Botanic Remedies 81 



It has been asserted that aconite is a stimulant 

 to the sympathetic nervous system. I can find no 

 sustained evidence in support of this contention. 

 There are many statements made regarding the 

 actions of drugs upon the sympathetic nervous 

 system which are based upon predilection, not on 

 evidence. Aconite does not, as has been claimed, 

 "increase the power of the heart to move the blood," 

 not even in small doses. 



THERAPEUTICS. Externally aconite diminishes 

 pain due to peripheral irritation, as in peripheral 

 neuralgia, liniments of aconite, belladonna, and 

 chloroform having a wide range of usefulness. 



In full medicinal doses (tr. 5 to 10 minims; fl. % 

 to 1 minim) aconite is highly useful in a considerable 

 range of cases characterized by high blood pressure 

 with a strong, rapid heart, particularly sthenic fevers 

 in the robust. In these cases it promptly slows 

 the heart and causes a fall in arterial tension, as 

 well as reduces fever. But fever alone is not an 

 indication for aconite; it has no place in continued 

 fevers, or where arterial tension is low, regardless 

 of pulse rate, or when the heart is feeble. Aconite 

 is a remedy for the first stages of disease, the first 

 twenty-four to forty-eight hours. 



In moderate medicinal doses (tr. 3 to 5 minims; 

 fl. % minim) aconite is a most useful remedy in a 

 wide range of inflammatory conditions. In these 

 doses the action is limited to slowing the heart, 

 slightly reducing blood pressure, and abating fever. 

 Acute tonsillitis, laryngitis, and catarrhal involve- 

 ments in adults, suppression of the menses, the early 

 stages of sthenic pneumonia, bronchitis, gonorrhea 

 (of course only to relieve symptoms), peritonitis, 



