Aconitum napellus
Botanical Nomenclature | Aconitum napellus |
Common Name | Aconite, Monk's-Hood, Wolfsbane |
Taxonomy- Family | Ranunculaceae |
Distinguishing Features of the Plant | Aconitum napellus is a small, perennial plant growing from 50 to 150cm, with palmate, green leaves and blue, violet or white flowers in helmet shape. The flowering lasts from June to September and the harvesting takes place from August to September |
Region Found | Ioannina (Gramos) |
Part of the Plant with Active Substances | Root, underground tuber, leaves |
Active Substances | Aconitine, benzaconin (picraconitin), aconin, napelin and other alkaloids, luteolin, apigenin (flavone glycosides) |
Pharmacological Effects - Therapeutic Applications | The herbal extract has analgesic, antirheumatic, diuretic, antipyretic, and sedative properties. It is used for the treatment of rheumatism, the neuralgia (trigeminal neuralgia, toothache), chronic skin diseases and migraine. In folk medicine it is recommeded for the treatment of rheumatic pain, ventricular hypertrophy, dropsy, acute rheumatism, sore throat, influenza, acute arthritis, asthma and pertussis. Finally, the herbal extract is supposed to have anti-cancer properties. |
Method of Administration | The plant is administered as analgesic to children from 5 to 10 years old, in the form of herbal tea (1-2 spoons of dried herb in a cup of boiled water) and to adults (2-5 spoons of dried herb in a cup of boiled water, three times a day). In homeopathy it is recommended against pharyngitis, influenza, acute arthritis, asthma and pertussis in the form of tincture, after alcoholic extraction of the plant. Warning: The use of herb preparations is not recommended without seeking advice from your physician or pharmacist. The substances they contain may interact with the subscribed drugs that the patient already takes, thus eliminating their therapeutic efficacy or inducing toxicity. They may also burden further weakened vital functions of the body thus exposing the patient to increased morbidity and life threatened conditions. |
Toxicity- Adverse Effects | The whole plant is toxic, due to the contained alkaloids. The consumption of Aconitum napellus may cause nausea, vomiting, heartburn, pain, unconsciousness, respiratory depression, death (lethal dose: 2-4g of fresh plant) |
References | 1)http://greek_greek.enacademic.com/12238/%CE%B1%CE%BA%CF%8C%CE%BD%CE%B9%CF%84%CE%BF 2)http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-609-aconite.aspx?activeingredientid=609&activeingredientname=aconite 3)http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/a/aconi007.html 4)http://www.homeopathy.gr/homeopathy.php?remedy=aconitum 5)http://www.haniotika-nea.gr/akonito/ 6)http://phyto.gr/akonito/ |