someone who would respond best to Aconite will have more right-sided ailments, feel better in the open air and from rest, can experience feeling excitable, restless, and may have sudden attacks of terror or fear of crowds and narrow spaces. Aconite may be purchased over the counter in most health food related stores.

Dr. Caroline Walrad, Ph.D. offers customized education in holistic concepts. 480/776-0751