A Comparative Homeopathic Materia Medica & Repertory
ACONITE versus ARNICA
Two of homeopathy’s great acute polychrests, set side by side — the sudden fright of the monkshood against the trauma and bruises of the mountain arnica.
Aconitum napellus
Arnica montana
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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 Arnica montana. Both are remedies of acute conditions, sudden injuries, and violent onsets. Yet, examined closely, they describe almost opposite pictures of what trauma and inflammation feel 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, green dots mark Arnica.
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 plants 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, upper part of chest, and palms of hands.
- Numbness in the suffering (gouty) limbs.
- Itching generally unchanged by scratching.
- Perspiration of the parts lain on.
- Heat with inclination to uncover.
- Thirst during all stages.
- Sleeplessness predominant after midnight.
Modalities
WorseDry cold wind, night (especially midnight), warm room, lying on the affected side, fright, when swallowing, after lying down, in bed, being wrapped up, opening the eyes
BetterOpen air, rest, uncovering (in fever), after perspiration begins, remission during day and before midnight, walking in open air, closing eyes
Part Three
Arnica Montana
The remedy of trauma, bruises, soreness, and the aftermath of injury.
Green · Arnica · Arn.
Arnica
Arnica montana · Leopard’s Bane · Family Asteraceae“Bruised, sore, aching” — the remedy of trauma: the patient feels as if beaten, and every part lain on becomes painful and bruised.
SourceWhole fresh flowering plant of Arnica montana, a mountain daisy-like plant; native to Europe and Siberia, widely used in folk medicine for bruises and injuries.
KingdomPlant — Asteraceae (daisy family)
ProvingsProved by Hahnemann and extensively confirmed in clinical practice; one of homeopathy’s most famous remedies for trauma and injury.
ClassificationMajor acute polychrest; the classic remedy of trauma, injuries, bruises, and the shock following accidents
Essence & Causation
Arnica is above all the remedy of trauma and injury. Its classic entry point is a physical blow, fall, bruise, or strain. The patient feels as if they have been beaten, and every part of the body that is lain on becomes sore and bruised. What follows is a picture of profound shock, with a characteristic aversion to being touched or approached, and a refusal to acknowledge being ill even when clearly hurt.
Mind & Emotional Picture
- Fear of apoplexy — a key mental symptom, especially in head injuries.
- Fear of being touched or approached — patients are irritable and want to be left alone.
- Obstinate, says there is nothing the matter — a famous keynote: the patient refuses medical help despite being clearly injured.
- Alternating cheerfulness and gloom; wants to be quiet.
- Forgetful of words while speaking.
- Indifference to loved ones, especially in typhoid states.
- Ailments following fright or anger.
Physical Generals & Key Symptoms
- Sudden onset after injury, fall, blow, or strain — the classic trauma remedy.
- Bruised, sore, aching sensation all over — as if beaten or bruised.
- Heat, with aversion to uncover — a key differentiator from Aconite.
- Thirst sometimes wanting during heat and sweat; constant during and before the chill.
- Sleeplessness prevailing before midnight.
- Complaints predominate in external parts, lower part of chest, and back of hands.
- Sensation of deadness in the bruised parts.
- Itching lessened or unchanged by scratching.
- Coldness sometimes confined to the parts lain on.
- Nausea in the stomach.
- Urine seldom and scanty, only exceptionally frequent.
- Catamenia generally too soon.
- Expectoration seldom; is loosened during the day and evening and is generally swallowed.
Modalities
WorseTouch, jarring, motion, rest, cold, damp, after sleep, spirituous liquors, riding
BetterLying down (horizontal), lying on the side or back, lying on the painful or unpainful side, remission during the day and after midnight
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 | Arnica |
|---|---|---|
| Onset | Sudden, after cold dry wind, fright, or shock | Sudden, after injury, fall, blow, or strain |
| Dominant emotion | Terror, panic, fear of imminent death | Fear of apoplexy, obstinate, says nothing is wrong |
| Location | Internal parts; upper chest, palms of hands | External parts; lower chest, back of hands |
| Thirst | Marked, for cold water, often in large amounts | Wanting during heat and sweat; constant during chill |
| Heat sensation | Dry, burning heat with inclination to uncover | Heat with aversion to uncover |
| Sleep | Sleeplessness after midnight | Sleeplessness before midnight |
| Numbness | Numbness in suffering (gouty) limbs | Sensation of deadness in bruised parts |
| Itching | Generally unchanged by scratching | Lessened or unchanged by scratching |
| Perspiration | Perspiration of parts lain on | Coldness confined to parts lain on |
| Causation | Fright, vexation, fear, anger | Fright or anger |
| Nausea | Nausea in esophagus, stomach, or throat | Nausea in the stomach |
| Urine | Seldom and scanty (exceptionally copious) | Seldom and scanty (exceptionally frequent) |
| Catamenia | Generally too late | Generally too soon |
| Expectoration | Seldom; in the morning and during the day | Seldom; loosened during the day and evening, swallowed |
| Remission | During the day and before midnight | During the day and after midnight |
| Wine/Spirits | More frequently benefited than harmed by wine | Worse from spirituous liquors |
| Better | Head lying high, lying on the back, lying on unpainful side | Horizontal position, lying on the side or back, lying on painful or unpainful side |
| Worse | Riding | After riding |
| Key note | Fear of loss of reason | Fear of apoplexy |
A simple rule many students use as a starting point: Aconite fears he will die; Arnica says he is fine. 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
Total Rubrics
Grade-3 Keynotes — the Strongest Indications
Acon · Mind, death, thoughts of
Acon · Mind, fear, death of, predicts the time
Acon · Mind, fear, crowd, in a
Acon · Mind, excitement, nervous
Acon · Mind, anxiety, chill during
Acon · Mind, excitement, chill during
Acon · Mind, moaning, groaning
Acon · Mind, shrieking, pain with the *
Acon · Mind, somnambulism
Arn · Mind, obstinate, says nothing is wrong
Arn · Mind, fear, approaching him, lest he be touched
Arn · Mind, fear, approaching him, of others
Arn · Mind, forgetful, words while speaking
Arn · Mind, well, says he is, when very sick
Arn · Generalities, injuries (blows, falls, bruises)
Arn · Generalities, injuries, extravasations
Arn · Generalities, injuries, soft parts
Arn · Generalities, pain, sore, bruised parts lain on
Arn · Generalities, quinine, abuse of
Arn · Generalities, varicose veins
The Full Repertory Tables
All rubrics from the source comparison chart, organised into sections. Blue dots indicate Aconite’s grade, green dots indicate Arnica’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)
●○○ Arnica — grade 1
●●○ Arnica — grade 2
●●● Arnica — grade 3 (keynote)
→ Swipe left to see full repertory table
| Rubric (Symptom) → Scroll right for details | Aconite | Arnica |
|---|---|---|
| Affectionate | ●○○ | – |
| Anger, ailments after anger, with anxiety | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Anger, ailments after anger, with fright | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Anger, answer, when obliged to | – | ●“>●○ |
| Anger, violent | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Anguish, chill, during | – | ●“>●○ |
| Anguish, heat, during | – | ●“>●○ |
| Anguish, night | – | ●○○ |
| Anguish, perspiration, during | – | ●“>●○ |
| Anguish, stool, before | ●○○ | – |
| Answers, aversion to | – | ●“>●○ |
| Answers, refuses to | – | ●“>●○ |
| Answers, stupor returns quickly, after * | – | ●“>●○ |
| Anxiety, air, in open (agg.) | ●○○ | – |
| Anxiety, breathing deeply, on (agg.) | ●○○ | – |
| Anxiety, cold drinks, amel. | ●○○ | – |
| Anxiety, company, when in | ●“>●○ | – |
| Anxiety, crowd, in a | ●“>●○ | – |
| Anxiety, evening (agg.) | ●○○ | – |
| Anxiety, fear, with | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Anxiety, flushes of heat, during | – | ●○○ |
| Anxiety, forenoon | ●○○ | – |
| Anxiety, fright, after | ●○○ | – |
| Anxiety, headache, with | ●“>●○ | – |
| Anxiety, hypochondriacal | – | ●“>●○ |
| Anxiety, menses, before | ●○○ | – |
| Anxiety, menses, during (agg.) | ●○○ | – |
| Anxiety, mental exertion | ●○○ | – |
| Anxiety, motion, amel. | ●○○ | – |
| Anxiety, motion, from (agg.) | ●○○ | – |
| Anxiety, pains, from the | ●“>●○ | – |
| Anxiety, periodical | – | ●○○ |
| Anxiety, sleep, on going to | ●○○ | – |
| Anxiety, stool, after | ●○○ | – |
| Anxiety, stool, before | ●○○ | – |
| Anxiety, stool, during | ●○○ | – |
| Anxiety, urination, during | ●○○ | – |
| Anxiety, vexation, after | ●○○ | – |
| Anxiety, walking, while | ●○○ | – |
| Anxiety, weeping, followed by | ●○○ | – |
| Audacity | ●○○ | – |
| Bed, aversion to (shuns) | ●“>●○ | – |
| Biting | ●○○ | – |
| Biting, himself | ●○○ | – |
| Brooding | – | ●○○ |
| Carried, desires to be | ●○○ | – |
| Cheerful, alternating, sadness, with | ●○○ | – |
| Cheerful, gay, happy | ●“>●○ | – |
| Cheerful, heat, during | ●○○ | – |
| Cheerful, menses, before | ●○○ | – |
| Childish behavior | ●○○ | – |
| Company aversion to | ●○○ | – |
| Company aversion to, avoids the sight of people | ●○○ | – |
| Concentration, difficult, studying, reading, etc., while | ●○○ | – |
| Concentration, difficult, writing, while | ●○○ | – |
| Confusion, air, in open, amel. | ●○○ | – |
| Confusion, chill, during | ●○○ | – |
| Confusion, dream, as if in | – | ●○○ |
| Confusion, intoxicated, as after being | ●○○ | – |
| Confusion, intoxicated, as if | ●“>●○ | – |
| Confusion, morning, waking, on | ●○○ | – |
| Confusion, motion, from (agg.) | ●○○ | – |
| Confusion, paroxysms of pain, during | ●“>●○ | – |
| Confusion, waking, on | ●○○ | – |
| Confusion, walking, open air, in (agg.) | ●○○ | – |
| Confusion, warm room, in | ●○○ | – |
| Consolation agg. | – | ●○○ |
| Contradict, disposition to | – | ●○○ |
| Contradiction, is intolerant of | ●○○ | – |
| Conversation agg. | ●○○ | – |
| Courageous | ●○○ | – |
| Cowardice | ●“>●○ | – |
| Dancing | ●○○ | – |
| Darkness agg. | ●○○ | – |
| Death, presentiment of, predicts the time | ●“>●○ | – |
| Death, thoughts of | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Delirium, anxious | ●“>●○ | – |
| Delirium, cheerful | ●○○ | – |
| Delirium, chill, during | – | ●“>●○ |
| Delirium, foolish, silly | ●○○ | – |
| Delirium, frightful | ●“>●○ | – |
| Delirium, haemorrhage, after | – | ●○○ |
| Delirium, headache, during | ●○○ | – |
| Delirium, laughing | ●○○ | – |
| Delirium, maniacal * | ●○○ | – |
| Delirium, menses, during | ●○○ | – |
| Delirium, murmuring | – | ●○○ |
| Delirium, muttering | – | ●“>●○ |
| Delirium, night | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Delirium, raging, raving | ●“>●○ | – |
| Delirium, restless | ●○○ | – |
| Delirium, sleep, during | ●○○ | – |
| Delirium, sorrowful | ●○○ | – |
| Delirium, violent | ●“>●○ | – |
| Delirium, well, declares she is | – | ●“>●○ |
| Delusions, arrested, is about to be * | – | ●○○ |
| Delusions, cats, sees * | – | ●○○ |
| Delusions, churchyard, visits a * | – | ●○○ |
| Delusions, dead, corpse, mutilated * | – | ●○○ |
| Delusions, dead, persons, sees * | – | ●○○ |
| Delusions, die, thought he was about to * | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Delusions, dogs, sees * | – | ●○○ |
| Delusions, driving sheep * | – | – |
| Delusions, engaged in some occupation, is * | ●○○ | – |
| Delusions, enlarged * | ●○○ | – |
| Delusions, enlarged, head is * | ●○○ | – |
| Delusions, faces, sees * | ●○○ | – |
| Delusions, faces, sees, grows larger * | ●○○ | – |
| Delusions, head, large, seems too * | ●○○ | – |
| Delusions, home, think is away from * | ●○○ | – |
| Delusions, images, phantoms, black * | – | ●○○ |
| Delusions, images, phantoms, dwells upon * | – | ●○○ |
| Delusions, images, phantoms, frightful * | – | ●○○ |
| Delusions, images, phantoms, sees * | ●○○ | – |
| Delusions, imaginations, hallucinations, illusions * | ●“>●○ | – |
| Delusions, insane, that she will become * | ●“>●○ | – |
| Delusions, mutilated bodies, sees * | – | ●○○ |
| Delusions, sleeping, while awake, insists that he was * | ●○○ | – |
| Delusions, small, sensation of being smaller * | ●○○ | – |
| Delusions, spectres, black forms when dreaming * | – | ●○○ |
| Delusions, well, thinks he is * | – | ●“>●“>● |
| Despair, chill, during | ●“>●○ | – |
| Despair, heat, during | ●“>●○ | – |
| Despair, pains, with the | ●○○ | – |
| Despair, recovery | ●“>●○ | – |
| Discontented, everything, with | – | ●○○ |
| Doubtful, recovery, of | ●“>●○ | – |
| Dullness, dreams, after | – | ●○○ |
| Dullness, emotions, from | ●○○ | – |
| Dullness, injuries of head, after | – | ●○○ |
| Dullness, morning | – | ●○○ |
| Dullness, morning, waking, on | – | ●○○ |
| Dullness, reading, while | ●○○ | – |
| Dullness, smoking, from | ●○○ | – |
| Dullness, waking, on | – | ●○○ |
| Dullness, warm room, on entering | ●○○ | – |
| Dullness, wine, after | ●○○ | – |
| Dullness, writing, while | ●○○ | – |
| Escape, attempts to | ●○○ | – |
| Excitement, chill, during | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Excitement, emotional, ailments from | – | ●“>●○ |
| Excitement, evening | – | ●○○ |
| Excitement, evening, bed, in | – | ●○○ |
| Excitement, nervous | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Excitement, perspiration, during | ●“>●○ | – |
| Exertion, agg. from mental | – | ●○○ |
| Exhilaration | ●○○ | – |
| Fancies, absorbed in * | – | ●○○ |
| Fancies, lively | ●○○ | – |
| Fear, accidents, of | ●○○ | – |
| Fear, apoplexy, of | – | ●○○ |
| Fear, approaching him, lest he be touched | – | ●“>●“>● |
| Fear, approaching him, of others | – | ●“>●“>● |
| Fear, bed, of the | ●“>●○ | – |
| 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, death, of, sudden, of | – | ●“>●○ |
| Fear, disease, of impending | ●○○ | – |
| Fear, fall upon him, high walls and building | – | ●“>●○ |
| 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, narrow place, in | ●○○ | – |
| Fear, night | – | ●○○ |
| Fear, paralysis, of | – | ●○○ |
| Fear, people, of | ●“>●○ | – |
| Fear, sleep, before | ●○○ | – |
| Fear, suffocation, of, night | – | ●○○ |
| Fear, touch, of | – | ●“>●○ |
| Fear, walking, across busy street | ●“>●○ | – |
| Foolish behavior | ●○○ | – |
| Forgetful, words, of, while speaking | – | ●“>●“>● |
| Frightened, trifles, at | – | ●○○ |
| Frivolous | – | ●○○ |
| Gestures, hands, grasping or reaching at something | – | ●○○ |
| Gestures, hands, motions, wild | ●○○ | – |
| Grief | ●○○ | – |
| Hatred | ●○○ | – |
| Haughty | – | ●○○ |
| Hopeful | ●○○ | – |
| Hopeful, alternating with sadness | ●○○ | – |
| Hurry | ●“>●○ | – |
| Hurry, movements, in | ●○○ | – |
| Hurry, occupation, in | ●○○ | – |
| Hurry, walking, while | ●○○ | – |
| Hysteria | ●“>●○ | – |
| Ideas abundant, clearness of mind | ●○○ | – |
| Ideas, deficiency of | ●“>●○ | – |
| Imbecility | ●○○ | – |
| Impatience | ●“>●○ | – |
| Impetuous | ●○○ | – |
| Impetuous, perspiration | ●“>●○ | – |
| Inconsolable | ●“>●○ | – |
| Indifference, chill, during | – | ●○○ |
| Indifference, fever, during | – | ●“>●○ |
| Indifference, loved ones, to | ●“>●○ | – |
| Indifference, typhoid, in | – | ●“>●○ |
| Indiscretion | ●○○ | – |
| Indolence, air, in open (agg.) | – | ●○○ |
| Indolence, walking, while | – | ●○○ |
| Industrious | – | ●○○ |
| Irresolution | – | ●○○ |
| Irritability, air, in open (agg.) | – | ●○○ |
| Irritability, eating, after | – | ●○○ |
| Irritability, headache, during | ●○○ | – |
| Irritability, heat, during | ●○○ | – |
| Irritability, questioned, when | – | ●“>●○ |
| Irritability, sends, the doctor home, says he is not sick | – | ●“>●“>● |
| Irritability, supper, after | – | ●○○ |
| Mind,jesting | ●“>●○ | – |
| Mind jesting, averse to | ●“>●○ | – |
| Mind joy, ailments, from excessive | ●“>●○ | – |
| Mindjumping | ●“>●○ | – |
| Mind jumping, bed, out of | ●“>●○ | – |
| Lamenting, asleep, while | – | ●○○ |
| Laughing, spasmodic | ●“>●○ | – |
| Light, desire for | ●“>●○ | – |
| Loathing, work | – | ●○○ |
| Loquacity, makes speeches | – | ●○○ |
| Memory, weakness of, dates, for | ●○○ | – |
| Memory, weakness of, done, for what has just | ●“>●○ | – |
| Memory, weakness of, labor, for mental (compare stupefactio… | ●○○ | – |
| Memory, weakness of, read, for what has | – | ●○○ |
| Memory, weakness of, said, for what has | – | ●“>●○ |
| Memory, weakness of, say, for what is about to | – | ●“>●○ |
| Memory, weakness of, thought, for what has just | ●○○ | – |
| Memory, weakness of, words, for | – | ●“>●○ |
| Mental symptoms, alternating with physical | – | ●○○ |
| Mirth, foolish | ●○○ | – |
| Mirth, heat, during | ●○○ | – |
| Misanthropy | ●○○ | – |
| Mischievous | – | ●○○ |
| Mistakes, speaking | – | ●“>●○ |
| Mistakes, time, in | ●○○ | – |
| Mistakes, words, misplacing | – | ●“>●○ |
| Mistakes, wrong words, using | – | ●“>●○ |
| Moaning, chill, during | – | ●○○ |
| Moaning, groaning | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Moaning, perspiration, during | ●○○ | – |
| Monomania | ●○○ | – |
| Morose | – | ●“>●○ |
| Muttering | – | ●○○ |
| Obstinate, declares there is nothing the matter with him | – | ●“>●“>● |
| Praying | – | ●○○ |
| Prophesying | ●“>●○ | – |
| Prophesying, predicts the time of death | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Quiet, wants to be | – | ●○○ |
| Quiet, wants to be, walking in open air | – | ●○○ |
| Rage, alternating, consciousness | ●○○ | – |
| Rage, evening | ●○○ | – |
| Rage, menses, during | ●○○ | – |
| Rage, night | ●○○ | – |
| Reading, averse to | ●“>●○ | – |
| Reproaches, himself | ●“>●○ | – |
| Reproaches, others | ●“>●○ | – |
| Reserved | – | ●○○ |
| Reserved, walking, after, in open air | – | ●○○ |
| Restlessness, anxious, etc. | ●“>●○ | – |
| Restlessness, bed, tossing about in | ●“>●○ | – |
| Restlessness, chill, during the | ●○○ | – |
| Restlessness, evening | ●○○ | – |
| Restlessness, internal | ●○○ | – |
| Restlessness, menses, before | ●○○ | – |
| Restlessness, menses, during | ●“>●○ | – |
| Restlessness, metrorrhagia, during | ●“>●○ | – |
| Restlessness, night | ●○○ | – |
| Restlessness, pregnancy, during | ●○○ | – |
| Restlessness, tremulous | – | ●○○ |
| Ridicule, mania to * | ●○○ | – |
| Rocking amel. | ●○○ | – |
| Rudeness (compare insolent) | – | ●○○ |
| Sadness, chill, during | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Sadness, heat, during the | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Sadness, injuries of the head, from | – | ●○○ |
| Sadness, music, from | ●“>●○ | – |
| Sadness, night (agg.) | – | ●○○ |
| Sadness, perspiration, during | ●“>●○ | – |
| Sadness, walking, while (agg.) | ●○○ | – |
| Scorn, ailments from | ●○○ | – |
| Senses, acute | – | ●“>●○ |
| Sensitive, children | ●“>●○ | – |
| Sensitive, external impressions, to all | – | ●○○ |
| Sensitive, light | ●“>●○ | – |
| Sensitive, music, to | ●“>●○ | – |
| Sensitive, noise, to, slightest | ●○○ | – |
| Sentimental | ●○○ | – |
| Shrieking, brain cry * | – | ●○○ |
| Shrieking, pain, with the * | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Shrieking, sleep, during * | – | ●○○ |
| Sighing, perspiration, during | ●○○ | – |
| Singing | ●○○ | – |
| Singing, alternating with weeping | ●“>●○ | – |
| Sits, still | – | ●○○ |
| Somnambulism | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Speech, childish | ●○○ | – |
| Speech, loud | – | ●○○ |
| Speech, nonsense | ●○○ | – |
| Speech, unintelligible, in sleep | – | ●○○ |
| Spoken to, averse to being | – | ●○○ |
| Starting, evening, on falling asleep | – | ●○○ |
| Starting, sleep, from sleep | ●“>●○ | – |
| Starting, sleep, on falling | – | ●○○ |
| Starting, trifles, at | – | ●“>●○ |
| Talk, indisposed to, walking in open air, after | – | ●○○ |
| Talking, complaints all agg. | – | ●○○ |
| Thinking, aversion to | – | ●○○ |
| Thinking, aversion to, afternoon | – | ●○○ |
| thinkina. aversion to. afternoon, after walkina in ooen air | – | ●○○ |
| Thinking, complaints, of, agg. | – | ●○○ |
| Thoughts, intrude and crowd around each other | ●○○ | – |
| Thoughts, persistent | ●○○ | – |
| Thoughts, persistent, walking, on | ●○○ | – |
| Thoughts, rapid, quick, etc. | ●○○ | – |
| Timidity, about going to bed | ●○○ | – |
| Tranquility | – | ●○○ |
| Unconsciousness, answers correctly when spoken to, but delir… | – | ●“>●○ |
| Unconsciousness, emotion, after | ●“>●○ | – |
| Unconsciousness, evening | ●○○ | – |
| Unconsciousness, lies as if dead | – | ●○○ |
| Unconsciousness, menses, suppression of | ●○○ | – |
| Unconsciousness, rising up, on | – | ●“>●○ |
| Unconsciousness, vomiting amel. | ●○○ | – |
| Unconsciousness, warm room | ●“>●○ | – |
| Undertakes, many things, perseveres in nothing | ●“>●○ | – |
| Weeping, aggravates | – | ●“>●○ |
| Weeping, alternating with cheerfulness | ●○○ | – |
| Weeping, alternating with laughter | ●“>●○ | – |
| Weeping, anger, after | – | ●○○ |
| Weeping, chill, during the | ●○○ | – |
| Weeping, coughing, after | – | ●○○ |
| Weeping, coughing, before | – | ●“>●○ |
| Weeping, coughing, during | – | ●○○ |
| Weeping, eating, after | – | ●○○ |
| Weeping, evening (agg.) | ●○○ | – |
| Weeping, heat, during the | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Weeping, night | – | ●○○ |
| Weeping, tearful mood, etc. | ●“>●○ | – |
| Well, says he is, when very sick | – | ●“>●“>● |
| Wildness | ●○○ | – |
| Will, contradiction of | ●○○ | – |
| Work, aversion to mental | ●“>●○ | – |
| Work, mental, desire for mental | – | ●○○ |
→ Swipe left to see full repertory table
| Rubric (Symptom) → Scroll right for details | Aconite | Arnica |
|---|---|---|
| Air, draft agg. | ●○○ | – |
| Anxiety general physical | ●○○ | – |
| Ascending, high agg. | ●○○ | – |
| Ball internally (Compare Knotted Sensation) | ●○○ | – |
| Bathing, amel. | ●○○ | – |
| Bathing, cold, amel. | – | ●“>●○ |
| Catalepsy | ●○○ | – |
| Catalepsy, fright, after | ●“>●○ | – |
| Change of position agg. | ●○○ | – |
| Change of, temperature agg. | ●○○ | – |
| Chorea * | ●○○ | – |
| Chorea, fright, from * | ●○○ | – |
| Clear weather agg. | ●○○ | – |
| Clothing, intolerance of | – | ●○○ |
| Clothing, loosening, amel. | – | ●○○ |
| Coal gas, from | – | ●○○ |
| Cold, dry weather agg. | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Cold, feeling in blood vessels | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Constriction, of orifices | ●“>●○ | – |
| Convulsions, children | ●“>●○ | – |
| Convulsions, consciousness, with | ●○○ | – |
| Convulsions, consciousness, without | ●○○ | – |
| Convulsions, dentition, during | ●“>●○ | – |
| Convulsions, excitement, from | ●○○ | – |
| Convulsions, falling, with | – | ●○○ |
| Convulsions, falling, with, forward | – | ●○○ |
| Convulsions, fright, from | ●“>●○ | – |
| Convulsions, injuries, from | – | ●○○ |
| Convulsions, noise, from | – | ●○○ |
| Convulsions, touched, when | ●○○ | – |
| Cyanosis, infants, in * | – | ●○○ |
| Descending agg. | ●○○ | – |
| Dropsy, internal * | – | ●○○ |
| Eating, amel. | – | ●○○ |
| Eating, while (agg.) | – | ●○○ |
| Emaciation | – | ●○○ |
| Emaciation, insanity, with | – | ●○○ |
| Evening, amel. | – | ●○○ |
| Faintness, close room, in | ●○○ | – |
| Faintness, constriction of chest | ●○○ | – |
| Faintness, excitement, on | ●○○ | – |
| Faintness, fright, after | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Faintness, rising, from bed, on | ●○○ | – |
| Faintness, urinating, after | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Faintness, walking, while | – | ●○○ |
| Faintness, warm room | ●“>●○ | – |
| Food, beer agg. | ●○○ | – |
| Food, butter agg. | ●○○ | – |
| Food, coffee, amel. | ●○○ | – |
| Food, fat agg. | ●○○ | – |
| Food, fruit agg. | ●○○ | – |
| Food, pork agg. | ●○○ | – |
| Food, sweets agg. | ●○○ | – |
| Food, warm food agg. | ●○○ | – |
| Heat, flushes of, alternating with chills | ●○○ | – |
| Heat, flushes of, evening | ●○○ | – |
| Indurations | – | ●○○ |
| Indurations, glands | – | ●○○ |
| Inflammation, bones | ●“>●○ | – |
| Inflammation, nerves | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Inflammation, serous membranes | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Injuries (including blows, falls and bruises) | – | ●“>●“>● |
| Injuries, extravasations, with | – | ●“>●“>● |
| Injuries, glands, of | – | ●“>●○ |
| Injuries, soft parts, of | – | ●“>●“>● |
| Intoxication, after | ●○○ | – |
| Irritability, lack of | – | ●○○ |
| Jerking, muscles, sleep, on going to | ●○○ | – |
| Knotted sensation internally | – | ●○○ |
| Lassitude | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Lifting, straining of muscles and tendons, from | – | ●“>●“>● |
| Loss of fluids | – | ●○○ |
| Lying, side on, painful, amel. | – | ●○○ |
| Lying, side on, painless, agg. | – | ●○○ |
| Lying, side on, right, agg. | ●○○ | – |
| Magnetism amel. | ●○○ | – |
| Menses, at beginning of | ●“>●○ | – |
| Menses, during (agg.) | ●○○ | – |
| Motion, after, agg. | – | ●○○ |
| Narcotics agg. | ●○○ | – |
| Night, midnight, after (agg.) | ●○○ | – |
| Night, midnight, before | – | ●○○ |
| Numbness, internally * | ●○○ | – |
| Numbness, suffering parts, of, bruised parts * | – | ●“>●○ |
| Nursing children | ●○○ | – |
| Old, people | ●“>●○ | – |
| Orgasm of blood, emotions, after | ●“>●○ | – |
| Orgasm of blood, evening | – | ●○○ |
| Orgasm of blood, vexation, after | ●“>●○ | – |
| Pain appear gradually | ●○○ | – |
| Pain, burning, glands * | – | ●○○ |
| Pain, drawing * | ●○○ | – |
| Pain, drawing, alternating with heart symptoms * | ●○○ | – |
| Pain, jerking, glands * | – | ●○○ |
| Pain, paralytic | ●○○ | – |
| Pain, paralyzed parts | – | ●○○ |
| Pain, pressing, inward * | ●○○ | – |
| Pain, pressing, muscles * | – | ●○○ |
| Pain, pressing, muscles, tearing in joints * | – | ●○○ |
| Pain, pressing, muscles, tearing, in muscles * | – | ●○○ |
| Pain, sore, bruised, bones, as if * | ●○○ | – |
| Pain, sore, bruised, glands * | – | ●“>●○ |
| Pain, sore, bruised, parts lain on * | – | ●“>●“>● |
| Pain, sore, bruised, spots, in * | – | ●“>●“>● |
| Pain, stitching, bones * | ●○○ | – |
| Pain, stitching, downward * | – | ●○○ |
| Pain, stitching, muscles, jerking * | – | ●○○ |
| Pain, stitching, muscles, tearing in muscles * | ●○○ | – |
| Pain, stitching, outward * | – | ●○○ |
| Pain, stitching, transversely * | ●○○ | – |
| Pain, tearing, asunder * | – | ●○○ |
| Pain, tearing, bones, pressive * | – | ●○○ |
| Pain, tearing, downward * | ●“>●○ | – |
| Pain, tearing, glands * | – | ●“>●○ |
| Pain, tearing, muscles, jerking in muscles * | ●○○ | – |
| Pain, ulcerative, internally * | ●○○ | – |
| Paralysis, internally | ●“>●○ | – |
| Paralysis, one-sided, apoplexy, after | – | ●○○ |
| Paralysis, one-sided, left | – | ●“>●○ |
| Paralysis, one-sided, right | – | ●“>●○ |
| Paralysis, painless | – | ●○○ |
| Perspiration, after, amel. | ●“>●○ | – |
| Plug, sensation of, externally | – | ●○○ |
| Pressure, on painless side agg. | – | ●○○ |
| Prickling externally * | ●○○ | – |
| Prickling, internally * | ●○○ | – |
| Pulsation externally, bed, in * | – | ●○○ |
| Pulsation externally, evening, in * | – | ●○○ |
| Pulsation, internally, glands | – | ●○○ |
| Pulse, febrile | ●“>●○ | – |
| Pulse, fluttering | – | ●“>●○ |
| Pulse, frequent, and intermittent | ●○○ | – |
| Pulse, frequent, evening | ●○○ | – |
| Pulse, frequent, motion agg. | – | ●○○ |
| Pulse, frequent, vexation, after | ●○○ | – |
| Pulse, full, evening | ●○○ | – |
| Pulse, imperceptible | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Pulse, imperceptible, almost | ●“>●“>● | – |
| Pulse, intermittent | ●“>●○ | – |
| Pulse, jerking | ●○○ | – |
| Pulse, tremulous | ●○○ | – |
| Quinine, abuse of | – | ●“>●“>● |
| Reaction, lack of | – | ●○○ |
| Relaxation of muscles | – | ●○○ |
| Riding, in a wagon, or on the cars (agg.) | – | ●“>●○ |
| Rising, amel. | ●○○ | – |
| Rubbing agg. | – | ●○○ |
| Running agg. | – | ●“>●○ |
| Sensitiveness, glands | – | ●○○ |
| Septicaemia | – | ●“>●○ |
| Shrivelling | – | ●○○ |
| Side, crosswise, left lower and right upper | ●○○ | – |
| Side, crosswise, left upper and right lower | – | ●“>●○ |
| Side, left, then right | ●○○ | – |
| Side, right, then left | ●○○ | – |
| Side, symptoms on one side | – | ●○○ |
| Sleep, after, amel. | ●○○ | – |
| Sleep, at beginning of, agg. | – | ●○○ |
| Sleep, long agg. | – | ●○○ |
| Sluggishness of the body | – | ●○○ |
| Smaller, sensation | ●○○ | – |
| Spring, in | ●○○ | – |
| Stagnated, sensation as if blood | ●○○ | – |
| Standing, amel. | – | ●○○ |
| Stretching, chill, before | – | ●○○ |
| Stretching, impossible | ●○○ | – |
| Swelling, glands, bluish | – | ●○○ |
| Swelling, glands, hard | – | ●○○ |
| Tension, glands | – | ●○○ |
| Tobacco agg. | ●○○ | – |
| Touch, amel. | – | ●○○ |
| Trembling, anger, from | ●○○ | – |
| Trembling, joy, from | ●○○ | – |
| Trembling, vexation, from | ●○○ | – |
| Trickling sensation, like drops | – | ●○○ |
| Twitching | ●○○ | – |
| Twitching, sleep, on going to | ●○○ | – |
| Ulcers, cancerous | – | ●○○ |
| Ulcers, glands | – | ●○○ |
| Varicose veins | – | ●“>●“>● |
| Varicose veins, inflamed | – | ●○○ |
| Vomiting, amel. | ●○○ | – |
| Walking, fast agg. | – | ●“>●○ |
| Walking, wind, in the, agg. | ●○○ | – |
| Warm, becoming, in open air, agg. | ●○○ | – |
| Warm, bed agg. | – | ●○○ |
| Warm, bed, amel. | – | ●○○ |
| Warm, stove, amel. | ●○○ | – |
| Warm, wraps agg. | ●“>●○ | – |
| Weakness, afternoon | ●○○ | – |
| Weakness, bed, on going to | – | ●○○ |
| Weakness, chill, during | – | ●○○ |
| Weakness, convulsions, after | ●○○ | – |
| Weakness, evening (agg.) | ●○○ | – |
| Weakness, exertion, from slight | ●○○ | – |
| Weakness, fever, during | ●○○ | – |
| Weakness, forenoon | ●○○ | – |
| Weakness, mental exertion | – | ●○○ |
| Weakness, morning, bed, in | – | ●○○ |
| Weakness, morning, rising, amel. | ●○○ | – |
| Weakness, morning, waking, on | ●○○ | – |
| Weakness, perspiration, from | ●○○ | – |
| Weakness, rising, on | – | ●○○ |
| Weakness, stool, after | – | ●○○ |
| Weakness, sudden | ●“>●○ | – |
| Wet, getting | ●“>●○ | – |
| Wet, getting, perspiration, during | ●“>●○ | – |
| Wind | ●“>●○ | – |
| Wind, cold | ●“>●○ | – |
| Windy and stormy weather | ●“>●○ | – |
| Wine, amel. | ●“>●○ | – |
| Winter, in | ●“>●○ | – |
| Wounds, bites of poisonous animals | – | ●○○ |
| Wounds, bleeding freely | – | ●“>●○ |
| Wounds, constitutional effects of | – | ●○○ |
| Wounds, cuts | – | ●“>●○ |
| Wounds, stab wounds | – | ●○○ |
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. A physical injury, fall, blow, strain, or bruise points toward Arnica.
2· What is the mental state?
Articulate terror, fear of death, and predicting the hour of death suggests Aconite. Obstinately refusing help, saying “nothing is wrong,” and wanting to be left alone suggests Arnica.
3· What does the heat feel like?
Dry, burning heat with desire to uncover suggests Aconite. Heat with aversion to uncover suggests Arnica.
4· Where are the complaints located?
Internal parts, upper chest, palms suggest Aconite. External parts, lower chest, back of hands suggest Arnica.
5· Is there numbness or deadness?
Numbness in gouty limbs suggests Aconite. Sensation of deadness in bruised parts suggests Arnica.
6· What time of day is sleep affected?
Sleeplessness after midnight favours Aconite. Sleeplessness before midnight favours Arnica.
7· What about riding?
Worse when riding suggests Aconite. Worse after riding suggests Arnica.
8· What about thirst?
Marked thirst during all stages suggests Aconite. Thirst wanting during heat and sweat, constant during chill suggests Arnica.
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 · Arnica Picture
An adult cyclist was thrown from his bicycle and has extensive bruising on his legs and arms. He feels as if he has been beaten all over, and every part he lies on becomes sore. He refuses medical attention, insisting he is fine, and gets angry when anyone tries to examine him or touch the injured areas. He wants to be left alone, says nothing is wrong, and is forgetful of words while speaking.
Part Eight
Interactive Quiz
Test your understanding of the differences between Aconitum and Arnica. 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 plants are genuinely toxic
Aconitum napellus and Arnica montana are dangerous in their natural form. Homeopathic preparations are made by extreme dilution, but never source, handle, or self-prepare either plant.
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
Head injury, loss of consciousness, internal bleeding, severe pain, confusion, or any severe trauma warrants prompt medical evaluation — regardless of anything in this book. Never delay emergency care.
