- a perennial herbaceous plant. Among the people there are other names for this plant: fighter root, wolf root, wolf root, Issyk-Kul root, king potion, king grass, black root, black potion, goat death, iron helmet, skullcap, helmet, hood, horse , slipper, blue buttercup, blue-eye, lumbago-grass, cover-grass.

Paracelsus believed that the name “monkshood” comes from the name of the city of Akoni, the surrounding area of ​​which was considered the birthplace of one of the species of this plant.

Dzungarian wrestler, or Dzungarian aconite (lat. Aconitum soongaricum)

The ancient Gauls and Germans rubbed the tips of arrows and spears with the extract of this plant for hunting wolves, panthers, leopards and other predators. This is to some extent confirmed by the popular nicknames of aconite - wolf root, wolf killer, among the Slavs - dog death, dog potion, black potion, etc.

In ancient Rome, because of its brightly colored flowers, aconite was popular as an ornamental plant and was widely cultivated in gardens. However, the Roman Emperor Trajan banned the cultivation of ako-pit in 117, as there were frequent cases of suspicious deaths from poisoning. Plutarch talks about the poisoning of Mark Antony's soldiers with this plant. Warriors who ate aconite lost their memory and were busy turning over every stone in their path, as if they were looking for something very important, until they began to vomit bile. There is a legend that the famous Khan Timur was poisoned precisely by the poison of aconite - the juice of this plant was soaked in his skullcap.

In Ancient Greece and Rome, aconite was used to poison those sentenced to death.

In ancient times, the properties of aconite were used for medicinal purposes, but the Roman writer and scientist Pliny the Elder in his “Natural History” warned that one must be very careful with it and dubbed it “vegetable arsenic.”

Dzungarian wrestler, or Dzungarian aconite (lat. Aconitum soongaricum)

There are several legends about the origin of aconite. One of them is associated with the mythological hero of Ancient Hellas - Hercules.

While in the service of King Eurystheus, Hercules, in order to earn immortality for himself, had to complete twelve labors; the twelfth is the pacification of the ferocious guardian of the underworld, Cerberus, a huge three-headed dog, around each of whose heads a mane of poisonous snakes writhed. This terrible dog let everyone into Hades, but did not let anyone back. To get out of the underworld, Hercules needed to pacify the beast. Seeing him, the hero was not afraid, grabbed the dog by the throat and strangled him until he submitted to him. Hercules chained him with diamond chains and pulled him to the surface. Cerberus, blinded by the bright sunlight, began to struggle wildly, growling and barking wildly. Poisonous saliva flowed from its three mouths, flooding the grass and earth around it. And where the saliva fell, tall slender plants with amazing blue flowers, similar to the helmets of warriors, gathered in apical brushes, rose. And since all this supposedly happened near the city of Akoni, the unusual perennial aconite was named in his honor.

In Indian mythology, there is a legend about a beautiful girl who taught herself to consume only the roots of aconite and gradually became so saturated with poison that it was impossible to touch her, and even admiring her appearance was mortally dangerous.

Monkshood (Aconitum napellus)

Aconite was mentioned in “Domostroy” - a set of rules for organizing a family in Rus'. In scientific medicine, information about aconites appears in the 17th century, when they began to be placed in official catalogs of German pharmacies. In those days, aconite was used internally as an analgesic and externally for gout, rheumatism and radiculitis. In Indian and Oriental medicine, aconite was used as an analgesic, for febrile diseases, and externally as an irritant and distracting agent. Aconite was included in a number of Russian pharmacopoeias.

All types of aconite (there are 300 of them) are common in Europe, Asia, and North America.

Over 50 species of aconite grow in Russia. The most common aconites are bearded, curly, Dzungarian, Karakol, antidote, northern (high), white-eared, Baikal, white-violet, Amur, oak, arcuate, Korean, shadow, Fischer, Kuznetsov, Shchukin, Chekanovsky.

Aconite grows in damp places along river banks and roadsides, on humus-rich soils, and in mountain meadows. It is often cultivated in gardens, and it happens that housewives in villages do not even suspect that aconite is growing in their front gardens - people usually know this beautiful ornamental plant under other names.

Aconite is a perennial herbaceous plant of the ranunculaceae family. The stem is straight, densely leafy, up to 1.8 m tall. The leaves are alternate, round in outline, dark green, petiolate, deeply and repeatedly lobular-five-dissected.

The inflorescence is an apical raceme of large irregular flowers, depending on the type having different colors: blue, purple, lilac, yellow, cream and rarely white. They have large, bizarrely shaped sepals - five-leaved, corolla-shaped; the top one looks like a helmet or cap, under which all other parts of the flower are hidden. Under this helmet there is a reduced corolla, transformed into two blue nectaries that attract pollinators - bumblebees. Without bumblebees, aconites cannot reproduce, so their geographic distribution areas on Earth coincide with the distribution areas of bumblebees.

The fruit is a dry three-locular leaflet. The tubers are elongated-conical in shape, longitudinally wrinkled on the surface, with traces of removed roots and with buds on the tops of the tubers. The length of the tubers is 3-8 cm, the thickness in the wide part is 1-2 cm. The color is black-brown on the outside, yellowish on the inside. Taste and smell are not checked, since aconite tubers are very poisonous, which is explained by the presence of alkaloids, the content of which is 0.8%. Aconite blooms in the second half of summer.

Karakol aconite ( Aconitum karakolicum) differs from Djungarian aconite in narrow linear leaf segments. A characteristic feature of these types of aconite is that they form a long chain of tuber roots, consisting of 12-15 tubers. This occurs due to the fact that the old tubers of the plants do not die off or separate, but remain linked to the new young tubers, so that the chain of tubers lengthens every year.

Aconites are excellent ornamental plants, frost-resistant, undemanding to soil, and grow normally in partial shade. Preferred for group plantings on the lawn, along the edges of groups of shrubs in parks and gardens. In culture, the most commonly represented species is the horned aconite.

Dried tubers are used as medicinal raw materials. wild plants and their leaves. Tuberous roots are harvested in the fall from August 15 to October 1. Dig it out with a shovel, clear it of soil and damaged parts, wash it in cold water and subjected to rapid drying at a temperature of 50-70 ° C with good ventilation. From 4 kg of fresh tubers, 1 kg of dry tubers is obtained. The leaves are collected before the plants bloom or during their flowering, withered in the sun and dried under a canopy. The raw material should remain dark green after drying. Raw aconite must be stored separately from non-poisonous herbs, with the obligatory “Poison!” label, out of the reach of children. Shelf life in bags or closed containers is 2 years.

Since wild and ornamental species of aconite contain poisonous compounds in their stems and tubers, they must be collected after wearing gloves or mittens. While working with aconite, do not touch your eyes, and upon completion of work, wash your hands thoroughly with soap.

The chemical composition of aconite is still poorly understood.

Aconite has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, narcotic, antitumor, analgesic, antispasmodic effects.

Aconite and, accordingly, preparations from its tubers (tincture) are prescribed in extremely small doses as an analgesic for severe pain. This is a very effective medicine, but highly toxic, used only under the strict supervision of a doctor!

IN folk medicine used for fractures and dislocations of bones, bruises (externally), arthritis, articular rheumatism, gout, radiculitis, osteochondrosis, sciatica (externally), epilepsy, convulsions, mental illness, nervous disorders, depression, fear, hysteria, overexcitation of the nervous system, neuralgia, especially with trigeminal neuralgia (internally and locally), severe headaches, migraines, dizziness, paralysis, Parkinson's disease, paralytic relaxation of the tongue and bladder, anemia, pneumonia, pleurisy, bronchial asthma, acute and chronic bronchitis, colds, tonsillitis, senile loss of strength, to improve vision and hearing, persistent uterine bleeding, impotence, stomach pain, stomach ulcers, gastritis, intestinal and hepatic colic, flatulence, constipation, cystitis, dropsy, hypertension, angina pectoris, scabies, lice (externally), as diuretic, as an anthelmintic, as an antidote for poisoning, psoriasis, erysipelas, ulcers, as a wound-healing agent (externally).

Aconite leaves are used for abscesses and old ulcers.

People say that aconite drives away evil spirits.

It is used for wedding slander (from damage): before the arrival of the newlyweds, a root wrestler is placed under the threshold of the groom’s house, and the bride must jump over it - then all the slander falls on those who wish her harm.

Extreme toxicity limits the use of Djungarian aconite. Currently, only a tincture of the herb Djungarian aconite is used, which is part of the drug “Akofit”, recommended for radiculitis.

The population of Djungarian aconite has become very depleted due to active collections by both private individuals and government organizations. On the world market, these plants are valued for their medicinal, primarily anti-cancer properties. In Kazakhstan, Djungarian aconite costs about $100 per 50 g.

Due to historical reasons, by the beginning of the 20th century, Chinese miners had almost completely dug up the roots of Dzungarian aconite from the eastern spurs of the Dzungarian Alatau due to the high value of this plant in traditional Chinese medicine. The same fate befell episodic inclusions of Aconite Dzungarian in Kashmir. In Soviet Kyrgyzstan, Djungarian aconite has been an item of foreign exchange income since the early 60s of the 20th century.

Kazakhstan geographically owns the main growing areas of Djungarian aconite.

BE CAREFUL!

Aconite is a very poisonous plant. “Mother Queen of Poisons” was the name given to aconite in ancient times. It must be handled with great care, since upon contact with the plant, the poison can penetrate even through the skin.

The most poisonous part of the plant is the tuber roots, especially in the fall, after the tops have withered. A.P. Chekhov described cases of poisoning of people on Sakhalin who ate the liver of pigs who were poisoned by aconite tuber roots. The aerial part is especially poisonous before flowering and during flowering. The degree of toxicity of various aconites is influenced by both the type of plant and the place of distribution, growing conditions, the growing season and the part of the plant being harvested. The most poisonous are Fischer's aconite and Djungarian aconite (the content of aconitine group alkaloids in tubers reaches 3%).

European species of aconite are less poisonous. According to some researchers, when European species of aconite are cultivated as an ornamental plant, after 3-4 generations they generally lose their toxic properties. But due to the impossibility of determining the quantitative content of alkaloids in a given plant at home and, accordingly, assessing the degree of its toxicity, any aconite used must be treated as highly poisonous and strictly follow all the rules for harvesting, drying, storage, and preparation dosage forms and dosage when used.

A konite- species of the genus Aconitum. Sem. Buttercups - Ranunculaceae
This amazing plant has many names and nicknames - Fighter-root, wolf-root, wolf-killer, Issyk-Kul root, king-potion, king-grass, black-root, black potion, goat death, iron helmet, skullcap, helmet, hood, horse, slipper, blue buttercup, blue-eyed, shot- grass, cover-grass.
However, there is one more thing - Queen of Poisons.

Etymology and legends

There are many legends about aconite and its properties.
The name aconite comes from the Latinization of the Greek - "akoniton"--the name of a mythical plant used to poison wolves and other predators. It is quite possible that this is what he meant. The name “monkshood” was given by Dioscorides and came from the ancient Greek city of Akone, the environs of which were considered the birthplace of one of the species of this genus and near which Hercules, according to legend, performed his eleventh labor.
And it was like this:

By order of the king of Mycenae, Eurystheus, in whose service, by the will of the gods, was the mighty Hercules, he had to descend into the dark, horror-filled kingdom of Hades - the god of the underworld - and bring the hellish guard, the dog Cerberus. Cerberus had three heads, snakes writhed around his neck, and his tail ended with the head of a dragon. Hercules walked for a long time, saw many horrors on his way to the underworld, but his guide was the fleet-footed Hermes and, finally. Hercules appeared before the throne of Hades. The god of the underworld warmly greeted the great hero, listened to his request, but set a condition: Hercules had to tame Cerberus with only his hands, without weapons. Hercules searched for Cerberus for a long time in the underworld, and finally found him and wrapped his powerful arms around his neck. The dog howled menacingly and tried to break free, but the mighty embrace tightened more and more tightly and, finally, the half-strangled monster fell at the hero’s feet. Hercules led him to the exit from the underworld. The dog was frightened by daylight and began to sweat. Pieces of foam fell to the ground, and from this foam grew grass (!), which was called aconite. Hercules led Cerberus to the walls of Mycenae. Eurystheus was frightened when he saw the monster and begged to take the dog back to the underworld. Hercules fulfilled his request and returned the dog to Hades. In one of his poems, Ovid said that Medea wanted to poison Theseus with aconite juice.

The plant owes its name “wrestler” to Scandinavian mythology: the fighter grew up at the site of the death of the god Thor, who defeated a poisonous snake and died from its bites. The Germans called aconite the helmet of the god Thor and the wolf's root (Thor, as the myth said, fought the wolf with the help of aconite). It is believed that this is where our Russian name for aconite comes from - fighter, wolfkiller. Another name - "king grass" - was given to this plant for its strong toxicity. The poison was considered so terrible that the mere possession of aconite was punishable by death in some countries.

Another Russian name “krysh-grass” is associated with the following belief. The plant was collected in the fall on a certain day and used against wedding hexes. It was done like this: When the bride was led to the groom's house, the healer ran ahead and put grass as a covering under the threshold. The bride, entering the house, had to jump over the threshold without stepping on the grass. If she suddenly accidentally stepped on the grass, then the young family was not protected from the slander of unkind people.

The toxicity of aconite was the reason that in myths it became an indispensable attribute of the goddess Hecate. Hecate rules over all ghosts and monsters. She has three bodies and three heads. She sends horrors and nightmares to people, helps poisoners, and is called upon as an assistant in witchcraft. Hecate wanders in the dark underground kingdom of Hades, accompanied by her terrible companions. Both people and gods are afraid of angering her.

The poisonous properties of aconite were known already in ancient times: the Greeks and Chinese made poison for arrows from it, in Nepal they used it to poison bait for large predators and drinking water when attacked by the enemy. The entire plant - from roots to pollen - is extremely poisonous, even the smell is poisonous. Plutarch talks about the poisoning of Mark Antony's soldiers with this plant. Warriors who ate aconite lost their memory and were busy turning over every stone in their path, as if they were looking for something very important, until they began to vomit bile.

According to legend, the famous Khan Timur died from aconite - his skullcap was soaked in the poisonous juice.

In ancient Rome, due to its brightly colored flowers, it was popular as an ornamental plant and was widely cultivated in gardens. However, the Roman Emperor Trajanus banned the cultivation of aconite in 117, as there were frequent cases of suspicious deaths from poisoning. In the Middle Ages, aconite was used to poison criminals sentenced to death.

The entire plant is poisonous. Even honey containing plant pollen is poisonous. It is no coincidence that Avicenna called its different types “bars strangler” and “wolf strangler”. In Biruni's pharmacognosy, “this is a herb that kills dogs, leopards, pigs, wolves, if put into food. Some believe that bringing it closer to a scorpion weakens it.”

"Mother Queen of Poisons"- this is what aconite was called in ancient times. The ancient Gauls and Germans rubbed the tips of arrows and spears with the extract of this plant for hunting wolves, panthers and other predators. In Nepal, they poisoned drinking water to protect against enemy attacks; the meat of goats and sheep poisoned with aconite was used to attract large predators.
It must be handled with great care, since the poison, upon contact with the plant, can penetrate even through the skin.
The most poisonous part of the plant is the tuber roots, especially in the fall, after the tops have withered. A.P. Chekhov described cases of poisoning of people on Sakhalin who ate the liver of pigs who were poisoned by aconite tuber roots. A person dies from 0.003-0.004 g of aconite.

The first attempts by European medicine to use aconite as a medicinal plant date back to the 18th century, and both tubers, leaves and flowers were used. It was one of the first plants studied for its alkaloid content. Its alkaloids cause convulsions and paralysis of the respiratory center.

Currently, rhizomes are used externally for neuralgia, migraine, and rheumatism as an analgesic. In homeopathy it is used for headaches. The antiarrhythmic drug allapelin is obtained from aconite whitemouth.

The genus Aconite includes about 300 species of herbaceous perennials. Most of them are poisonous. Djungarian aconite is officially used as a medicinal drug:

Aconitum soongoricum Stapf. - This is a large plant up to 2 m tall. The rhizome is horizontal, consisting of tubers: young and one or more old ones, connected in the form of a chain. The leaves are repeatedly, deeply palmately dissected, large. The flowers are large, collected in apical, decorative racemes. The perianth is blue-violet. The corolla is modified into blue nectaries with a spur, the calyx is irregular, the upper leaf has the shape of a helmet with a spout. Blooms from June to August. The fruit is collective, three-leafed, with a large number of black seeds. Found in the mountainous regions of Central Asia. The alkaloids aconitine, mesaconitine, etc. are found in the rhizomes of aconite. It is used to control rodents.

The aerial part is especially poisonous before flowering and during flowering. The degree of toxicity of various aconites is influenced by both the type of plant and the place of distribution, growing conditions, the growing season and the part of the plant being harvested. The most poisonous are Fischer's aconite (the content of aconitine group alkaloids in tubers reaches 4%) and Djungarian aconite (up to 3% of alkaloids). European species of aconite are less poisonous. According to some researchers, when European species of aconite are cultivated as an ornamental plant, after 3-4 generations they generally lose their toxic properties. But due to the impossibility of determining the quantitative content of alkaloids in a given plant at home and, accordingly, assessing the degree of its toxicity, any aconite used must be treated as highly poisonous and strictly follow all the rules for harvesting, drying, storage, preparation of dosage forms and dosage when used. The possibility of poisoning by honey collected by bees from aconite flowers cannot be ruled out. Poisoning occurs most often in cases where the tincture is drunk by mistake or during an attempt to commit suicide. Severe poisoning, including death, is also possible with self-medication. Poisoning with aconite develops quickly, and in severe poisoning, death quickly occurs either from damage to the respiratory center, or immediately from paralysis of the heart muscle.

The toxicity of the plant is caused by the content of alkaloids (primarily aconitine), which affect the central nervous system and cause convulsions and paralysis of the respiratory center.
The toxicity of aconite depends on geographical location(soil, climate), depending on the age of the plant - in southern latitudes it is most poisonous, and in Norway, for example, it is fed to animals.

Aconite poison is one of the most toxic alkaloids.
Aconite alkaloid - aconitine - is the most poisonous of all existing alkaloids. Lethal dose - about 1 g of plant, 5 ml of tincture, 2 mg of aconite alkaloid. Pronounced nicotine effect: 150mg of nicotine leads to death within a few seconds.

At the beginning of this century, the Dutch doctor Meyer took 50 drops of aconitine nitrate in order to convince the wife of one of his patients that the medicine was non-toxic. An hour and a half later, he showed the first symptoms of poisoning. Four hours later, a doctor was called to see Dr. Meyer, who found him sitting on the sofa, very pale, with constricted pupils and a rapid pulse. Meyer complained of chest tightness, difficulty swallowing, pain in the mouth and stomach, headache and a feeling of freezing cold. All measures taken did not achieve the goal. The feeling of anxiety intensified, the pupils dilated, after about forty minutes attacks of suffocation occurred, and after the third attack (5 hours after taking the medicine), Dr. Meyer died.

Signs of poisoning:
Symptoms: Poisoning with aconite makes itself felt within a few minutes with a tingling sensation in the mouth, throat, burning sensation, profuse salivation, abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. a feeling of tingling and numbness in various parts of the body: lips, tongue, skin. Burning and pain in the chest. The poisoned person feels itching and tingling in all members, burning and pain in the mouth and entrails, his whole body is covered in cold, his head is spinning, his vision is dark, and saliva flows profusely from his mouth; his face turns pale, his pupils dilate, the poisoned man trembles and his strength leaves him. A state of stupor may occur and vision may be impaired. In case of severe poisoning, death can occur within 3-4 hours: Complete loss of orientation, sudden motor and mental agitation, sometimes convulsions. A sharp increase in body temperature, shortness of breath, irregular pulse, the frequency of its contractions (the pulse slows down and then increases), the rhythm is disturbed, and there is a danger of cardiac arrest. Possible death. Death from paralysis of the heart and breathing.

(!) There are no specific antidotes for aconitine.

Help turns out to be symptomatic. Treatment begins with gastric lavage through a tube, followed by the introduction of a saline laxative, activated carbon orally, forced diuresis, hemosorption. Intravenous 20-50 ml of 1% novocaine solution, 500 ml of 5% glucose solution. Intramuscularly 10 ml of 25% solution of magnesium sulfate. For seizures - diazepam (Seduxen) 5-10 mg intravenously. For heart rhythm disorders - intravenously very slowly 10 ml of a 10% solution of novoka-inamide (with normal blood pressure blood) or 1-2 ml of 0.06% solution of corglycone. For bradycardia - 1 ml of 0.1% atropine solution subcutaneously. Intramuscular cocarboxylase, ATP, vitamins C, B1, B6.
Emergency first aid is as follows:
- Drink 0.5-1 liter of water and induce vomiting by putting your fingers in your mouth and irritating the root of your tongue. Do this several times until the stomach is completely cleansed of food debris, i.e. to clean water. If the patient cannot do this himself, provide him with assistance.
- Drink a saline laxative - 30 g of magnesium sulfate in half a glass of water.
- In the absence of a laxative, give the patient an enema with 1 glass of warm water, to which it is advisable to add 1 tsp to enhance the effect. Soap shavings from laundry or baby soap.
- Crush activated carbon tablets (at the rate of 20-30 g per dose), mix in water and drink.
- Drink 1 tablet of a diuretic available in your home medicine cabinet (furosemide or hypothiazide or veroshpiron, etc.).
- Drink strong tea or coffee.
- Keep warm (blankets, heating pads).
- Deliver the patient to a medical facility.

In medieval Europe, aconite was known only as a poison. In China, it is included in painkillers. Doctors in Tibet and China, knowing about the high toxicity of the plant, subject it to lengthy and complex processing before use: the tubers of the plant are filled with fresh water for 7 days, then boiling water is lowered for 40 minutes, and water is taken in twice the amount relative to the raw material, and added 6% of the water in which the tubers were soaked. Then the tubers are once again dipped in fresh water for 24 hours, after which they are cleared of the cork, cut into slices and soaked again for 5 days, and on the fourth day the water is changed. After soaking, the tuber slices are steamed for 12 hours and then dried in fire dryers. To make a decoction, the tubers are still boiled for 2 hours and only after that other components are added to the medicine.

***
(!) There are many uses of this plant in magic, both healing and magical. Analgesic compositions are prepared from aconite, medicinal for respiratory tract, antirheumatic, sleeping pills, in addition, tincture and dried aconite tubers are included in many magical potions, infusions, ointments, creams, one of the most famous of which is “ointment for flying.” =)

Materials used:
(c) Kuznetsova M.A., Reznikova A.S. Tales about medicinal plants. M.: Higher. school, 1992. 272 ​​p.
(c) http://travolog.narod.ru/

Gag: Favorite and one of the most effective conspiracies for all troubles, sorrows and misfortunes used by Izhitsa (drawn in time immemorial from the Book of Veles)

Wolf root, be submissive to me!
A wolf's bast is my smile!
Mother Wolf - be my intercessor!

Syn: white-mouthed wrestler.

Aconite is a perennial herbaceous, unique plant; since ancient times it was considered very dangerous, since all its parts are poisonous. Eating even a small amount of stems or roots could lead to death and this was actively used during hunting and warfare. But its leaves and tubers contain substances that help reduce cancer tumors, which is why the wrestler is widely studied and used in modern medicine today. The plant is poisonous!

Ask the experts a question

Flower formula

Formula of the aconite flower: Ch5L(2),2T∞P(3).

In medicine

Wolfsbane is a poisonous plant. Consuming it in large doses is very dangerous, but at the same time it has pronounced medicinal properties. The root can have an antibacterial effect, and a squeeze of the leaves relieves rheumatic pain. It is often used as a cold remedy.

Processing the tubers and roots of the plant makes it possible to isolate substances that are necessary in medicine to create medicines. They are used to make painkillers and antipyretics. The most famous drugs are allopinin and allapikin. They are intended to treat blood vessels and the heart, reduce arrhythmia, improve a person’s overall well-being, and normalize blood pressure. The drugs are available in ampoules and tablets. Sometimes they are prescribed intravenously or intramuscularly.

Contraindications and side effects

Allapinin should not be used in case of acute renal and liver failure, as well as in case of second degree atrioventricular block. Also, the drug is not approved during pregnancy and lactation. When consuming it, an overdose is possible, in which case nausea, dizziness, and weakness are observed. It is necessary to consult a doctor and change the dose of medications.

The use of tubers and roots for self-medication is strictly contraindicated, as it is life-threatening. Even the smell of this plant can cause headaches, so you should not grow it in the garden or on the windowsill. Just 1 gram of the plant is enough to cause poisoning when taken orally. Signs of human damage: constriction of the pupils, shortness of breath, changes in heartbeat, nausea. Death can occur within 3-5 hours.

Classification

Wrestler or aconite (Aconitum) belongs to the Ranunculaceae family. The genus contains about 300 plants. Some of them are now decorative, grown on window sills and in gardens. It is considered a poisonous plant.

Botanical description

Aconite or white-mouthed fighter is a perennial herbaceous plant with a climbing or erect stem, reaching a height of 70 to 200 centimeters. Belongs to the group of angiosperms. The roots of this plant are cord-shaped, and sometimes they are dense, mesh-fused.

The leaves of the white-mouthed fighter are dense, leathery, large, kidney-shaped, rounded or heart-shaped. Their length is 10-20 cm and width 20-40 centimeters. The leaf blade is palmately incised into lanceolate wide or almost triangular segments. The flowers are dirty purple or yellowish-gray. The inflorescence is very dense, branched, with a powerful main branch. The formula of the aconite flower is Ch5L(2),2T∞P(3). The plant begins to bear fruit only in the third year of life.

Spreading

It grows in Western Siberia, Central Asia, Mongolia, and Altai at an altitude of 2100-2500 meters above sea level.

Regions of distribution on the map of Russia.

Procurement of raw materials

All parts of the plant are used for medicinal purposes. The collection of the above-ground parts is carried out in June-July. At the same time, bright flowers are also collected, which also have a healing effect.

Aconite tubers are harvested in October-November. The roots are subject to sorting. Old blackened roots are thrown away, and young fresh ones are left for replanting. The remaining roots are separated from the hair-like processes, washed in running water and lay out to dry. Drying is carried out for one to two weeks in a well-ventilated area. Raw materials must be periodically loosened and turned over. In order to avoid poisoning, drying and collecting is best done with gloves. Staying in the room where the wrestler is drying for more than 2 hours is prohibited; the aroma can cause poisoning.

Chemical composition

Absolutely all parts of this plant contain alkaloids. These are toxic substances that are harmful to human health. The largest amount of alkaloids is contained in the roots of the plant during fruiting, and in the stems and leaves at the very beginning and during flowering. The roots and rhizomes contain 0.9 - 4.9% of alkaloids of various groups (axinatin, axin, lappaconitine, mesaconitine, excelasine), as well as coumarins, tannins, and flavonoids. The leaves and stems contain a large number of various microelements, as well as vitamin C.

Pharmacological properties

Aconite is being actively researched for the treatment of cancer. The alkaloids of this plant act on the human cell, blocking the nutrition of a particular area, which makes it possible to influence the foci of the disease. By correctly using the poisonous effect of the plant, it is possible to prevent the growth of tumors, as well as the development of metastases. Most drugs of this type are considered experimental, but in the near future new technologies will make it possible to more effectively combat these ailments.

In the leaves of aconite, substances were found that are immunomodulators; by acting on cells, they activate a person’s own defense. This is relevant in many diseases, so today the white-mouthed fighter is included in an increasing number of drugs. A slight poisonous effect can be useful; in the right proportions it helps to tap into hidden reserves. The use of such drugs is carried out strictly under the supervision of specialists.

Aconite also has an analgesic effect. In folk medicine, it relieves the sensation of diseases of bones and joints; it is only important to correctly observe all proportions when preparing tinctures and their use. Most often, the solution is rubbed into the skin rather than taken orally.

Tibetan doctors use aconite during colds. It helps ease breathing, removes phlegm, and relieves inflammation. But it is important to take into account that in each region the wrestler has a different amount of alkaloids, an excess of which leads to poisoning.

Historical reference

There is a legend about the origin of the white-mouthed wrestler. She is associated with Hercules, who performed a variety of feats. At the moment of committing the twelfth heroic act, he descended into the kingdom of the dead and brought out the three-headed guard - Cerberus. When the monster reached the surface, it began to break out, as the light of the sun blinded it completely. Terrible sounds erupted from his mouth and saliva splashed, and in those places where this poisonous liquid fell, plants grew. All the action took place in the vicinity of Mount Akon, so these poisonous shoots were called aconite.

The poisonous plant is known all over the world and has been used for warfare. For example, the Chinese made poisonous arrows, which were prepared using aconite. In Nepal, the wrestler helped poison enemies during an attack; he just had to be added to the water; the same was done with wild animals if they began to raid villages.

The entire plant and its specific smell are considered poisonous. They cause vomiting, memory loss and weakness. Even Plutarch mentioned that the soldiers of Mark Antony were poisoned by this plant and could not fight. They completely lost the ability to navigate in space, and then to stand on their feet.

The Great Khan Timur was poisoned with aconite. The ruler's skullcap was soaked in juice, the effect of which was fatal. Alkaloids contained in all parts of the plant paralyze the nervous system, which can lead to seizures, problems with movement, and possibly paralysis.

But not everywhere and not always aconite is poisonous. Depending on the area where it grows, it may have useful qualities. If it is properly cultivated and consumed in minimal doses, it can have a healing effect. In Tibet, aconite is considered the “king of medicine”; in ancient times it was used to treat ulcers, pneumonia and even anthrax.

Use in folk medicine

Aconite is used in folk medicine with great caution. An overdose can be fatal, and a properly prepared infusion can be used for external rubbing. Aconite helps with diseases of the joints and spine. Regular application of the tincture in the form of a compress or rubbing gives results in a couple of weeks. Making medicine with this plant yourself is very dangerous; if necessary, you need to contact a doctor who will select the correct proportions for treatment.

To get rid of radiculitis, you need to take 2 tablespoons of crushed aconite root, mix it with 0.5 liters of vodka and leave the solution for 2 weeks in a sterile glass container in a dark place. You can use the solution 2 drops 2 times a day until signs of recovery appear. An infusion solution is added to the body cream and applied to the sore spot.

Literature

Gilyarov M. S. Biological encyclopedic dictionary. - M.: Soviet encyclopedia, 1986. - 831 p.

Gammerman A.F., Grom I.I. Wild medicinal plants of the USSR. - M.: Medicine, 1976. - 288 p.

Agapova N. D. Buttercup family (Ranunculaceae) // Plant life. In 6 volumes. T. 5. Part 1. Flowering plants / Ed. A. L. Takhtadzhyan.- M.: Education, 1980.-216 p.

Sinadsky Yu. V. Healing herbs. - M.: Pedagogy, 1991. - 174 p.

Aseeva T. A. Medicinal plants Tibetan medicine. - Novosibirsk: Science, 1985. - 160 p.

Wolfsbane (wrestler)- perennial herbaceous plants with straight or twisting stems and alternate leaves. The flowers are bisexual, irregular, collected in large racemes. The calyx is corolla-shaped, bright purple or blue, the upper sepal is helmet-shaped. A very beautiful, prominent plant! On the territory of the CIS alone there are up to fifty species. Many species are native to Europe and Central Asia. Some of them are cultivated as ornamental ones, but I would recommend planting them in the least accessible places for children and animals, because all parts of aconites are very poisonous. The ancient Greeks called the local aconite "wolf's curse," and used its juice to make poison baits and poisonous arrow tips for hunting wolves. Later in Europe, aconite was nicknamed “monk’s cap” because of the shape of the flowers.

Aconite is the common name for more than a hundred species of plants of one genus, the Ranunculaceae family. Three species - Aconitum napellus, Aconitum soongoricum and Aconitum carmichaeli - are most often used for medicinal purposes.

The first of them grows in the mountainous regions of Central Asia, Russia, and Europe. The oriental species Aconitum carmichaeli has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine. The roots of this plant are used to treat cancer, rheumatism, bruises, arthritis, hypothermia, diarrhea and impotence.

Traditional healers call aconite "Tsar-grass" and has been used as medicine for hundreds of years. Numerous studies of the properties of aconite and its practical use for various ailments are described by the Tibetan physician Yuthog Yondan Gonpo in the treatise “Chzhud-shi” (written dated to the 12th century, although oral research in the field of its research and use is confirmed several centuries earlier), which provides serious grounds for the use of aconite as a powerful anti-cancer agent even today. An authoritative source gives specific instructions for the preparation of medicinal preparations from aconite: these are tinctures, rubs, ointments, powders, decoctions and oil extracts. As starting medicinal raw materials The roots of the plant are used to prepare them. The chemical composition of raw materials is different for different types of aconite. Aconite contains alkaloids of the aconitine group - the main active ingredients of the plant, as well as flavonoids, tannins, organic acids, macro- and microelements.

Modern herbal medicine specialists today are unanimous in their opinion about the superiority among other types as a remedy. Aconite Dzungarian- a rare species of aconite due to its narrow growing area, found on the territory of the republics of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. This is apparently due to the distinctive and more optimal content active ingredients plants.

Complex biologically active substances aconite exhibits the strongest cytostatic, or simply put, antitumor And anticancer effect. This is its main effect, due to which patients and their doctors are not afraid to use such a poisonous drug in order to cope with a terrible disease. Aconite alkaloids work at the cellular level, blocking the supply of “nutrition” to the tumor cell, which, as it turned out, accumulates potassium and sodium ions 3-4 times more than a healthy cell of the body, due to which it gradually enlarges, divides and gives metastases. This is one of the theories. Being especially sensitive to such a violation of their electrolyte homeostasis, tumor cells slow down or completely stop dividing and growing, while young metastases are especially quickly inhibited in their development.

In addition to the targeted cytostatic effect, aconite acts as an active immunomodulator, when taking aconite tincture, the body’s defenses are activated, which increases the effectiveness of the fight against tumor and other cells foreign to the body.

The herb aconite also acts as a diuretic and diaphoretic. It was found that aconite tinctures, prepared by healers with strict adherence to the recipe, have long been used not only to combat cancer, but also for fever, laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, purulent tonsillitis (tonsillitis). Under the influence of aconitine, pathogenic infections that cause such serious diseases die.

It should also be noted that the excellent pain relieving properties of wrestler. When an alcohol tincture is taken orally, pain is reduced in cancer patients, which makes it possible to reduce, or even completely abandon, painkillers from narcotic drugs. Ointments based on hoods aconite when used externally, they relieve pain from neuralgia and rheumatism, joint pain, and, of course, are used for any tumors. Excellent results were obtained in the treatment of large nodular goiter, fibrocystic nodular mastopathy and breast fibroadenoma.

Aconite is deservedly considered a very valuable and promising remedy for oncological diseases, but its drugs should be used as part of a complex therapy compiled by a herbalist, taking into account the patient’s specific disease and his immune potential.

For internal use, 10% is usually used. tincture of aconite(i.e. 100 grams of root is poured with 40% alcohol and left for 2-3 weeks, filtered).

Taken using a moderate or more intense method, depending on how you feel and the degree of neglect of the disease. With a gentle method, the tincture should be taken once a day, diluted in 50-100 ml of water: 1st day 1 drop, 2nd day 2 drops, etc. up to 10 drops. Then we go down to the final 1 drop. The resulting course of 20 days must be repeated at least 3 times if we want to get results. Between courses the minimum break is 1-2 weeks.

With a more intensive method, the tincture is drunk according to the same scheme, but 3 times a day.

Treatment with tincture of aconite cannot be combined with simultaneous treatment with potent plant poisons, such as hemlock, princeling, wolf's bast, fly agaric. In parallel with aconite tincture, you can and should use complex herbal mixtures according to the diagnosis, cleansing herbs and tinctures, balms. Black elderberry syrup works well in combination with aconite (for the treatment of mastopathy, breast fibroadenoma), an aqueous infusion of cinquefoil and European cinquefoil (for the treatment of nodular goiter), Cetraria isladica and lungwort (for lung cancer, pneumonia). External use of aconite ointment in the treatment of tumors enhances the effect: the ointment is applied in a thin layer 2-3 times a day to the projection of the affected organ (thyroid gland area, mammary glands, lung area from the chest and back, enlarged lymph nodes, other neoplasms).

At treatment with aconite be sure to read the comprehensive information on its use, and also consider the following warnings And contraindications.

Aconite in fresh - an extremely poisonous plant, self-medication is contraindicated! A specialist must work with it. And this applies not only to the use of wrestler as a medicine. Be extremely careful when planting a plant in the garden and better refrain from breaking off the alluring flower stalks. If aconite grows wild in your area, be sure to inform children about the danger. Even with short-term contact with aconite, you should be very careful, use protective equipment and wash your hands thoroughly. Aconite contains highly toxic alkaloid aconitine, there is especially a lot of it in the roots of the plant.

Symptoms of aconitine poisoning include: tingling, numbness of the tongue and mouth, nausea and vomiting, difficulty breathing, weak and irregular pulse, cold sweat, paralysis. Just 2 mg of aconitine (that's 1 gram of plant or 5 ml of tincture) can lead to the death of a healthy adult in less than 4 hours.

Many have heard or read about how check the quality of aconite root, which they bought for treatment. Just rub a piece of the root on the tip of your tongue for just a few seconds, and you will feel a numbness that can last for several hours. Do not overdo the checks so as not to get poisoned!

In case of poisoning with aconite, you should immediately call an ambulance, because home remedies will most likely not be enough. If symptoms of poisoning appear, you should drink a large amount of salted water and induce vomiting, do an enema or drink a saline laxative or activated charcoal.

Take care of yourself and be healthy!

Aconite or fighter is a poisonous plant, its use as medicine may be dangerous. Before using preparations based on aconite or infusions or decoctions of borax, you should consult a specialist. The wrestler is widespread in Russia, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine. There are many types, traditional medicine limits their use due to the high risk of poisoning.

Description and characteristics

The genus has many species (about 300) and grows in areas with temperate climates. Aconite (Aconitum) is a perennial poisonous herbaceous plant. It has an erect, sometimes curly stem. The wrestler is quite tall (about 120 cm) and has a powerful root system. The root has the shape of a tuber, small in size, no more than 5 cm in length. The depth of root penetration into the soil is small, about 25-30 cm.

All parts of aconite or borax are completely poisonous. The herb aconite has separate leaves attached to the stem by cuttings. Elongated, dark green leaves are located opposite each other. The flowers of the plant have an irregular shape and vaguely resemble bells. The color is predominantly purple or blue, with yellow or white flowers less common. The corolla-shaped flower has five petals, the top of which forms something like a helmet. Below it are two nectaries. Flowering is long-lasting, the flowers are collected in simple, sometimes racemose inflorescences. The plant blooms from mid-summer to early autumn (July-September).

Aconite bears fruit. The fruits are in the form of multi-seeded leaflets framed by teeth. Inside the fruit are seeds, mostly gray in color. One leaflet contains from 10 to 450 seeds.

The plant has many names. Aconite is popularly called Dzungarian, wolf's root, king grass, Altai fighter.

Composition and beneficial properties

Fully chemical composition plants have not been studied. All parts of the wrestler contain alkaloids, among which aconitine predominates. Aconitine group of alkaloids in the composition of the fighter:

• aconitine ;
• hypoaconitine ;
• mesoaconitine ;
• sasaakonitine ;
• hetaaconitine ;
• benzoilaconitine.

Other groups of alkaloids in the composition of the fighter:

• ephedrine ;
• napelline ;
• neopellin ;
• sparteine .

Other substances in the composition of aconite:

• transaconitic acid ;
• daucosterol ;
• fruit acids ;
• sugar ;
• resin ;
• saponin ;
• coumarin ;
• starch ;
• flavone .

In therapeutic doses, the wrestler has a beneficial effect on the central nervous system. Infusions and decoctions of aconite are used as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory drug.

Procurement of raw materials

Bioactive substances are contained in all parts of aconite. Only leaves and tubers are used for medicinal purposes. The effectiveness of therapeutic and preventive measures directly depends on the quality and correct procurement of raw materials.

The rhizome of the wrestler is harvested twice a year. In the spring, harvesting begins immediately after the snow melts. Until the onset of heat, the root is dug up, cleared of soil and dried. In summer, collecting and storing raw materials is dangerous. Vapors from essential oils can cause poisoning. In the second half of September, collection is resumed, the dug up roots are washed in cold water. Rhizomes can be dried in two ways:

• in an electric dryer (at 50 degrees until completely dry);
• naturally (slow drying in the attic under a metal roof).

Before flowering begins, it is necessary to collect leaves. During flowering, aconite emits toxic fumes, so collection must be carried out in a respirator. The leaves are separated from the stems, washed in running water and laid out on newspaper. Newspapers with aconite leaves are left in the sun for 48 hours, then the raw materials are moved to the shade.

Indications and contraindications for use

Indications for the use of Djungarian aconite in folk medicine are very extensive. The plant is used for the following diseases:

• gout ;
• colds;
• insomnia ;
• arthritis ;
• epilepsy ;
• osteochondrosis ;
• migraine and headache;
• paralysis ;
• depression and nervous disorder;
• bruises .

Since the plant is poisonous, consultation with a specialist is necessary before use.. Medicines and decoctions based on wrestler should be used with extreme caution. During treatment, increasing the dosage is strictly prohibited. Aconite is contraindicated:

• pregnant and lactating women;
• small children;
• people with cardiovascular diseases;
• people with liver pathologies.

In case of overdose, the following symptoms occur:

• nausea;
• vomit ;
• burning in the mouth;
• chills ;
• itching all over the body;
• numbness of the limbs;
• labored breathing.

Death can occur within 20 minutes after an overdose. When the first symptoms of poisoning appear, the victim should be immediately taken to the hospital for emergency care.