Comparison
3 Acute Remedies: Aconite,
Belladonna and Arsenicum Album.
[Dr. Ajit Kulkarni]
The study of remedies through comparison can’t be underestimated. The
final selection of the ‘similimum’ has to be fished
out through discrimination. Apparently many remedies appear similar and they
need to be differentiated at large. This is true not only in acute cases but
also in chronic cases. The acute cases demand a quick action of
right order and the comparative study becomes an imperative one to
unlock a case.
Three frequently indicated ‘acute’ remedies- Aconite, Belladonna and Arsenicum alb. with their distinct energy patterns are
discussed here through a differential world
of materia medica.
Aconite: The storm
We begin with Aconite, a storm remedy indicated in the first stage,
first few hours, first stage of inflammation. The episode occurs suddenly,
becomes fierce and goes
to the peak where certain characters are thrown on the screen. The mind
with fear – fright – anxiety state accompanied with restlessness and a degree
of panic comes into
play very strongly. The mind is almost paralyzed with fear. Belladonna
and Arsenicum need to be differentiated from Aconite
as they share the ‘storm’ as well but there
are distinct differences.
Aconite and Belladonna: The Stormy Cognates (= Verwandten)
Aconite is like Belladonna but without its raving, grizzling,
grumpiness, violent temper and excitability.
Belladonna is like Aconite but without its anxiety, restlessness and
fear of death. Both represent the overwhelming state where the patient may
become critically ill in
a few hours but they do differ at the level of presentation.
Both act on the circulatory system. Aconite acts here through two ways:
Congestive erethism
manifested in flushing of face, hard and rapid pulse, etc.
Febrile erethism
preceding a general inflammatory stage without specific localization.
A few more characteristics of Aconite are-
Sudden hyperthermia, which
often starts off with bouts of shivering.
Red, dry skin without
perspiration.
Intense thirst for large
quantities of cold water.
One cheek red, the other pale.
In Belladonna too we get a congestive erethism.
It is due to two alkaloids – hyoscyamine and
atropine. In Aconite it is due to a toxic alkaloid Aconitine.
Both have redness and dryness, but Belladonna has them more intensely than
Aconite . Hot perspiration accompanies the condition in Belladonna while
absence of perspiration typifies Aconite . The onset of perspiration, however,
relieves Aconite but not Belladonna . Belladonna ‘s redness is brighter than
Aconite ‘s in view of the dilatation / hyperemia
caused by atropine. Aconite has heat of the whole body. It may be hot
centrally, but cold peripherally. Hyperpyrexic states
are often accompanied by offensive foot sweat in Aconite
too, but this is not a feature of Belladonna . Thirstless
is a strong feature of Belladonna, though Belladonna desires lemon drinks while
Aconite desires bitter drinks.
Aconite is < 13 h. while Belladonna at 15 h.
Sensitivity pattern
All senses are heightened and easily aggravated in Belladonna and
Aconite . Belladonna has acute senses; hyperesthesic,
hypersensitive to sensory stimuli like light,
noise, touch, jolts, sun, cold air etc. and is better with rest while
Aconite doesn’t feel better with rest and is restless even while resting. The
illness tells upon the taste organ
in that every food or even drinks tastes bitter except water while
Belladonna has a bad taste and offensive breath.
The sensitivity pattern is exhibited in Belladonna more at CNS level. Belladonna
has a disrupted nervous system accompanied by mental disturbances. The patient
exhibits
a delirious state, which is different from Aconite. It is the tubercular
miasmatic activity, which
develops heightened sensitivity and susceptibility, bringing all sense organs
into play. Hence ample stimuli and expressions!
Family Characteristics
Bell. comes from the Solanaceae family. This
family includes the remedies like Hyoscyamus, Stramonium, Dulcamara, Capsicum, Tabacum, etc. The central theme of the Solanaceae family is an affinity for the head / brain. Head / brain
becomes the target. Headache accompanies Belladonna Symptoms most frequently.
This can be functional
or structural. Belladonna pathogenesis ranges from simple headache to
migraine, from a mere congestion to violent inflammatory pathology viz.
meningitis, encephalitis, etc. The erethistic action
on brain induces commotion, spasms, tremors and convulsions.
Aconite is a member of the Ranunculaceae family. This family has Helleborus,
Ranunculus bulbosus, Pulsatilla, Cimicifuga, Staphysagria, etc. as the members. The core features of
this family are shock, excitement, distress, suddenness, panic and painfulness.
A qualitative difference between the above families will make it clear
as to the indications of Aconite and Belladonna .
Pains
Aconite has acute, sudden, unbearable pains that alternate with feelings
of either numbness or ‘pins and needles.’ Belladonna has throbbing, pulsating,
burning and bursting types of pain. Both have abrupt beginning and abrupt
ending pains. A strong feeling of heat and redness accompany pains in both, but
Belladonna has them more intensely.
Overlapping and Recognition
Aconite and Belladonna share similarity to a great extent, making the
choice difficult. The study of body language will help to differentiate.
Aconite patients will approach
a physician with an anxious and panicking face; they will be agitated
and restless, impatient and tossing. Belladonna will approach with anger and
irritability; the eyes will be fierce and dilated. The language used by
Belladonna may be abusive. Because all senses are heightened, Belladonna can’t
tolerate sensory input and he is intolerable to others.
Belladonna follows Aconite when the shift has occurred from anxiety –
fear – panic – restlessness to anger – irritability – violence. Physically,
once the sweating has begun after Aconite , it is better to switch over to
Belladonna . Aconite goes for more general / systemic reaction while Bell
accentuates on early localization.
Look for different remedy if …
Aconite:
The symptoms are not sudden
The symptoms are not intense
There is a lingering state
The patient is quiet and
relaxed
Not averse to touch
Belladonna:
Slow onset
The symptoms are not intense
Ongoing, chronic condition
Fear of death
Calm with quiet mental state
Aconite and Arsenic-alb: The Tossing cognates
Arsenicum shares suddenness,
fear-fright-anxiety-restlessness and acuity with Aconite . Both have a strong
fear of death but Arsenicum doesn’t predict the time
of his death as Aconite is known to do, as he views the situation as that of
shock. The overwhelming state produces a severe panicky reaction and he
develops a convinced feeling that he is going to die at a certain time. This
state may not be actually so moribund but Aco
perceives that it is due to panic. It is a short but intense reaction of the
mind.
Ars has a definite fear of death but it
comprehends the seriousness of the disease. Once the “storm” is over, Aconite
may assume the “peace” baseline. The Arsenicum
anxiety is much deeper, coupled with restlessness and prostration. The
restlessness of Arsenicum comes in later stages when
the patient loses strength out of prostration, while the restlessness of
Aconite comes in early stages. The Arsenicum reaction
centers around an internal sense of insecurity, which
he tries to remove through seeking security outside. In comparison to Aconite, Arsenicum is dictatorial, has a controlling nature, is more
critical and fretful and he drives everyone to do his bidding.
Physical Differentiation
Prostration
Physically Arsenicum has much more prostration
than Aconite and this is definitely out of proportion to the morbid condition.
This is due to the fact that Arsenicum is prepared
from Arsenious acid. The acid element is reflected
through more damage, more destruction, more acidity, more burning, more
fetidness, hemorrhagic diathesis and the system in the grip of an overwhelming
state. Obviously Arsenicum pathology is deeper due to
strong miasmatic activity. With prostration there is
desire to move or be moved constantly. The patient is exhausted from the
slightest exertion and this exhaustion is not felt while lying still.
Thirst
Aconite has intense thirst for large quantities of cold water while Arsenicum has it for frequently repeated small sips of cold
water. However, it is to be noted that Arsenicum is
also listed for three marks in the Repertory for “thirst for large quantities
of water”. Arsenicum , however, longs for hot water
that gives relief. (The thirst differentiation is understood in terms of acute
and chronic and the clinical stage of pathology. In general, in the chronic
state, Arsenic album is very thirsty but a small quantity satisfies, usually
warm is preferred. – ED)
Typology
Arsenicum is lean, weak and cachectic due to the acid element. Aconite is robust,
plethoric and of sedentary habits. Arsenicum is
listed under plethoric subjects too. Ars appears pale
and as if suffering horribly.
Look for a different remedy if….
Arsenic alb.:
Calm, quiet and relaxed
patient
Suffering without complaints
Thirstlessness
Passive picture of illness
Desire and tolerance for cold
drinks (this is mostly in the acute condition with craving for lemonade and
cold drinks which are tolerated or vomited – Ed)
Exclusiveness
It is only Arsenicum which is fastidious,
which has dreams of sadness, of dead people and of embarrassment. It is only
Aconite which has clairvoyant dreams and sustains shock due to fright as a
cause. Biting in children is exclusive to Belladonna while avarice is exclusive
to Arsenicum and worse from music is exclusive to
Aconite .
Conclusion
An attempt has been made to differentiate between frequently indicated
acute remedies like Aconite , Belladonna and Arsenicum
. Differentiation has been attempted from Clinico-pathological,
miasmatic, non-verbal communication & conceptual
angles.
List demonstrating characters of Aconite, Belladonna and Arsenicum.
No. Component Aconite
Belladonna Arsenic
1 Onset Sudden Sudden Sudden
2 Sensitivity +
+ +
3 Susceptibility
4 Tissue susceptibility
Less More More
5 Miasm
Psora Tubercular
Syphilis
6 Zone of illness Functional Structural Structural
7 Affinity Mind
Head Mind
8 Pathology Inflammation
+ Inflammation ++ Destruction
9 Pattern of response Erratic Erratic Periodical
10 Pace of disease Rapid Rapid Rapid
11 Phase of disease Developing Fully developed Fully
developed
12 Body language Panicky Angry Panicky
13 Discharges Non-offensive
Non-offensive Offensive
14 Thirst Large quantities Thirst less Small quantities
*This is a general list from differentiating point of view. Individual
remedy response may vary.
Vorwort/Suchen Zeichen/Abkürzungen Impressum