A Comparative Homeopathic Materia Medica & Repertory
ACONITE versus APIS
Two of homeopathy’s great acute polychrests, set side by side — the sudden fright of the monkshood against the burning, stinging inflammation of the honey-bee.
Aconitum napellus
Apis mellifica
Part One
Introduction & How to Use This Book
Why these two remedies are so often reached for — and so often confused.
Few pairs of remedies in the homeopathic materia medica are invoked as often, in as similar a moment, as Aconitum napellus and Apis mellifica. Both are remedies of acute, inflammatory conditions. Both appear at the bedside of a feverish patient, a swollen joint, a sudden rash. Yet, examined closely, they describe almost opposite pictures of what inflammation feels like from the inside.
This e-book brings together two layers of material. The first is a traditional materia medica portrait of each remedy, written in the descriptive style homeopathic students have used for two centuries. The second is a digitised repertory comparison: hundreds of individual rubrics graded on the traditional 1–3 scale of remedy strength, laid out so the two remedies can be read side by side, symptom by symptom.
Reading the grading scale
Homeopathic repertories grade the association between a remedy and a symptom on a three-point scale, traditionally shown in print, italic, and bold: ●○○ (1) the remedy is known to produce or relieve this symptom; ●●○ (2) it is a more frequently confirmed, more reliable indication; ●●● (3) it is a keynote — one of the symptoms this remedy is most famous for, often clinically decisive. Throughout this book, blue dots mark Aconite, gold dots mark Apis.
Before you begin
This book is a study and reference resource on classical homeopathic teaching. It is not medical advice, and homeopathy’s therapeutic claims are not supported by robust scientific evidence in the way conventional pharmacology is. Both source substances are toxic in their natural form. See Safety, Scope & Responsible Use before applying anything here.
Part Two
Aconitum Napellus
The remedy of sudden shock, panic, and the first hour of violent illness.
Blue · Aconite · Acon.
Aconite
Aconitum napellus · Monkshood / Wolfsbane · Family Ranunculaceae“Sudden, violent, short” — the remedy of the first hour: terror, dry cold-wind onset, and fear so intense the patient predicts the moment of death.
SourceWhole fresh flowering plant, particularly the root, of the monkshood; one of the most acutely poisonous plants in Europe, source of the alkaloid aconitine.
KingdomPlant — Ranunculaceae (buttercup family)
ProvingsFirst proved by Hahnemann himself and published in his Materia Medica Pura; among the earliest and most thoroughly studied homeopathic remedies.
ClassificationMajor acute polychrest; remedy of the “first stage” of inflammatory and febrile conditions
Essence & Causation
Aconite is above all the remedy of shock. Its classic entry point is exposure to dry, cold wind (especially a cold north or east wind), a sudden fright, a piece of frightening news, or a traumatic event. The nervous system reacts explosively: what follows is intense, short-lived, and completely disproportionate in its emotional charge to the physical findings, at least in the earliest hours.
Mind & Emotional Picture
- Sudden, intense fear and anxiety — of death, of crowds, of the dark, of crossing the street, restless tossing that anxiety itself seems to drive.
- Predicts the time of death — a famous keynote: the patient states, with calm certainty, the hour they believe they will die.
- Fear during pregnancy or labour that she or the child will die — a very characteristic obstetric indication.
- Panic that seems to arrive from nowhere: fear of imaginary things and imaginary animals, fear in a crowd or a narrow place.
- Restlessness driven by inner anguish, tossing from one place to another, unable to be still.
- Ecstasies and fancies — a peculiar mental state where the patient is lost in exalted, often pleasant visions or ideas.
Physical Generals & Key Symptoms
- Onset that can be timed almost to the hour: healthy one moment, acutely unwell the next, typically after exposure to dry cold air.
- Dry, burning heat with a red, flushed face and full, hard, bounding pulse.
- Great thirst, especially for cold water, often in large quantities, alongside dry mouth and dry mucous membranes.
- Marked worse at night, especially around midnight.
- Numbness and tingling (formication) accompanying pain.
- Heightened sensitivity of all the senses; noise, light, touch, and motion may all aggravate.
- Complaints predominate in internal parts, on the soft palate, in the liver, and on the patella.
Modalities
WorseDry cold wind, night (especially midnight), warm room, lying on the affected side, fright, when looking down
BetterOpen air, rest, uncovering (in fever), after perspiration begins, remission during day and before midnight
Part Three
Apis Mellifica
The remedy of burning, stinging inflammation, oedema, and sudden swelling.
Gold · Apis · Apis
Apis
Apis mellifica · Honey Bee · Family Apidae“Burning, stinging, swelling” — the remedy of sudden oedema, serous inflammation, and a characteristic absence of thirst: the bee’s sting in homeopathic form.
SourceThe whole honey bee (Apis mellifica), including the poison sac and sting, collected alive and triturated or tinctured.
KingdomAnimal — Insecta (Hymenoptera)
ProvingsProved extensively in the 19th century; one of homeopathy’s most important animal remedies, particularly rich in skin, urinary, and female symptoms.
ClassificationMajor acute polychrest; the classic remedy of sudden oedematous swellings, serous inflammations, and allergic-type reactions
Essence & Causation
Apis is the remedy of sudden swelling and burning. Its characteristic image is that of a part of the body becoming red, swollen, and hot, with a stinging, burning pain that is worse from heat and better from cold applications. The swelling is often oedematous (pitting) and appears rapidly, as if the tissues are filling with fluid. Classic triggers include bee stings, allergic reactions, sun exposure, and suppressed eruptions.
Mind & Emotional Picture
- Jealousy — a key mental symptom; suspicious, jealous, irritable, and easily offended.
- Wavering inconsistency — the patient is changeable, uncertain, and cannot make up their mind.
- Eccentric cheerfulness or hopelessness — alternating between unusual gaiety and deep despair.
- Dullness of mind — a heavy, drowsy, confused mental state, often with a feeling of pressure in the head.
- Ailments following jealousy or hearing bad news.
- Restless, but also wants to be left alone; irritable when questioned or disturbed.
Physical Generals & Key Symptoms
- Sudden oedematous swellings — puffy, pale or pink, with a characteristic stinging, burning pain.
- Burning in small spots — subjective heat, often described as if a hot coal or needle is being pressed into the skin.
- Thirstlessness — a key differentiator from Aconite: the patient often does not want to drink, even with fever or dryness.
- Chilled sensation — the part affected feels cold to the patient, even though it may be warm to the touch.
- Involuntary discharge of urine more frequent than retention.
- Catamenia generally too soon.
- Cough awakens from first sleep before midnight, and ceases as soon as the least particle is loosened which is swallowed.
- Complaints predominate in external parts, on the roof of the mouth, in the spleen, and in the hollow of the knee.
Modalities
WorseHeat, warm room, warm applications, touch, pressure, afternoon, after sleep, when looking fixedly at any object
BetterCold applications, cold air, open air, motion (in some complaints), sitting up, lying on the right side
Part Four
Head-to-Head Differential Table
The key questions experienced prescribers ask first when choosing between these two remedies. → Scroll right for details
→ Swipe left to see full comparison table
| Feature | Aconite | Apis |
|---|---|---|
| Onset | Sudden, after cold dry wind, fright, or shock | Sudden, often after exposure to sun, heat, or allergic reaction |
| Dominant emotion | Terror, panic, fear of imminent death | Jealousy, irritability, wavering inconsistency |
| Thirst | Marked, for cold water, often in large amounts | Thirstless — a key differentiator |
| Heat sensation | Part affected is HOT with thirst | Part affected is CHILLED; thirst only wanting during sweat |
| Pain character | Tension, tearing, stitching; numbness in gouty limbs | Burning, stinging in small spots; subjective heat |
| Location | Internal parts; soft palate, liver, patella | External parts; roof of mouth, spleen, hollow of knee |
| Saliva | Predominantly diminished | Predominantly increased |
| Inguinal hernia | Small and of recent origin | Large and of long standing |
| Urine | Infrequent discharge | Frequent discharge |
| Catamenia | Too late | Generally too soon |
| Cough | Evening & after midnight; expectoration seldom | Awakens before midnight; ceases when particle swallowed |
| Milk | Increase of milk | Decrease of milk |
| Horse symptoms | Inflammation; puts head firmly against wall | Inflammation; runs head furiously against wall |
| Remission | During the day and before midnight | During the day |
| Worse | When looking down | When looking fixedly at any object |
| Predomin. worse | Rising from bed, cold, erect position | Warmth, on expiration, after rising from bed |
| Predomin. better | Warmth, on expiration, after rising from bed, sitting down | Warmth, on expiration, after rising from bed, sitting down |
A simple rule many students use as a starting point: Aconite fears he will die; Apis doesn’t care to drink. Neither line replaces a careful case-taking, but both capture something true about each remedy’s centre of gravity.
Part Five
Repertory Data at a Glance
Hundreds of rubrics, digitised from the classical comparison chart, grouped by section and grade.
Mind · Rubrics
Generalities · Rubrics
Thirst & Fever · Rubrics
Grade-3 Keynotes — the Strongest Indications
Acon · Mind, anxiety, chill during
Acon · Mind, anxiety, fear with
Acon · Mind, anxiety, fever during
Acon · Mind, ecstasy *
Acon · Mind, excitement, chill during
Acon · Mind, excitement, nervous
Acon · Mind, fear, crowd in a
Acon · Mind, fear, death of, predicts the time
Acon · Mind, prophesying, predicts death
Acon · Mind, shrieking, pain with the *
Apis · Mind, shrieking, brain cry *
Apis · Mind, weeping, causeless
Apis · Mind, insanity, busy
Apis · Mind, insanity, erotic
Apis · Generalities, dropsy, external *
Apis · Generalities, dropsy, internal *
Apis · Generalities, heat, sensation of
Apis · Generalities, warm, bed agg.
Apis · Stomach, thirstless
Apis · Stomach, thirstless, heat during
The Full Repertory Tables
All rubrics from the source comparison chart, organised into sections. Blue dots indicate Aconite’s grade, gold dots indicate Apis’s grade; an open circle means the remedy is not graded for that rubric in this chart.
●○○ Aconite — grade 1
●●○ Aconite — grade 2
●●● Aconite — grade 3 (keynote)
●○○ Apis — grade 1
●●○ Apis — grade 2
●●● Apis — grade 3 (keynote)
→ Swipe left to see full repertory table
| Rubric (Symptom) → Scroll right for details | Aconite | Apis |
|---|---|---|
| Absorbed, buried in thought * | ●○○ | – |
| Affectionate | ●○○ | – |
| Anger, ailments after anger, with anxiety | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Anger, ailments after anger, with fright | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Anger, cough, from the | ●○○ | – |
| Anguish, stool, before | ●○○ | – |
| Anxiety, air, in open (agg.) | ●○○ | – |
| Anxiety, breathing deeply, on (agg.) | ●○○ | – |
| Anxiety, chill, during | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Anxiety, cold drinks, amel. | ●○○ | – |
| Anxiety, company, when in | ●“>●○ | – |
| Anxiety, crowd, in a | ●“>●○ | – |
| Anxiety, evening (agg.) | ●○○ | – |
| Anxiety, fear, with | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Anxiety, fever, during | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Anxiety, forenoon | ●○○ | – |
| Anxiety, fright, after | ●○○ | – |
| Anxiety, future, about | ●○○ | – |
| Anxiety, headache, with | ●“>●○ | – |
| Anxiety, health, about | ●○○ | – |
| Anxiety, menses, before | ●○○ | – |
| Anxiety, menses, during (agg.) | ●○○ | – |
| Anxiety, mental exertion | ●○○ | – |
| Anxiety, motion, amel. | ●○○ | – |
| Anxiety, motion, from (agg.) | ●○○ | – |
| Anxiety, night | ●“>●○ | – |
| Anxiety, pains, from the | ●“>●○ | – |
| Anxiety, sleep, during | ●○○ | – |
| Anxiety, sleep, on going to | ●○○ | – |
| Anxiety, stool, after | ●○○ | – |
| Anxiety, stool, before | ●○○ | – |
| Anxiety, stool, during | ●○○ | – |
| Anxiety, urination, during | ●○○ | – |
| Anxiety, vexation, after | ●○○ | – |
| Anxiety, waking, on | ●○○ | – |
| Anxiety, walking, while | ●○○ | – |
| Anxiety, weeping, followed by | ●○○ | – |
| Audacity | ●○○ | – |
| Bad news, ailments from | ●○○ | – |
| Bed, aversion to (shuns) | ●“>●○ | – |
| Biting | ●○○ | – |
| Biting, himself | ●○○ | – |
| Break things, desire to | – | ●“>●○ |
| Busy | – | ●“>●○ |
| Capriciousness | ●○○ | – |
| Carried, desires to be | ●○○ | – |
| Censorious, critical | ●○○ | – |
| Cheerful, alternating, sadness, with | ●○○ | – |
| Cheerful, heat, during | ●○○ | – |
| Cheerful, menses, before | ●○○ | – |
| Cheerful, perspiration, during | – | ●○○ |
| Clairvoyance | ●○○ | – |
| Company aversion to | ●○○ | – |
| Company aversion to, avoids the sight of people | ●○○ | – |
| Company, desire for | – | ●“>●○ |
| Complaining | ●○○ | – |
| Concentration, difficult, studying, reading, etc., while | ●○○ | – |
| Concentration, difficult, writing, while | ●○○ | – |
| Confusion, air, in open, amel. | ●○○ | – |
| Confusion, chill, during | ●○○ | – |
| Confusion, eating, after | – | ●○○ |
| Confusion, eating, amel. | – | ●○○ |
| Confusion, intoxicated, as after being | ●○○ | – |
| Confusion, intoxicated, as if | ●“>●○ | – |
| Confusion, mental exertion, from (agg.) | – | ●○○ |
| Confusion, morning | ●○○ | – |
| Confusion, morning, waking, on | ●○○ | – |
| Confusion, motion, from (agg.) | ●○○ | – |
| Confusion, paroxysms of pain, during | ●“>●○ | – |
| Confusion, reading, while | – | ●“>●○ |
| Confusion, waking, on | ●○○ | – |
| Confusion, walking, open air, in (agg.) | ●○○ | – |
| Confusion, warm room, in | ●○○ | – |
| Conscientious about trifles | – | ●○○ |
| Contradiction, is intolerant of | ●○○ | – |
| Contrary | ●○○ | – |
| Conversation agg. | ●○○ | – |
| Courageous | ●○○ | – |
| Cowardice | ●“>●○ | – |
| Darkness agg. | ●○○ | – |
| Death, desires | – | ●○○ |
| Death, desires, forenoon | – | ●○○ |
| Death, presentiment of, predicts the time | ●“>●○ | – |
| Defiant | ●○○ | – |
| Delirium, anxious | ●“>●○ | – |
| Delirium, cheerful | ●○○ | – |
| Delirium, foolish, silly | ●○○ | – |
| Delirium, frightful | ●“>●○ | – |
| Delirium, headache, during | ●○○ | – |
| Delirium, laughing | ●○○ | – |
| Delirium, loquacious | – | ●○○ |
| Delirium, loquacious, indistinct | – | ●○○ |
| Delirium, maniacal * | ●○○ | – |
| Delirium, muttering | – | ●“>●○ |
| Delirium, raging, raving | ●“>●○ | – |
| Delirium, restless | ●○○ | – |
| Delirium, sleepiness, with | ●○○ | – |
| Delirium, sorrowful | ●○○ | – |
| Delirium, well, declares she is | – | ●○○ |
| Delusions, bed, as if some one was in, with him * | – | ●○○ |
| Delusions, dead, that he himself was dead * | – | ●○○ |
| Delusions, die, thought he was about to * | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Delusions, driving sheep * | ●○○ | – |
| Delusions, engaged in some occupation, is * | ●○○ | – |
| Delusions, enlarged * | ●○○ | – |
| Delusions, enlarged, head is * | ●○○ | – |
| Delusions, faces, sees, grows larger * | ●○○ | – |
| Delusions, head, large, seems too * | ●○○ | – |
| Delusions, home, think is away from * | ●○○ | – |
| Delusions, images, phantoms, night * | ●○○ | – |
| Delusions, insane, that she will become * | ●“>●○ | – |
| Delusions, people, beside him, are * | ●○○ | – |
| Delusions, sleeping, while awake, insists that he was * | ●○○ | – |
| Delusions, small, sensation of being smaller * | ●○○ | – |
| Delusions, spectres, closing eyes, on * | ●○○ | – |
| Delusions, tongue made of wood * | – | ●○○ |
| Delusions, visions * | – | ●○○ |
| Delusions, visions, closing the eyes, on * | – | ●○○ |
| Delusions, walk, cannot walk, must run or hop * | – | ●○○ |
| Despair | ●“>●○ | – |
| Despair, chill, during | ●“>●○ | – |
| Despair, heat, during | ●“>●○ | – |
| Despair, pains, with the | ●○○ | – |
| Despair, recovery | ●“>●○ | – |
| Destructiveness | ●“>●○ | ●○○ |
| Discontented, everything, with | ●○○ | – |
| Disobedience | ●○○ | – |
| Doubtful, recovery, of | ●“>●○ | – |
| Dullness, emotions, from | ●○○ | – |
| Dullness, reading, while | ●○○ | – |
| Dullness, smoking, from | ●○○ | – |
| Dullness, warm room, on entering | ●○○ | – |
| Dullness, wine, after | ●○○ | – |
| Dullness, writing, while | ●○○ | – |
| Ecstasy * | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Escape, attempts to | ●○○ | – |
| Excitement, bad news, after | ●○○ | ●“>●○ |
| Excitement, chill, during | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Excitement, heat, during | – | ●“>●○ |
| Excitement, nervous | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Excitement, night | ●“>●○ | – |
| Excitement, perspiration, during | ●“>●○ | – |
| Exhilaration | ●○○ | – |
| Fancies, exaltation of | ●“>●○ | – |
| Fancies, lively | ●○○ | – |
| Fear, accidents, of | ●○○ | – |
| Fear, alone, of being | ●○○ | ●“>●○ |
| Fear, apoplexy, of | ●“>●○ | – |
| Fear, bed, of the | – | ●○○ |
| Fear, crowd, in a | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Fear, crowd, in a, public places, of | ●○○ | – |
| Fear, dark | ●“>●○ | – |
| Fear, death, of, labor, during | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Fear, death, of, menses, before | ●○○ | – |
| Fear, death, of, menses, during | ●○○ | – |
| Fear, death, of, predicts the time | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Fear, death, of, pregnancy, during | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Fear, disease, of impending | ●○○ | – |
| Fear, evil of | ●○○ | – |
| Fear, falling, of | ●○○ | – |
| Fear, ghosts, of | ●“>●○ | – |
| Fear, ghosts, of, night | ●“>●○ | – |
| Fear, heat, during | ●○○ | – |
| Fear, insanity, of | ●○○ | – |
| Fear, labor, during | ●○○ | – |
| Fear, menses, before | ●“>●○ | – |
| Fear, menses, during | ●○○ | – |
| Fear, misfortune, of | ●○○ | – |
| Fear, narrow place, in | ●○○ | – |
| Fear, people, of | ●“>●○ | – |
| Fear, poisoned, of being | ●○○ | – |
| Fear, sleep, before | ●○○ | – |
| Fear, suffocation, of | ●“>●○ | – |
| Fear, walking, across busy street | ●“>●○ | – |
| Forgetful, headache, during | ●○○ | – |
| Frightened easily | ●“>●○ | – |
| Gestures, convulsive | ●○○ | – |
| Gestures, hands, motions, wild | ●○○ | – |
| Gestures, picks at bedclothes | ●○○ | – |
| Grief, ailments, from | ●○○ | ●“>●○ |
| Hatred | ●○○ | – |
| Hopeful | ●○○ | – |
| Hopeful, alternating with sadness | ●○○ | – |
| Hurry, movements, in | ●○○ | – |
| Hurry, occupation, in | ●○○ | – |
| Hurry, walking, while | ●○○ | – |
| Ideas abundant, clearness of mind | ●○○ | – |
| Ideas, deficiency of | ●“>●○ | – |
| Impetuous | ●○○ | – |
| Impetuous, perspiration | ●“>●○ | – |
| Inconsolable | ●“>●○ | – |
| Indifference, everything, to | ●“>●○ | – |
| Indifference, loved ones, to | ●“>●○ | – |
| Indiscretion | ●○○ | – |
| Insanity, busy | – | ●“>●“>● |
| Insanity, erotic | – | ●“>●“>● |
| Irresolution | ●○○ | – |
| Irritability, chill, during | ●○○ | – |
| Irritability, headache, during | ●○○ | – |
| Irritability, heat, during | ●○○ | – |
| Irritability, questioned, when | ●○○ | – |
| Irritability, sends, the doctor home, says he is not sick | – | ●○○ |
| Jealousy | ●“>●○ | – |
| Joy, ailments, from excessive | ●“>●○ | – |
| Jumping | ●“>●○ | – |
| Jumping, bed, out of | ●“>●○ | – |
| Lamenting, bemoaning, wailing etc. (compare weeping) | ●“>●○ | – |
| Lasciviousness, lustful | ●“>●○ | – |
| Laughing, misfortune, at | – | ●○○ |
| Laughing, serious matters, over | ●“>●○ | – |
| Laughing, spasmodic | ●○○ | – |
| Lewdness | ●“>●○ | – |
| Light, desire for | ●○○ | – |
| Loathing, general | ●○○ | – |
| Malicious | ●“>●○ | – |
| Mania-a-potu * | ●○○ | – |
| Memory active | ●○○ | – |
| Memory, weakness of, dates, for | ●○○ | – |
| Memory, weakness of, done, for what has just | ●“>●○ | – |
| Memory, weakness of, labor, for mental (compare stupefactio.. | ●○○ | – |
| Memory, weakness of, thought, for what has just | ●○○ | – |
| Mildness | ●“>●○ | – |
| Mirth, foolish | ●○○ | – |
| Mirth, heat, during | ●○○ | – |
| Misanthropy | ●○○ | – |
| Mistakes, time, in | ●○○ | – |
| Moaning, heat, during | ●○○ | – |
| Moaning, perspiration, during | ●○○ | – |
| Monomania | ●○○ | – |
| Mood, alternating | ●“>●○ | – |
| Muttering | ●“>●○ | – |
| Nymphomania | – | ●“>●○ |
| Obstinate, declares there is nothing the matter with him | ●“>●○ | – |
| Prophesying | ●○○ | – |
| Prophesying, predicts the time of death | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Prostration of mind | ●○○ | – |
| Quarrelsome | ●○○ | – |
| Rage, alternating, consciousness | ●○○ | – |
| Rage, evening | ●○○ | – |
| Rage, fury | ●“>●○ | – |
| Rage, menses, during | ●○○ | – |
| Rage, night | ●○○ | – |
| Reading, averse to | ●“>●○ | – |
| Reproaches, himself | ●“>●○ | – |
| Reproaches, others | ●“>●○ | – |
| Repulsive mood | ●○○ | – |
| Restlessness, afternoon | ●○○ | – |
| Restlessness, anxious, etc. | ●“>●○ | – |
| Restlessness, chill, during the | ●○○ | – |
| Restlessness, evening | ●○○ | – |
| Restlessness, heat, during the | ●“>●○ | – |
| Restlessness, internal | ●○○ | – |
| Restlessness, menses, before | ●○○ | – |
| Restlessness, pregnancy, during | ●○○ | – |
| Ridicule, mania to * | ●○○ | – |
| Rocking amel. | ●○○ | – |
| Sadness, anger, after | – | ●○○ |
| Sadness, forenoon (agg.) | – | ●○○ |
| Sadness, morning (agg.) | ●“>●○ | – |
| Sadness, music, from | ●“>●○ | – |
| Sadness, walking, while (agg.) | ●○○ | – |
| Scorn, ailments from | ●○○ | – |
| Senses, dullness of | ●○○ | – |
| Sensitive, children | ●“>●○ | – |
| Sensitive, light | ●“>●○ | – |
| Sensitive, music, to | ●“>●○ | – |
| Sensitive, noise, to, slightest | ●○○ | – |
| Sensitive, steel points directed towards her | ●○○ | – |
| Sentimental | ●○○ | – |
| Shrieking, brain cry * | – | ●“>●“>● |
| Shrieking, children, in * | – | ●“>●○ |
| Shrieking, convulsions, before * | – | ●“>●○ |
| Shrieking, feels as tho' she must * | – | ●○○ |
| Shrieking, pain, with the * | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Shrieking, sleep, during * | – | ●“>●○ |
| Shrieking, waking, on * | ●○○ | – |
| Sighing | ●○○ | – |
| Sighing, heat, during | ●○○ | – |
| Sighing, perspiration, during | ●○○ | – |
| Singing, alternating with weeping | ●“>●○ | – |
| Sit, inclination to | ●○○ | – |
| Somnambulism | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Speech, childish | ●○○ | – |
| Speech, hasty | ●○○ | – |
| Speech, nonsense | ●○○ | – |
| Speech, unintelligible | ●○○ | – |
| Speech, wandering | ●○○ | – |
| Starting, anxious | ●○○ | – |
| Starting, noise, from | ●“>●○ | – |
| Starting, startled | ●○○ | – |
| Striking | – | ●○○ |
| Striking, knocking his head against wall | – | ●○○ |
| Stupefaction, heat, during | ●○○ | – |
| Stupefaction, vertigo, during | ●“>●○ | – |
| Suspicious | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Talk, indisposed to, desire to be silent, taciturn | ●“>●○ | – |
| Talks to himself | ●○○ | – |
| Thoughts, intrude and crowd around each other | ●○○ | – |
| Thoughts, persistent | ●○○ | – |
| Thoughts, persistent, walking, on | ●○○ | – |
| Thoughts, rapid, quick, etc. | ●○○ | – |
| Thoughts, thoughtful | ●○○ | – |
| Thoughts, vanishing, of | ●○○ | – |
| Thoughts, wandering | ●“>●○ | – |
| Timidity | ●“>●○ | – |
| Timidity, about going to bed | ●○○ | – |
| Torpor | ●○○ | – |
| Touched, aversion to being | ●“>●○ | – |
| Unconsciousness, emotion, after | ●“>●○ | – |
| Unconsciousness, evening | ●○○ | – |
| Unconsciousness, menses, during | – | ●○○ |
| Unconsciousness, menses, suppression of | ●○○ | – |
| Unconsciousness, vertigo, during | ●○○ | – |
| Unconsciousness, vomiting amel. | ●○○ | – |
| Unconsciousness, warm room | ●“>●○ | – |
| Undertakes, many things, perseveres in nothing | ●“>●○ | – |
| Wearisome | ●○○ | – |
| Weary of life | – | ●○○ |
| Weary of life, forenoon | – | ●○○ |
| Weeping, alternating with cheerfulness | ●○○ | – |
| Weeping, alternating with laughter | ●“>●○ | – |
| Weeping, causeless | – | ●“>●“>● |
| Weeping, chill, during the | ●○○ | – |
| Weeping, evening (agg.) | ●○○ | – |
| Weeping, perspiration, during the | ●○○ | – |
| Weeping, pregnancy, during | – | ●○○ |
| Well, says he is, when very sick | – | ●“>●○ |
| Wildness | ●○○ | – |
| Will, contradiction of | ●○○ | – |
| Work, aversion to mental | ●“>●○ | – |
→ Swipe left to see full repertory table
| Rubric (Symptom) → Scroll right for details | Aconite | Apis |
|---|---|---|
| Afternoon, 3 p.m. | – | ●“>●○ |
| Air, draft agg. | ●○○ | – |
| Air, open agg. | ●“>●○ | – |
| Alcoholic stimulants | ●○○ | – |
| Anaemia | ●○○ | – |
| Anxiety general physical | ●○○ | – |
| Apoplexy | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Ascending agg. | ●○○ | – |
| Ascending, high agg. | ●○○ | – |
| Ball internally (Compare Knotted Sensation) | ●○○ | – |
| Cancerous affections | – | ●“>●○ |
| Catalepsy | ●○○ | – |
| Catalepsy, fright, after | ●“>●○ | – |
| Change of position agg. | ●○○ | – |
| Change of, temperature agg. | ●○○ | – |
| Change of, weather agg. | – | ●○○ |
| Chorea, fright, from * | ●○○ | – |
| Clear weather agg. | ●○○ | – |
| Clothing, intolerance of | – | ●“>●○ |
| Coition, after | – | ●“>●○ |
| Cold in general agg. | ●“>●○ | – |
| Cold, air agg. | ●“>●○ | – |
| Cold, becoming (agg.) | ●○○ | – |
| Cold, becoming, after, agg. | ●“>●○ | – |
| Cold, becoming, amel. | ●○○ | – |
| Cold, dry weather agg. | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Cold, feeling in blood vessels | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Cold, tendency to take | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Cold, wet weather agg. | – | ●“>●○ |
| Collapse | – | ●○○ |
| Congestion of, blood, internally * | – | ●“>●○ |
| Constriction, band, sensation of a | ●○○ | – |
| Constriction, internally | ●○○ | – |
| Constriction, of orifices | ●“>●○ | – |
| Convulsions, clonic | ●○○ | – |
| Convulsions, consciousness, with | ●○○ | – |
| Convulsions, consciousness, without | ●○○ | – |
| Convulsions, dentition, during | ●“>●○ | – |
| Convulsions, epileptiform | ●○○ | – |
| Convulsions, excitement, from | ●○○ | – |
| Convulsions, hysterical | – | ●“>●○ |
| Convulsions, internal | ●○○ | – |
| Convulsions, menses, during | – | ●○○ |
| Convulsions, one-sided | – | ●○○ |
| Convulsions, one-sided, paralysis of the other | – | ●○○ |
| Convulsions, puerperal | – | ●○○ |
| Convulsions, tetanic rigidity | ●“>●○ | – |
| Convulsions, touched, when | ●○○ | – |
| Convulsions, warm bath agg. | – | ●“>●○ |
| Cyanosis * | ●○○ | – |
| Descending agg. | ●○○ | – |
| Distention blood vessels | ●○○ | – |
| Dropsy, external * | – | ●“>●“>● |
| Dropsy, internal * | – | ●“>●“>● |
| Eating, after, amel. | ●○○ | – |
| Eating, before | ●○○ | – |
| Emaciation | – | ●“>●○ |
| Faintness, close room, in | ●○○ | – |
| Faintness, constriction of chest | ●○○ | – |
| Faintness, excitement, on | ●○○ | – |
| Faintness, fever, during | ●“>●○ | – |
| Faintness, fright, after | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Faintness, menses, during | – | ●○○ |
| Faintness, pain, from | – | ●○○ |
| Faintness, perspiration, during | – | ●○○ |
| Faintness, rising, from bed, on | ●○○ | – |
| Faintness, sitting, up, from | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Faintness, standing, while | – | ●○○ |
| Faintness, urinating, after | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Faintness, warm room | ●“>●○ | – |
| Flabby feeling | ●“>●○ | – |
| Food, beer agg. | ●○○ | – |
| Food, butter agg. | ●○○ | – |
| Food, coffee, amel. | ●○○ | – |
| Food, cold drinks agg. | – | ●○○ |
| Food, cold drinks, amel. | – | ●○○ |
| Food, fat agg. | ●○○ | – |
| Food, fruit agg. | ●○○ | – |
| Food, milk, amel. | – | ●“>●○ |
| Food, pork agg. | ●○○ | – |
| Food, sweets agg. | ●○○ | – |
| Food, warm food agg. | ●○○ | – |
| Formication, bones * | ●○○ | – |
| Formication, external parts * | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Formication, glands * | ●○○ | – |
| Formication, internally * | ●“>●○ | – |
| Haemorrhage, blood does not coagulate | – | ●“>●○ |
| Hard bed, sensation of | ●○○ | – |
| Heat, flushes of, alternating with chills | ●○○ | – |
| Heat, flushes of, chilliness, with | – | ●○○ |
| Heat, flushes of, evening | ●○○ | – |
| Heat, sensation of | – | ●“>●“>● |
| Heated, becoming | ●○○ | – |
| Heaviness, externally | ●○○ | – |
| Heaviness, internally | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Inflammation, bloodvessels | ●○○ | – |
| Inflammation, bones, periosteum | – | ●“>●○ |
| Inflammation, externally | ●“>●○ | – |
| Inflammation, glands | ●“>●○ | – |
| Inflammation, nerves | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Intoxication, after | ●○○ | – |
| Jar, stepping, agg. | ●“>●○ | – |
| Jerking internally | ●“>●○ | – |
| Jerking, convulsions, as in | ●○○ | – |
| Jerking, muscles, sleep, on going to | ●○○ | – |
| Lying, after, agg. | ●○○ | – |
| Lying, after, amel. | ●○○ | – |
| Lying, amel. | ●○○ | – |
| Lying, back on, agg. | ●○○ | – |
| Lying, bed, in, agg. | ●○○ | – |
| Lying, bed, in, amel. | ●“>●○ | – |
| Lying, side on, agg. | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Lying, side on, amel. | ●○○ | – |
| Lying, side on, left, agg. | ●“>●○ | – |
| Lying, side on, painful, agg. | ●“>●○ | – |
| Lying, side on, painless, amel. | ●○○ | – |
| Lying, side on, right, agg. | ●○○ | – |
| Magnetism amel. | ●○○ | – |
| Menses, amel. | – | ●○○ |
| Menses, at beginning of | ●“>●○ | – |
| Menses, during (agg.) | ●○○ | – |
| Motion, amel. | ●“>●○ | – |
| Motion, aversion to | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Motion, of affected part agg. | ●“>●○ | – |
| Motion, of affected part, amel. | ●○○ | – |
| Mucous secretions increased | ●○○ | – |
| Narcotics agg. | ●○○ | – |
| Night, midnight, after (agg.) | ●○○ | – |
| Night, midnight, before | – | ●○○ |
| Noon | – | ●○○ |
| Numbness, internally * | ●○○ | – |
| Numbness, single parts in * | ●“>●○ | – |
| Numbness, suffering parts, of * | ●“>●○ | – |
| Nursing children | ●○○ | – |
| Old, people | ●“>●○ | – |
| Orgasm of blood, vexation, after | ●“>●○ | – |
| Pain appear gradually | ●○○ | – |
| Pain, appear gradually, and disappear gradually | ●○○ | – |
| Pain, benumbing | ●“>●○ | – |
| Pain, biting * | ●○○ | – |
| Pain, bones | ●○○ | – |
| Pain, burning, as from * | – | ●“>●○ |
| Pain, constricting externally | ●○○ | – |
| Pain, constricting, internally | ●“>●○ | – |
| Pain, cutting externally * | ●○○ | – |
| Pain, cutting, internally * | ●○○ | – |
| Pain, digging up (burrowing, rooting sensation) * | ●“>●○ | – |
| Pain, digging up, glands * | ●○○ | – |
| Pain, drawing, alternating with heart symptoms * | ●○○ | – |
| Pain, drawing, extending to fingers * | – | ●○○ |
| Pain, drawing, extending, toes * | – | ●○○ |
| Pain, glands | ●○○ | – |
| Pain, gnawing * | ●○○ | – |
| Pain, gnawing, externally * | ●○○ | – |
| Pain, jerking, internally * | ●○○ | – |
| Pain, paralytic | ●○○ | – |
| Pain, pinching * | ●○○ | – |
| Pain, pinching, externally * | ●○○ | – |
| Pain, pinching, internally * | ●○○ | – |
| Pain, pressing externally * | ●“>●○ | – |
| Pain, pressing, internally * | ●“>●○ | – |
| Pain, pressing, inward * | ●○○ | – |
| Pain, pressing, load, as from * | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Pain, pressing, together * | ●○○ | – |
| Pain, pressing, within outward, from * | ●“>●○ | – |
| Pain, scraped, as if | ●“>●○ | – |
| Pain, sore, bruised, bones, as if * | ●○○ | – |
| Pain, stitching, bones * | ●○○ | – |
| Pain, stitching, glands * | ●○○ | – |
| Pain, stitching, inward * | ●○○ | – |
| Pain, stitching, muscles * | ●“>●○ | – |
| Pain, stitching, muscles, burning in muscles * | ●“>●○ | – |
| Pain, stitching, muscles, tearing in muscles * | ●○○ | – |
| Pain, stitching, transversely * | ●○○ | – |
| Pain, stitching, upward * | ●○○ | – |
| Pain, tearing, bones * | ●○○ | – |
| Pain, tearing, downward * | ●“>●○ | – |
| Pain, tearing, externally * | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Pain, tearing, muscles * | ●○○ | – |
| Pain, tearing, muscles, jerking in muscles * | ●○○ | – |
| Pain, tearing, muscles, pressing in muscles * | ●○○ | – |
| Pain, tearing, muscles, sticking in muscles * | ●○○ | – |
| Pain, tearing, upward * | ●○○ | – |
| Pain, twinging | – | ●○○ |
| Pain, ulcerative, externally * | ●○○ | – |
| Pain, ulcerative, internally * | ●○○ | – |
| Pain, undulating | ●○○ | – |
| Pain, wandering | ●○○ | – |
| Paralysis, internally | ●“>●○ | – |
| Paralysis, one-sided, left | – | ●“>●○ |
| Paralysis, one-sided, right | – | ●○○ |
| Paralysis, organs, of | ●“>●○ | – |
| Periodicity | ●○○ | – |
| Perspiration gives no relief | ●“>●○ | – |
| Perspiration, after, amel. | ●“>●○ | – |
| Plethora | ●“>●○ | – |
| Plug, sensation of, internally | ●○○ | – |
| Prickling externally * | ●○○ | – |
| Prickling, internally * | ●○○ | – |
| Pulsation externally * | ●“>●○ | – |
| Pulsation, internally | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Pulse abnormal | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Pulse, contracted | ●○○ | – |
| Pulse, febrile | ●“>●○ | – |
| Pulse, fluttering | – | ●○○ |
| Pulse, frequent, and intermittent | ●○○ | – |
| Pulse, frequent, evening | ●○○ | – |
| Pulse, frequent, faster than the heart-beat | ●○○ | – |
| Pulse, frequent, vexation, after | ●○○ | – |
| Pulse, full, evening | ●○○ | – |
| Pulse, hard * | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Pulse, irregular | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Pulse, irregular, and slow | ●○○ | – |
| Pulse, jerking | ●○○ | – |
| Pulse, slow | ●“>●○ | – |
| Pulse, thready * | ●○○ | – |
| Pulse, tremulous | ●○○ | – |
| Quinine, abuse of | – | ●“>●○ |
| Rising agg. | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Rising, amel. | ●○○ | – |
| Rubbing, amel. | ●○○ | – |
| Sensitiveness, to pain | ●“>●○ | – |
| Septicaemia | – | ●“>●○ |
| Sexual excesses, after | ●○○ | – |
| Sexual, desire, suppression of agg. | – | ●“>●“>● |
| Shocks from injury | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Shuddering, nervous | ●○○ | – |
| Side, crosswise, left lower and right upper | ●○○ | – |
| Side, left, then right | ●○○ | – |
| Side, right, then left | ●○○ | – |
| Sitting, amel. | ●“>●○ | – |
| Sitting, down, on first, amel. | ●○○ | – |
| Sitting, while, agg. | ●○○ | – |
| Sleep, before, agg. | ●○○ | – |
| Smaller, sensation | ●○○ | – |
| Stagnated, sensation as if blood | ●○○ | – |
| Standing agg. | ●○○ | – |
| Stretching, impossible | ●○○ | – |
| Swelling, glands | ●○○ | – |
| Swelling, glands, hot | ●“>●○ | – |
| Swelling, glands, inflammatory | ●“>●○ | – |
| Swelling, glands, painful | ●○○ | – |
| Sycosis | – | ●“>●○ |
| Tension externally | ●○○ | – |
| Tension, internally | ●○○ | – |
| Tension, muscles | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Tobacco agg. | ●○○ | – |
| Touch, illusions of | ●○○ | – |
| Touching anything agg. | ●○○ | – |
| Trembling, anger, from | ●○○ | – |
| Tremblingjoy, from | ●○○ | – |
| Trembling, vexation, from | ●○○ | – |
| generalities, tumors, cystic | – | ●○○ |
| Twitching, sleep, on going to | ●○○ | – |
| Uncovering agg. | ●“>●○ | – |
| Vaccination, after | – | ●○○ |
| Varicose veins | – | ●“>●○ |
| Varicose veins, burning * | – | ●“>●○ |
| Varicose veins, stinging * | – | ●“>●○ |
| Varicose veins, swollen | – | ●“>●○ |
| Vomiting agg. | ●○○ | – |
| Vomiting, amel. | ●○○ | – |
| Waking, on (agg.) | ●○○ | – |
| Walking, beginning of agg. | ●○○ | – |
| Walking, fast agg. | – | ●“>●○ |
| Walking, in open air agg. | ●○○ | – |
| Walking, in open air, amel. | ●○○ | – |
| Walking, wind, in the, agg. | ●○○ | – |
| Warm, becoming, in open air, agg. | ●○○ | – |
| Warm, bed agg. | – | ●“>●“>● |
| Warm, stove agg. | – | ●“>●○ |
| Warm, stove, amel. | ●○○ | – |
| Weakness, cold weather, in | – | ●○○ |
| Weakness, coldness, during | – | ●○○ |
| Weakness, convulsions, after | ●○○ | – |
| Weakness, diarrhoea, from | – | ●“>●○ |
| Weakness, fever, during | ●○○ | – |
| Weakness, forenoon | ●○○ | – |
| Weakness, intermittent | – | ●“>●○ |
| Weakness, mental exertion | – | ●○○ |
| Weakness, morning | ●○○ | – |
| Weakness, morning, rising, amel. | ●○○ | – |
| Weakness, morning, waking, on | ●○○ | – |
| Weakness, nervous | ●○○ | – |
| Weakness, paralytic | – | ●“>●○ |
| Weakness, paralytic, sliding down in bed | – | ●“>●○ |
| Weakness, spring | – | ●○○ |
| Weakness, stool, after | – | ●○○ |
| Weakness, stool, during | – | ●○○ |
| Weakness, tremulous | – | ●“>●○ |
| Weakness, walking, from (agg.) | ●○○ | – |
| Weariness | ●○○ | – |
| Wet, getting, perspiration, during | ●“>●○ | – |
| Wind | ●“>●○ | – |
| Wind, cold | ●“>●○ | – |
| Windy and stormy weather | ●“>●○ | – |
| Wine (agg.) | ●○○ | – |
| Wine, amel. | ●“>●○ | – |
| Winter, in | ●“>●○ | – |
| Wounds, bites of poisonous animals | – | ●“>●○ |
| Wounds, dissecting | – | ●“>●○ |
| Wounds, painful | – | ●“>●○ |
| Wounds, penetrating | – | ●“>●“>● |
| Wounds, stab wounds | – | ●“>●○ |
| Head, pain, light, in general, from (agg.) | ●○○ | – |
| Stomach, appetite, increased (hunger in general) | ●“>●○ | – |
→ Swipe left to see full repertory table
| Rubric (Symptom) → Scroll right for details | Aconite | Apis |
|---|---|---|
| Bladder, urination, involuntary, thirst and fear, with | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Fever, burning heat, dry, burning heat, extending from head, and fac.. | ●“>●○ | – |
| Fever, burning heat, thirst for cold drinks, with * | ●“>●○ | – |
| Fever, night, dry burning heat, without thirst * | – | ●“>●○ |
| Mouth, dryness, thirst, with | ●○○ | – |
| Stomach, thirst, evening | ●○○ | – |
| Stomach, thirst, forenoon | – | ●○○ |
| Stomach, thirst, heat, during | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Stomach, thirst, large quantities, for | ●“>●○ | – |
| Stomach, thirst, pains, with the | ●○○ | – |
| Stomach, thirst, perspiration, during | ●“>●○ | – |
| Stomach, thirst, waking, on | ●“>●○ | – |
| Stomach, thirstless | – | ●“>●“>● |
| Stomach, thirstless, heat, during | – | ●“>●“>● |
| Throat, dryness, thirst, without | – | ●“>●○ |
Part Six
Clinical Differentiation Guide
Practical questions to ask at the bedside, framed around the classical teaching.
1· What started it?
A fright, shock, bad news, or exposure to dry cold wind points toward Aconite. An allergic reaction, bee sting, sun exposure, or suppressed eruption points toward Apis.
2· What is the fear like?
Conscious, articulate, terrified — able to say exactly what they fear and even when they expect to die — suggests Aconite. Vague, dull, with jealousy and wavering inconsistency suggests Apis.
3· Is the patient thirsty?
Strong thirst for cold water during the fever favours Aconite. Absence of thirst despite obvious heat is a classic Apis marker.
4· What does the heat feel like?
Dry, burning heat with desire to uncover suggests Aconite. Burning in small spots, with a sensation of chilliness or aversion to uncover, suggests Apis.
5· Where are the complaints located?
Internal parts, soft palate, liver, patella suggest Aconite. External parts, roof of mouth, spleen, hollow of knee suggest Apis.
6· What time of day is it worse?
Symptoms peaking at night, especially near midnight, favour Aconite. A clear afternoon peak, especially around 3 p.m., favours Apis.
7· What about the cough?
Cough in the evening and after midnight with scanty expectoration suggests Aconite. Cough waking from first sleep before midnight, ceasing when particle is swallowed, suggests Apis.
8· What about the urine?
Infrequent discharge of urine suggests Aconite. Frequent discharge suggests Apis.
Part Seven
Illustrative Case Vignettes
Two short, fictional composites written purely to show the contrast in practice.
Vignette · Aconite Picture
A four-year-old was playing outside on a sharp, dry, windy afternoon and came in shivering. By evening she has a high fever, dry burning skin, and a face that is deep red on one side and pale on the other. She is inconsolable, clutches her mother, and repeatedly asks, in real terror, whether she is going to die. She wants cold water constantly and cannot settle, tossing from her mother’s lap to the sofa and back.
Vignette · Apis Picture
A different child — six years old — woke up with a swollen, red, hot eye after being stung by a bee in the garden. The swelling is oedematous and pitting, and she screams if anyone tries to touch it. She refuses water entirely, is irritable and drowsy, and keeps her head covered because the light bothers her. Around 3 p.m., she becomes restless and whiny, but still refuses to drink.
Part Eight
Interactive Quiz
Test your understanding of the differences between Aconitum and Apis. Read the question, select your answer, and click “Check Answer” to reveal the correct response.
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Part Nine
Glossary of Repertory Terms
- Materia medica
- A structured description of a remedy’s full symptom picture, gathered from provings and clinical use.
- Repertory
- An index that lists symptoms (rubrics) and, under each, the remedies known to produce or relieve them, graded by strength.
- Rubric
- A single symptom-heading in a repertory, nested under broader headings.
- Grading (1–3)
- The strength of evidence linking a remedy to a rubric: 1 (recorded), 2 (frequently confirmed), 3 (keynote).
- Polychrest
- A remedy with a very broad, well-documented symptom picture covering many organ systems.
- Keynote
- A highly characteristic symptom considered strongly indicative of a particular remedy.
- Modality
- A factor that makes a symptom better or worse — time of day, weather, position, etc.
Part Ten
Safety, Scope & Responsible Use
This is a reference book, not a treatment guide
This e-book presents classical homeopathic teaching for study and reference purposes. It does not diagnose, treat, or prescribe for any person or condition.
Both source substances are genuinely toxic
Aconitum napellus and the venom of Apis mellifica are dangerous in their natural form. Homeopathic preparations are made by extreme dilution, but never source, handle, or self-prepare either substance.
The evidence picture
Major systematic reviews and health bodies have concluded that there is no reliable evidence homeopathic remedies are effective for any health condition beyond a placebo effect. This book presents homeopathy’s internal tradition faithfully — but its central mechanism is not accepted by mainstream pharmacology.
When to seek emergency or professional care
High fever, difficulty breathing, anaphylaxis, swelling of the airway, confusion, or any severe illness warrants prompt medical evaluation — regardless of anything in this book. Never delay emergency care.
