Aconites

Aconite
This genus consists of about 100 species of tuberous perennials that are found throughout northern temperate regions, in woods, thickets, rich grassland, and near water. Monkshoods make handsome border plants, with attractive spring foliage and delphinium-like flowers. The characteristic hooded shape of the flowers allows pollination only by bees. According to Greek myth, A. napellus was created by Hecate, goddess of the underworld, from the foaming mouths of Cerebus, the three-headed dog that guards the gates of Hell. All aconitums contain the alkaloid aconitine, which is one of the most toxic plant compounds known. Aconitum ferox is regarded as the most deadly, followed by A. napellus, which is one of the most poisonous species in the European flora. Monkshoods were used in making arrow poisons, and a number of species are used medicinally in various parts of the world, having therapeutic effects when used correctly by trained practitioners. Aconitum carmichaelii was first mentioned in Chinese medical literature c.CE200. It has two names in Chinese medicine: wu tu refers to the fresh root and fu zi to the root cooked with salt and sugar. The cooking process makes it safer for internal use. Research has found it to be effective in congestive heart failure.

Tuberous perennial with upright stems and mid-green leaves, to 15cm (6in) across, deeply divided into 5-7 lobes, and further toothed and lobed. Racemes of deep blue, hooded flowers appear in late summer.

Common Name:	Aconite
Other Names:	Blue Rocket, Fu-Tzu, Monkshood, Wolfsbane
Botanical Name:	Aconitum napellus
Genus:	Aconitum
Family:	Ranunculaceae
Cultivation:	Deep, moisture-retentive soil in shade. Plants will also thrive in a sunny position if the soil is suffiently damp throughout the growing season; they do not flower well in dry conditions. Remove dead flower heads to encourage a second crop of flowers. Aconitums should be sited out of the reach of small children and animals, since even very small amounts can cause poisoning. Taller species need staking.
Propagation:	By division when dormant; by seed sown in spring.
Harvest:	Plants are lifted in autumn and young, thick roots are removed before replanting. Roots are processed professionally for use in decoctions, liniments and tinctures.
Warning:	All parts of aconitums are highly toxic if eaten and may cause systemic poisoning if handled. Gloves should always be worn when handling, to avoid absorption of toxins through the skin. For use by qualified practitioners only. Medicinal use is subject to legal restrictions in some countries.
Native Region:	N and C Europe
Height:	1.2-1.5cm (4-5ft)
Width:	38cm (15in)
Varieties:	Albidum Description:Has gray white flowers. Subsp vulgare Carneum Description: Has delicate flesh-pink flowers and needs cool, rich, moist soil.
Hardiness:	Z5-8
Parts Used:	Roots
Properties:	A sedative, painkilling herb that acts on the heart and central nervous system, and also lowers fever.
Herbal Uses:	Add to salves for its painkilling effect on rheumatism, neuralgia, and lumbago. A tincture given in one-drop doses for heart failure, high fevers, pneumonia, pleurisy and tonsilitis. Because of its deadly nature, herbal aconite should be avoided.
Homeopathic Uses:	Homeopaths use Aconitum Napellus for conditions of mental and physical restlessness; fear and shock; a great fear of death; acute, sudden, and violent fevers; conditions brought on by dry, cold weather and winds; and influenza. Homeopathic aconite, being very diluted, can be antidote by large amounts of Vinegar.
Medicinal Uses:	Internally for facial neuralgia and to relieve the pain of arthritis and gout. Externally for sciatica and arthritis, Used in homeopathy for shock (especially after surgery or childbirth), chickenpox, measles, mumps, croup, toothache and teething, and complaints caused, or made worse, by getting chilled. Excessive external use, or application to broken skin, may lead to systemic poisoning by absorption through the skin.
Magickal Uses:	Protection from werewolves and vampires. It is also a classical ingredient in flying ointments, which usually also contain henbane, belladonna, hemlock, and soot. ?Without the angel of death, no new life would be possible, and so we honor death and the dead by burning aconite as funeral incense and by planting it on a loved one's grave. The symptons of poisoning are tingling and numbness of tongue and mouth and a sensation of ants crawling over the body, nausea and vomiting with epigastric pain, laboured breathing, pulse irregular and weak, skin cold and clammy, features bloodless, giddiness, staggering, mind remains clear. A stomach tube or emetic should be used at once, 20 minims of Tincture of Digitalis given if available, stimulants should be given and if not retained diluted brandy injected per rectum, artificial respiration and friction, patient to be kept lying down. All the species contain an active poison Aconitine, one of the most formidable poisons which have yet been discovered: it exists in all parts of the plant, but especially in the root. The smallest portion of either root or leaves, when first put into the mouth, occasions burning and tingling, and a sense of numbness immediately follows its continuance. One-fiftieth grain of Aconitine will kill a sparrow in a few seconds; one-tenth grain a rabbit in five minutes. It is more powerful than prussic acid and acts with tremendous rapidity. One hundredth grain will act locally, so as to produce a well-marked sensation in any part of the body for a whole day. So acrid is the poison, that the juice applied to a wounded finger affects the whole system, not only causing pains in the limbs, but a sense of suffocation and syncope. Some species of Aconite were well known to the ancients as deadly poisons. It was said to be the invention of Hecate from the foam of Cerberus, and it was a species of Aconite that entered into the poison which the old men of the island of Ceos were condemned to drink when they became infirm and no longer of use to the State. Aconite is also supposed to have been the poison that formed the cup which Medea prepared for Theseus. Aconite causes irregular action of the heart, and Belladonna produces delirium. Aconite poisoning of wells by A. ferox has been carried out by native Indians to stop the progress of an army. They also use it for poisoning spears, darts and arrows, and for destroying tigers. All children should be warned against Aconite in gardens. It is wiser not to grow Aconite among kitchen herbs of any sort. The root has occasionally been mistaken for horse-radish, with fatal results - it is, however, shorter, darker and more fibrous - and the leaves have produced similar fatal results. In Ireland a poor woman once sprinkled powdered Aconite root over a dish of greens, and one man was killed and another seriously affected by it. In 1524 and 1526 it is recorded that two criminals, to whom the root was given as an experiment, quickly died. The older herbalists described it as venomous and deadly. Gerard says: 'There hath beene little heretofore set down concerning the virtues of the Aconite, but much might be saide of the hurts that have come thereby.' It was supposed to be an antidote against other poisons. Gerard tells us that its power was 'So forcible that the herb only thrown before the scorpion or any other venomous beast, causeth them to be without force or strength to hurt, insomuch that they cannot moove or stirre untill the herbe be taken away.' Ben Jonson, in his tragedy Sejanus, says: 'I have heard that Aconite Being timely taken hath a healing might Against the scorpion's stroke.' Linnaeus reports Aconite to be fatal to cattle and goats when they eat it fresh, but when dried it does no harm to horses, a peculiarity in common with the buttercups, to which the Aconites are related. Field-mice are well aware of its evil nature, and in hard times, when they will attack almost any plant that offers them food, they leave this severely alone.
Bibliography:	Encyclopedia of Herbs by Deni Brown Copyright © 1995, 2001 Dorling Kindersley Limited. pp 100-101.