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The Cayce Herbal 
 A Comprehensive Guide to the  
Botanical Medicine of Edgar Cayce
 
Aconite

Botanical Name: Acontium napellus

Common Names and Synonyms: Monkshood, Wolf's Bane

Background: All parts of aconite plant are poisonous, especially the root tubercles.  Historically, aconite was used on arrow-tips and as a death drink for condemned criminals.  In war, aconite has been used to poison the water supply of enemies.  Medicinally, aconite has been used externally for nerve-related pain (i.e., rheumatism, neuralgia, and sciatica).  Research indicates that aconite may have antiviral and antitumor properties.
 

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Aconite in the Cayce Readings
  • In the Cayce readings, aconite was used always used as an external application, usually to relieve pain or to deaden a specific portion of the body.  Two readings specified aconite as a dental application.
  • Aconite was usually prescribed in combination with tincture of laudanum (84 readings).  The most common proportion being 1 part aconite to 3 parts laudanum.  The various proportions are as follows:
    •  
      1 aconite : 3 laudanum 54 readings
      1 aconite : 1 laudanum 6 readings
      1 aconite : 2 laudanum 6 readings
      1 aconite : 4 laudanum  6 readings
      1 aconite : 5 laudanum 1 reading
      1 aconite : 9 laudanum 1 reading
       
  • At least nine readings specificed that the aconite/laudanum compound be spread over the body with a camel hair brush.
  • Application of the aconite/laudanum compound was usually followed by hot packs.  Hot epsom salts packs were recommended most often (36 readings) and secondly, hot castor oil packs (25 readings).
  • The aconite/laudanum compound was sometimes used with wet heat as a preparation for osteopathic adjustments.
Cayce Quotes on Aconite

257-87
(Q) What will cleanse this cavity in the upper teeth?
(A) Laudanum and ACONITE used in the roots, adding iodine occasionally with same. This will be done locally, of course.

523-1
    Then, over those areas where there are the reactions from this tautness by thickened tissue (or scar tissue, as it may be called by some; but this is rather thickened tissue in the muco-membrane activity, and is as cords), paint with amixture of ACONITE and laudanum; about one-third ACONITE to two-thirds laudanum, painted over the external portions of the body, you see, over the area in the left portion of body, from hip to about opposite at the base or end of the rib area - the sternum, you see.

569-21
    After ten days or two weeks we would begin taking OUT the teeth, those that are in the worse condition, but not too many at a time; and be sure that there is the recuperation from same after each one is extracted. Wash or CLEANSE each such place from which one is removed with laudanum and ACONITE, or such an antiseptic that will PREVENT infectious forces spreading in the body.

635-5
    We would use in the present more of the oil packs over the liver and caecum area, but we would first paint the spine - from the base of the brain to about the 3rd dorsal (that's the whole cervical area, you see) - with laudanum and ACONITE; half an ounce of laudanum with twenty minims of ACONITE.

637-2
    Also, for those conditions in the hip, in the limb, where those strains in the tendons and muscular forces and structural force of the body itself cause acute pains, we would massage same with one part of ACONITE to three parts of Laudanum, then apply the heat from Epsom Salts packs - which should be a saturated solution of same - placed across the hip and thighs to relieve the conditions there.

624-4
(Q) What causes the swelling on left side?
(A) This is at the area where the swelling is on the stomach itself, see? Natural result. When this comes, we would paint the place with two parts of laudanum to one part of ACONITE - and put a hot water bottle over same. This will ease it, and take it down too!

557-5
    But BEFORE the packs are applied, we find it would be most helpful (in the present condition) to paint the gall duct and lacteal duct area (using a camel's hair brush or tuft of cotton) with a mixture of one part ACONITE to three parts Laudanum; afterwards applying over the area a towel wrung out of very hot water. This will tend to make for a perspiration in this portion of the body.

733-1
    And across the area of the upper portion of the right limb and left limb, or in the clavicle area, we would paint the body with ACONITE and Tincture of Laudanum before applying the Epsom Salts packs; one part ACONITE to three parts Laudanum would be the correct proportion. The general massage for the rest of the portions of the body.
(Q) How often should the ACONITE and Laudanum, and packs over the clavicle, be used?
(A) These would be about two or three times each week; ONLY to be given before corrections are made.

5402-1
    These, as we find, are the sources of the disorder. There may be brought some relief. Under the direction of the physician there should be applied Laudanum and ACONITE - three parts Laudanum and one part ACONITE - preferably apply this with a camel's hair brush over the lumbar and sacral area. Then, the next day, apply wet heat, and then make osteopathic adjustments of the segments where pressure exists.
 

 

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