Aconite

Location

Aconitum carmichaeli is native to East Asia (Wren 1988). It is grown as an ornamental in temperate regions (Evans 1998).

Description

Aconitum carmichaeli is a perennial plant that reaches a height of 1.5 m when fully grown. It has violet-blue helmet shaped flowers in a raceme orientation with dark green palmate leaves. Aconite seed’s are wrinkled and angular. The black, conically-shaped root forms a white, starchy 5-7 pointed star central to the fracture (Wren 1988). It is one of the few plants that will flower in shade. 

History

Aconite has been used as a medicinal plant since the ancient times in India and China. Chinese medicine values aconite for its antirheumatic, analgesic, anesthetic, and antinevralgic properties. Because of its high level toxicity, it can only be used after preparation: Chuanwu, the dried root of A.carmichael, zhichuanwu, the “prepared” root, and Fuzi, the lateral roots of A.carmichaeli (Huang 1999). In Chinese medical terms, A.carmichaeli restores Yang by warming the kidney fire and the spleen and expelling cold from the channels; it is also said to alleviate pain (Bensky and Gamble 1986). Aconite is normally prescribed in decoction, including Shi-I Tang (soup), Fu Zu Tong, and Sen Fu Tong (Huang 1999).

Over the last three millennia A.carmichaeli was also used as arrow poison—not only in the Orient, but also in the western hemisphere. In addition to killing wild animals, some have and still do, use Aconite against other individuals with an intention to harm (Bruneton 1999).

Current Medicinal Uses

Aconite possesses cardiotonic, anti-inflammatory, and various central nervous system effects. Fu Zi injection solutions may have an effective result on angina and cardiac exhaustion. Fu Zi also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent, perhaps due to indirect stimulation of the ACTH-corticosterone system. In addition, Aconitine may reduce plasma cholesterol and atheromata formation (Huang 1999).

Aconite is also topically applied as an analgesic for neuralgia, bruises, sciatica, hemiplegia, post-traumatic pain and rheumatic afflictions. (Talalaj 1989).

Adverse effects

As one of the most toxic and dangerous plants, aconite handling has been restricted to medical personal only. Its therapeutic dose is very close to its toxic dose. Ingestion of even a minute amount of the plant, whether it is the root or other parts, can lead to severe poisoning, and larger amounts can cause immediate death. It is believed that just 2-4g of aconite root, 5mL of tincture, or 3mg of aconitine are lethal doses in humans (Evans 1998).

Aconite’s analgesic potency is approximately one-tenth that of morphine, however, its toxicity levels are three hundred times greater (Huang 1999). It is important to recognize that if applied topically, absorption through the skin can cause systemic poisoning (Wren 1998, Evans 1998).

Symptoms of aconite poisoning can include: numbness of the mouth and throat, speech difficulty, nausea and vomiting, blurred vision, muscular paralysis, and convulsions (Evans 1998). By exciting and then paralyzing peripheral and brain stem nerve endings, aconitine can cause slowed respiration and respiratory paralysis (Bruenton 1999, Evans 1998). In addition it can cause cardiac arrhythmias, which can be fatal (Bruneton 1999, Evans 1998).

Currently, there is no treatment to reverse the effects of aconite poisoning, however, health care providers can attempt to remove the poison from the gastrointestinal tract or provide the patient with medications to counteract the arrhythmias (Wren 1988).

Comments

Homeopaths use extremely diluted form of A.carmichaeli as remedies, primarily for tachycardia and hypertension (Bruneton 1999).

References

Bensky D, Gamble A, and Kaptchuk, T. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica. Seattle: Eastland Press; 1986.

Bruneton J. Pharmacognosy: Phytochemistry Medicinal Plants. 2nd Ed. Intercept; 1999.

Evans WC. Trease and Evan’s Pharmacognosy. 14th Ed. WB Saunders Co.; 1998.

Huang KC. The Pharmacology of Chinese Herbs. 2nd Ed. CRC Press; 1999.

Mills SY and Bone K. Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy: Modern Herbal Medicine. Churchill Livingstone; 2000.

Talalaj PS and Czechowicz DAS. Herbal remedies: Harmful and beneficial effects. Hill of Content; 1989.

Wren RC, Williamson E, Fred J. Evans. Potter's new cyclopedia of botanical drugs and preparations. 12th ed. C.W. Daniel Company Limited; 1988.

Disclaimer 

Information on this website is for educational purposes only. Many herbs historically used for medicine are considered too toxic to use today; some of these herbs have caused deaths. Do not ingest these herbs based on information on this website. We have not provided sufficient information for the safe medicinal use of any of these herbs, nor sufficient information for treatment of poisoning. All recreational use of these herbs is dangerous.