Angustura vera is mainly a remedy for the nervous system, bones, and joints. It is especially known for stiffness, painful contractions, and paralytic weakness. The keynote symptom is extraordinary stiffness of joints and muscles with cracking sounds when moving, even after slight exertion. It is also useful in paralysis, tetanus, and nervous debility, where the body feels weak and trembling, but the mind remains active.

Another sphere of action is the digestive system, where there is excessive craving for coffee and problems with digestion after coffee.