Products
Preparations of aconite are mainly found in homeopathic, anthroposophic and other alternative medicines. Various dosage forms are available, such as globules, oils, drops, ear drops and ampoules.
Stem plant
Blue monkshood L. from the Ranunculaceae family is native to the Alps, among other places. The photos were taken in the botanical garden Brüglingen, in Disentis and Arosa: In addition to the blue monkshood, numerous other -species exist, such as or the yellow monkshood:
Medicinal drug
As a medicinal drug, mainly the aconite tubers (Aconiti tuber) are used, more rarely also the aconite herb (Aconiti herba). Powder (Aconiti tuberis pulvis), tinctures (Aconiti tinctura) and extracts are produced from the medicinal drugs. The processing of the medicinal drug has an influence on the alkaloid content. When heated or boiled, toxicity is reduced by hydrolysis of the alkaloids.
Ingredients
The diterpene alkaloids, such as aconitine, are predominantly important for pharmacological effects.
Effects
Preparations of aconite have analgesic, paralytic, anesthetic, neurotoxic, and cardiotoxic properties. Aconitine binds to voltage-gated sodium channels, causing them to remain open. As a result, sodium ions flow continuously into excitable cells (nerves, muscle, heart) and repolarization after the action potential is disrupted.
Indications for use
Preparations of aconite are now used exclusively in alternative medicine, for example, in homeopathy and anthroposophic medicines for the treatment of nerve pain (neuralgia), neuritis, fever, flu and cold. Used aconite traditionally also in Tibetan and Chinese medicine.
Abuse
Monkshood is used for suicides. It has played a role in poisonous murders since ancient times and throughout history.
Dosage
According to the package insert. Only finished medicines should be used. Due to the high toxicity, medicines should not be prepared by yourself under any circumstances!
Adverse effects
Monkshood is one of the most poisonous plants in Europe. Symptoms of poisoning include:
- Digestive tract: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain.
- Neurological disorders: Lack of sensation, burning and tingling in the mouth, paresthesias all over the body, icy cold, feeling of ice water in the blood vessels, muscle weakness, severe pain, paralysis.
- Cardiovascular: palpitations, low blood pressure, dizziness, cardiac arrhythmias (ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation), heart failure, collapse, coma, death.
- Respiratory system: respiratory paralysis
Monkshood has a narrow therapeutic range. The lethal dose is about 1 to 4 g for the tubers. For aconitine, it is in the range of a few milligrams. Symptoms of poisoning can be observed after minutes. Death occurs only after agonizing hours.
