Materia Medica A - B

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Please note: No. 1 Remedy = Most frequently prescribed. To ensure your prescribing is as accurate as possible always match the symptoms as closely as possible to the medicine.

ACONITE
No. 1 Remedy for nipping colds in the bud.
Useful in the early stages of colds, fevers, inflammations. Suits healthy people whose complaints come on suddenly. Possible causes: cold / dry wind ; fright / shock. Characterised by extreme restlessness and fear. May specifically have an unfounded fear of death. Dry, hot skin. Symptoms worse evening / around midnight. Thirsty for cold drinks. May say everything tastes bitter, except water. Better: fresh air. Worse: touch.
APIS
No. 1 Remedy for bites and stings.
To be effective symptoms should generally fit the following picture. Odoematous swellings. Redness. Pains burning and stinging. Restlessness. Thirstlessness. Better: cold applications. Worse: heat; 4-6pm.
ANT TART
Important (rattling) cough remedy, where patient is unable to expectorate (cf. Ipecac) and is "drowning in mucus". Feels suffocated, weak, drowsy and limp. May be irritable. Much yawning and sweating. Tongue is coated white. Better: expectoration; sitting up; cold drinks. Worse: warmth; lying down; 4pm; company.
ARG NIT
No. 1 Remedy for fear of flying.
Useful for anticipatory anxiety and gastro-intestinal problems (belching / flatulence). Suits warm-blooded people with a tendency to feel hurried and impulsive. They may have a fear of failure when having to perform in public. Their fear is justified, as they often rush through things and get into a mess. (cf Gelsemium & Lycopodium). Pains splinter-like. Better: open air; walking fast. Worse: crowds; sweets (gets diarrhoea).
ARNICA
No. 1 Remedy for accidents / shock / physical exhaustion. Should be a first choice after most accidents, injuries or physical ordeals. Given early it will reduce swelling and bruising. Patient has a fear of being touched, because of the pain and may want to be left alone. May claim to be alright when they clearly are not. Classic response of someone in shock. Upper body is hot, whilst lower is cold. Memory may also be poor. Better: lying down, with head low. Worse; jarring; lying on injured part.
ARSENICUM
No. 1 Remedy for food poisoning.
Characterised by great physical prostration with mental restlessness. Patient does not want to be left alone. May have a fear of death. Pains and discharges are burning, yet the patient feels chilly and all symptoms, except headache, are better for heat. Thirsty for frequent sips of usually hot drinks. Better: warmth; lying down. Worse: midnight - 3am.