Contents:
Common Names | Parts Usually Used | Plant(s) & Culture | Where Found | Medicinal Properties | Biochemical Information
Legends, Myths and Stories | Uses | Formulas or Dosages | Nutrient Content | How Sold | Warning | Resource Links | Bibliography
Scientific Names
- Aconitum napellus L.
- Aconitum carmichaelii Debeaux
- Ranunculaceae
- Buttercup family
Common Names
- Aconite
- Mousebane
- Wolfbane
- Chinese aconite
- Monkshood
- Chinese wolfsbane
- Carmichael’s monkshood
- Fuzi (Chinese: 附子)
- Chuanwu
- Bushi (Japanese)
- Kyeong-Po Buja (Korean)
- Devil’s helmet
- Blue rocket
- Helmet flower
- Friar’s cap
- Soldier’s cap
Parts Usually Used
The leaves and the lateral root (daughter root) and mother root of the plant. The lateral root is processed into “Fuzi” (Radix Aconiti Lateralis Praeparata or Prepared Common Monkshood Daughter Root), while the mother root is used to make “Chuanwu” (Radix Aconiti Praeparata). Both parts require extensive processing before medicinal use due to their extreme toxicity in raw form.
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Description of Plant(s) and Culture
Aconitum carmichaelii is a perennial herbaceous plant growing to 0.6-1.5 meters (2-5 feet) in height, belonging to the Ranunculaceae (buttercup) family. The plant resembles delphiniums and has characteristic helmet-shaped blue or purple flowers, which give it the common name “monkshood.” The flowers have a distinctive cylindrical helmet formation called a galea.
The plant has dark green palmate leaves that lack stipules and are deeply lobed with five to seven segments. The tall, erect stem is crowned by racemes of large zygomorphic flowers. The underground tuber root system is the source of the medicinal compounds and is harvested in early summer (June to August), just before the flowering period.
Aconitum carmichaelii thrives in mountainous terrain and rocky, well-draining soils in temperate climates. It prefers moist soil conditions and can grow in partial shade to full sun, provided adequate moisture is maintained.
Other varieties: Monk’s cowl (A. carmichaelii) is native to the Szechuan region of China; it is used as a narcotic and as a topical anesthetic ointment in Chinese and homeopathic medicine, but it is too powerful for the home gardener to use.
Wolfsbane (A. lycoctonum) has yellow flowers and is familiar from folktales; old superstition held that it repelled werewolves.
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Where Found
Aconitum carmichaelii is native to temperate Asia, specifically central and western China, with distribution extending to North America. It is indigenous to China, particularly found in provinces including Anhui, Zhejiang, Henan, Hunan, Hubei, Jiangxi, Jiangsu, Guangdong, Guizhou, Liaoning, Shandong, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guangxi.
The plant is commonly cultivated in Sichuan Province, China, but is also natively found in Russia, Japan, and other East Asian regions. It grows naturally in forest margins, scrubland, grassy slopes, and mountainous areas at elevations of 100-2200 meters. Today, it is primarily cultivated in China for medicinal purposes.
Also cultivated in gardens in the United States and Canada.
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Medicinal Properties
Aconitum carmichaelii possesses potent anaesthetic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antirheumatic, cardiotonic, stimulant, vasodilator, antiarrhythmic, gastroprotective, sedative, expectorant, spasmolytic, and warming properties. The herb has been demonstrated to have significant effects on the cardiovascular, nervous, and musculoskeletal systems.
The plant exhibits powerful analgesic effects through its action on voltage-dependent sodium channels, providing pain relief for conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, joint pain, and neuralgia. Its cardiotonic properties help enhance cardiovascular function by promoting mitochondrial energy production and ATP synthesis in cardiac muscle cells.
Research indicates that processed Aconitum carmichaelii may help regulate blood sugar metabolism, support immune function by boosting white blood cell activity, and provide therapeutic benefits for conditions involving “cold” symptoms according to Traditional Chinese Medicine theory. The herb also demonstrates anti-inflammatory effects and may help with digestive disorders, respiratory conditions, and gynecological issues.
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Biochemical Information
The primary active compounds in Aconitum carmichaelii are diterpene alkaloids, which are categorized into two main groups: highly toxic diester diterpene alkaloids (DDAs) and less toxic monoester diterpene alkaloids (MDAs).
The major toxic compounds include aconitine, mesaconitine, and hypaconitine – all DDAs with C19-diterpenoid alkaloid structures. These compounds contain both acetyl and benzoyl ester groups that contribute to their extreme toxicity. The therapeutic compounds include benzoylaconitine (BAC), benzoylmesaconitine (BMA), and benzoylhypaconitine (BHA) – MDAs that retain medicinal benefits while having significantly reduced toxicity.
Other important bioactive compounds include lappaconitine (which has analgesic properties with lower toxicity), napelline, 6-benzoylheteratisine, columbianine, mesaconine, isotalatizidine, fuziline, songorine, neoline, talatisamine, senbusine A, karakoline, and various other alkaloids that contribute to the plant’s complex pharmacological profile.
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Legends, Myths and Stories
Aconitum carmichaelii has been revered in Traditional Chinese Medicine for over two thousand years, first recorded in Shennong’s Materia Medica, the earliest Chinese herbal medicinal classic. It was later detailed in “Shanghan Lun” by master Zhang Zhongjing during the Eastern Han Dynasty, where it was classified as a “lower-class” drug marked as “very poisonous” requiring extreme care.
The herb was historically known as one of the most potent “warming” drugs in Chinese medicine, believed to “power up and energize the body, dispel moisture and humidity, and ease pain.” Rural communities in the Qinling Range of Shaanxi Province traditionally consumed processed A. carmichaelii before winter, believing it would provide warmth and energy for harsh conditions.
In broader cultural contexts, plants of the Aconitum genus were known in Greek mythology as being invented by the goddess Hecate and were said to have grown from the saliva of Cerberus, the three-headed dog guarding Hades. The name “aconite” derives from the Greek word for dart or javelin, as the plant was historically used to poison arrow tips for hunting and warfare.
Various species of monkshood grow wild in North America, particularly in mountainous regions. These are similarly poisonous.
In Greek legend, monkshood originated from the foam dripping from the fangs of the three-headed dog Cerberus that Herakles (Hercules) brought up from the underworld. Also Hecate, the Greek goddess of the moon, ghosts, witches, and magic, poisoned her father with monkshood.
In the Middle Ages witches were associated with monkshood. Since it numbs the senses and gives a sensation of flying, they are said to have smeared it on their bodies and broomsticks.
The name monkshood comes from its hood-shaped flowers.
A. napellus, monkshood, is the source of the drug aconite; it was formerly used to make a deadly poison; Shakespeare’s Romeo killed himself with a cup of it.
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Uses
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Aconitum carmichaelii is extensively used in processed forms for treating various conditions, always in carefully prepared formulations rather than as a single herb.
Traditional medicinal applications include:
- In TCM: Treatment of shock and collapse, chronic diseases with “cold” symptoms, gastralgia, rheumatic arthralgia, edema, and diarrhea due to dysfunction of spleen and kidney
- For cardiovascular conditions: Used in formulations like Shenfu Injection to treat cardiogenic shock, myocardial infarction, and to enhance cardiac function in critically ill patients
- For pain management: Applied as external tinctures for rheumatism, arthralgia, sprains, and contusions; used internally for chronic pain conditions
- For gynecological disorders: Treatment of irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, abdominal cramps, and climacteric disorders
- For respiratory conditions: Used for asthma, bronchial conditions, and other respiratory ailments
- For digestive issues: Treatment of gastroenteritis, abdominal pain, and digestive weakness
- For immune support: Enhancement of white blood cell function and overall immune system strength
- In compound formulas: Essential component in over 20 traditional herbal formulations including Sini Tang, Zhenwu Tang, and various warming decoctions
Modern clinical applications include use in hospital settings for severe conditions like cardiogenic shock, with intravenous preparations showing efficacy in reducing recovery time and improving patient outcomes when used under strict medical supervision.
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Formulas or Dosages
Due to the extreme toxicity of Aconitum carmichaelii, dosing must be precisely controlled and should only be administered by qualified practitioners experienced in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Traditional dosage guidelines from Chinese materia medica:
- For processed Chuanwu in formulations: 1.5-3 grams
- For Chuanwu as a single drug: Maximum 2 grams (rarely used alone)
- For processed Fuzi: Up to 15 grams in compound formulations (Fuzi is less toxic than Chuanwu)
- For Shenfu Injection (clinical use): Approximately 10 mg per 24 hours intravenously under strict medical supervision
Modern safety considerations indicate that even these traditional doses require careful monitoring. All preparations must be properly processed according to established methods to reduce toxic alkaloid content while preserving therapeutic compounds. The therapeutic index is extremely narrow, with toxic doses being very close to therapeutic doses.
Processing requirements: Raw Aconitum carmichaelii must never be used medicinally. All therapeutic preparations require extensive processing including prolonged boiling (4-8 hours), steaming under pressure, or treatment with various adjuvants to convert toxic DDAs into safer MDAs.
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Nutrient Content
Aconitum carmichaelii is valued primarily for its alkaloid content rather than nutritional components. The plant contains:
- Diester diterpene alkaloids (DDAs): Aconitine, mesaconitine, hypaconitine (highly toxic compounds)
- Monoester diterpene alkaloids (MDAs): Benzoylaconitine, benzoylmesaconitine, benzoylhypaconitine (therapeutic compounds with reduced toxicity)
- Other alkaloids: Lappaconitine, napelline, 6-benzoylheteratisine, and various C19 and C20 diterpenoid alkaloids
- Total alkaloid content: Varies significantly based on processing method, with raw roots containing the highest concentrations of toxic compounds
- Processing dramatically alters alkaloid profiles: Proper preparation reduces DDAs to less than 0.020-0.040% while maintaining MDAs at 0.010-0.15%
- Trace amounts of flavonoids, polyphenols, and other secondary metabolites
- Minimal traditional nutrients: Due to small medicinal doses used, nutritional contribution is negligible
How Sold
Aconitum carmichaelii is available only in highly processed forms through licensed Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners and specialized herbal medicine suppliers. Commercial forms include:
- Processed dried root slices (Fuzi and Chuanwu preparations)
- Standardized powdered extracts with controlled alkaloid content
- Injectable preparations for clinical use in hospitals
- Compound herbal formulations containing processed Aconitum with other herbs
- Tinctures and external preparations for topical use
- Processed forms including Yanfuzi, Heishunpian, Baifupian, Danfupian, and Paofupian
All legitimate commercial preparations must meet strict quality control standards, including verification of alkaloid content within safe ranges and documentation of proper processing methods. Products should be purchased only from reputable suppliers who can provide certificates of analysis and processing documentation.
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Warning
EXTREME CAUTION REQUIRED – THIS PLANT IS HIGHLY TOXIC AND POTENTIALLY LETHAL
Aconitum carmichaelii is one of the most poisonous plants known to medicine. As little as 2 mg of pure aconitine or 1 gram of plant material can cause death from respiratory paralysis or cardiac failure. Simple skin contact with the plant has caused numbness in some individuals.
Immediate and severe toxicity symptoms include: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, burning and tingling sensations in mouth and face, numbness of tongue and extremities, muscle weakness, breathing difficulties, palpitations, irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia), hypotension, bradycardia, sweating, dizziness, headache, confusion, convulsions, and potentially fatal ventricular arrhythmias leading to cardiac arrest.
Contraindications and special precautions:
- Absolutely contraindicated during pregnancy and breastfeeding due to extreme toxicity to developing fetuses and infants
- Never give to children or infants – multiple cases of severe poisoning and death have been reported
- Contraindicated for individuals with heart conditions, arrhythmias, or taking cardiac medications
- Dangerous interactions with blood-thinning medications, stimulant drugs, and sedatives
- May dangerously affect blood sugar levels in diabetic patients
- Raw or improperly processed forms are absolutely prohibited for any use
Clinical management of poisoning: There is no specific antidote for aconitine poisoning. Treatment is entirely supportive and includes continuous cardiac monitoring, activated charcoal if given within one hour of ingestion, atropine for bradycardia, antiarrhythmic drugs (lidocaine, amiodarone, flecainide) for ventricular arrhythmias, and potentially cardiopulmonary bypass for severe cases. Hemoperfusion has shown some success in severe poisoning cases.
Legal and safety requirements: Use only under supervision of qualified Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners. Never attempt self-medication. Many jurisdictions regulate or prohibit the sale of Aconitum products. Always verify proper processing and alkaloid content before any therapeutic use. Report any adverse effects immediately to healthcare providers and poison control centers.
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Resource Links
Traditional Medicinal Plants Used by Tujia People in Guizhou
BioMedCentral – The toxicology and detoxification of Aconitum: traditional and modern views
WebMD – Aconite – Uses, Side Effects, and More
Plants for a Future – Aconitum carmichaelii
Bibliography
The Herb Book
Herbal Gardening, compiled by The Robison York State Herb Garden, Cornell Plantations, Matthaei Botanical Gardens of the University of Michigan, University of California Botanical Garden, Berkeley., Pantheon Books, Knopf Publishing Group, New York, 1994, first edition
The Nature Doctor: A Manual of Traditional and Complementary Medicine
Planetary Herbology
Webster’s New World Dictionary
The Rodale Herb Book: How to Use, Grow, and Buy Nature’s Miracle Plants (An Organic gardening and farming book)
