Aconitum napellus, also known as monkshood, is a poisonous plant with blue bell-shaped flowers. It has been used for thousands of years to contaminate weapons and has inspired murder mystery writers. Despite its toxicity, it is used in homeopathic medicine to treat various conditions. Handling the plant should be done with great care, and it is not recommended to introduce it to gardens with small children or pets.
Aconitum napellus is a flowering perennial member of the Ranunculaceae family, better known as monkshood. It is also known by several other common nicknames, including the monastery and the wolf’s nightmare. As it is a tall, attractive plant that sports large, deep blue, bell-shaped flowers, it is often grown as an ornamental garden plant. Aconitum napellus has also been crossed with various other plants in the same species to create various other ornamental hybrid species.
Like many beautiful members of the botanical community, Aconitum napellus is highly toxic. In fact, its poisonous compounds have been used for thousands of years to contaminate the ends of arrows and spears. The ancient Romans considered the herb so dangerous that it was officially banned, and anyone who intentionally grew it was sentenced to death. In more recent history, the herb has inspired many murder mystery writers to facilitate the sudden cardiac arrest of a fictional victim by featuring a cook who couldn’t tell the difference between monkshood and garden spinach. The literature is also littered with victims returning from the brink of death with a timely dose of the only known anecdote of monkshood poisoning: atropine.
Unfortunately, accidental poisonings have occurred in real life without the benefit of available anecdote. In 2004, Canadian actor Andre Noble ingested monkshood by mistake while on a camping trip in his Newfoundland homeland and later died in hospital. There have also been reports of poisonings involving alcoholic beverages contaminated with Aconitum napellus, in one case producing symptoms of toxicity within 30 minutes and being fatal within eight hours. It is even known that handling the leaves or roots produces toxicity.
In yet another paradox, Aconitum napellus provides some medicinal benefits despite containing several poisonous components, namely aconitin, hypaconitin, and mesaconitin. In homeopathic dosages, monkshood is used to treat inflammatory conditions, colds, flu, cough, fever, and kidney disorders. It is also used in traditional Chinese medicine to negate the effects of too much “dampness” associated with “Yang deficiency.” The herb is also used in topical creams and ointments formulated to relieve pain and burning sensations that often accompany arthritis, rheumatism, and neuralgia.
Due to the high level of toxicity of this plant, its use for medicinal purposes is not recommended without first consulting a physician or homeopathic practitioner. It should also be said that great care must be taken when handling any part of the plant. In fact, gloves are highly recommended. Finally, it is not advisable to introduce monkshood in the garden of the house if there are small children or pets present.
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