They have a high (up to 20 cm) stem, finger-shaped leaves, and helmet-shaped flowers. The flowers are sharply irregular, bisexual, collected in racemes. The calyx is corolla-shaped, with 5 sepals; the upper sepal has the appearance of a helmet, under the cover of which there are 2 nectary petals. Blooms in midsummer. The fruit is multi-leafed. Fleshy aconite root consists of two tubers: the main one, which bears the trunk, and a smaller secondary tuber. During flowering, the main tuber degenerates, and the secondary tuber enlarges, accumulating nutrients for the next year.
Distribution of aconite
There are about 300 species of aconite, common in Europe, Asia, and North America. Over 50 species of aconite grow in Russia, Siberia and the Far East. The most common aconites are: bearded, curly, Dzungarian, Karakol, wolf, eastern, antidote, northern (high), white-mouthed, Baikal, white-violet, Amur, Altai, oak, arcuate, variegated, Talas, Tangaut, Korean, hooded, shady, Kirinsky, Chinese, wild, woolly, deceptive, open-flowered. Cammarum, Arends, Jaquin, Carmichel, Fischer, Kuznetsov, Pasco, Sukachev, Shchukin, Chekanovsky. Especially numerous aconite species in Siberia and the Far East. Aconites grow among meadow grasses, in forests and copses, on the edges, in the vicinity of ferns, in ravines and valleys of mountain rivers, usually surrounded by cereal herbs: meadow fescue, awnless brome, bentgrass, timothy grass. Distributed everywhere.Aconite is a poisonous plant
According to ancient Greek myth, aconite grew from the poisonous saliva of the terrified hellish dog Cerberus, whom Hercules brought from the underworld to earth (the eleventh labor of Hercules). 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 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 writes that the soldiers of Mark Antony, poisoned with aconite, lost their memory and vomited bile. According to legend, the famous Khan Timur died from aconite - his skullcap was soaked in the poisonous juice. Hunters still use the plant instead of strychnine to poison wolves. The toxicity of the plant is caused by the content of alkaloids (primarily aconitine) in it, affecting the central nervous system and causing convulsions and paralysis of the respiratory center. Aconite belongs to the most poisonous plants, the lethal dose for humans is 2-4 grams of any part of the plant that contains alkaloids (more than 30 alkaloids have been isolated from aconites). Aconite poisoning 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. A state of stupor may occur and vision may be impaired. In case of severe poisoning, death can occur within 3-4 hours. The main poisonous compound of these plants is aconitine . A large amount of aconite poison is concentrated in the tuberous roots. |
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Toxicity to animals
Fighters (wolfsbane) They are also poisonous to all farm animals. During flowering plant pose the greatest danger. Ensiling and drying do not eliminate the toxicity of plants. The toxicity of aconites varies according to developmental phases and depends on soil, climatic and other growing conditions (in the north, aconites are less toxic than in the south). The content of alkaloids in plants can vary significantly from year to year depending on weather conditions. When poisoned with aconite, animals begin to drool, peristalsis increases, pulse and breathing slow down, and blood pressure and temperature decrease. Diarrhea and yellowness of the mucous membranes are observed. Aggressive behavior is often observed. Aconitine especially upsets the central nervous system, in particular, it disrupts the activity of the respiratory center. The death of the animal occurs as a result of paralysis of the respiratory system.
Several species of aconite grow in our country, and all of them are very dangerous for farm animals that feed on cereal grasses.
Application in landscaping
All garden forms and hybrids came to us from Siberia and the Far East. Climbing species are especially effective in vertical gardening verandas and gazebos, in single and small group plantings, heather gardens, mixborders. Wolfsbane They are decorative throughout the season thanks to their thick and beautifully cut leaves, but flowering adds charm to them, especially since it is long lasting for aconites, usually stretching for a month or more.
Wolfsbane They look great when planted together: irises, peonies, aquilegias, rudbeckias, astilbes, daylilies are the best planting partners for them. The jagged flowers of many aconite species produce great effect, especially in the middle of a border.
Application in medicine
Aconite has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antitumor, analgesic, antispasmodic, anticonvulsant, antiallergic, antiulcer, and sedative effects.The medicinal uses of this plant are quite varied; in Tibet he is called the “King of Medicine”. IN folk medicine used: for rheumatism, osteochondrosis, arthritis, gout, fractures. For vascular diseases: atherosclerosis, hypertension, angina pectoris. For nervous diseases: depression, hysteria, neuroses, migraines, paralysis, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy. Perfectly treats gastrointestinal diseases: stomach ulcers, gastritis, cystitis.
Effectively used to improve vision and hearing, for melanoma, seizures, anemia, pulmonary tuberculosis, diabetes mellitus, goiter, impotence, infectious diseases, diphtheria, anthrax, venereal diseases, psoriasis, leprosy, erysipelas, as a wound healing agent.
Useful for senile decline, abscesses and old ulcers, urinary stones, jaundice, bronchial asthma, promotes hair growth.
Aconite in homeopathy
Aconite- a poisonous plant and it takes a lot of work to turn it into medicine. Due to its high toxicity, aconite is not currently used in Western medicine, but treatment with aconite widely used in homeopathy for various diseases. The preparations can be granules for administration under the tongue, composed of several types of plants, and tincture of aconite used for various painful conditions accompanied by fever with tachycardia, acute tonsillitis, laryngitis, bruises, for anesthesia of the eyeball when removing a foreign body from the eye, rheumatism, syphilis, as a local anesthetic for neuralgia, sciatica and lumbago, pleurodynia. There are techniques that suggest using aconite for the treatment of cancer.
Collection and processing of aconite
For medicinal purposes, tuber roots are used, harvested in the fall, after the leaves have withered. From 4 kg of fresh tubers, 1 kg of dry tubers is obtained.Traditional medicine also uses grass harvested before flowering. In some areas, grass collected during flowering is used. The tubers are dug up with a shovel, shaken off the ground, washed in cold water and dried under a canopy in the shade or in a dryer at a temperature of 60-80 degrees Celsius.
The leaves are dried under a canopy in the shade. The raw material should remain dark green after drying. When collecting, it is necessary to remember that the plant is highly toxic, to prevent “dust” from the leaves and roots from getting into the respiratory tract, and juice from getting into the mucous membranes of the eyes, mouth, and skin abrasions. After working with aconite, you should wash your hands thoroughly with soap.
Raw aconite must be stored separately from non-poisonous herbs, with the obligatory “POISON!” label, out of the reach of children. Shelf life in a closed container is 2 years.
Chemical composition of aconite
All parts of the plant contain alkaloids related to aconitic acid, the main of which is aconitine. When heated with water, acetic acid is split off and the less toxic benzoilaconine is formed. With further hydrolysis, benzoic acid is split off and even less toxic aconine is formed. Tubers contain 0.18-4% of the total alkaloids of the aconitine group: aconitine, mesoaconitine, hypoaconitine, hetaaconitine, sasaaconitine, benzoilaconine. Other alkaloids found: neopelline, napelline, sparteine, traces of ephedrine. In addition to alkaloids, daucosterol was obtained from alkaloid tubers, as well as a significant amount of sugar (9%), mesoinosidol (0.05%), transaconitic acid, benzoic, fumaric, citric acid. The presence of myristic, palmitic, stearic, oleic and linoleic acids has been established. Tubers also contain flavones, saponins, resins, starch, coumarins (0.3%). Leaves and stems, in addition to the alkaloid aconitine, contain inositol, tannins, ascorbic acid, flavonoids, microelements (over 20 types) and other biologically active compounds.The chemical composition of aconite is still poorly understood.
Pharmacological properties of aconite
The effect of aconitine and related alkaloids is the initial stimulation of the central nervous system, especially the respiratory center, and peripheral nerves. Excitation of the nervous system is followed by depression and paralysis. Death occurs due to symptoms of respiratory paralysis.The toxicity of aconite root is directly proportional to the amount of alkaloids it contains, which is significantly reduced during the production of medicinal products. In small doses, aconitine stimulates tissue metabolism.
Aconitine increases heartbeat, increases the force of contraction of the heart muscle, and in large doses inhibits and then stops contraction of the ventricles. Fibrillation occurs as a result of a direct effect on the muscles of the ventricles.
Preparations of aconite roots have a hypotensive effect, reduce the respiratory rate, and increase the strength of heart contractions; in severe cases, arrhythmia occurs, leading to death.
The alkaloids of aconite root act as a depressant on the respiratory center, as a result of which the respiratory rate slows down. When used in large doses, suffocation occurs. The same acaloids initially have a stimulating effect on the sensitive nerve endings of a limited area of the skin, causing itching and a burning sensation, and then paralysis and loss of sensitivity. The inhibitory effect on the cerebral cortex is very vaguely expressed.
When aconite root alkaloids are ingested, irritation of the oral mucosa occurs, which entails reflex secretion of saliva, as it is associated with excitation of the parasympathetic nerve.
Aconite root begins to act only after it accumulates in the body in a certain amount. Therefore, with a single dose, its effect is weakly expressed. The alkaloid aconitine lowers body temperature with elevated and normal temperatures. The mechanism of this action remains unclear.
Symptoms of aconite poisoning
Symptoms of aconite poisoning: nausea, vomiting, numbness of the tongue, lips, cheeks, tips of fingers and toes, crawling sensation, sensation of hot and cold in the extremities, transient visual disturbances (seeing objects in green light), dry mouth, thirst, headache, anxiety, convulsive twitching of the muscles of the face, limbs, loss of consciousness. Decreased blood pressure (especially systolic). In the initial stage there is bradyarrhythmia, extrasystole, then paroxysmal tachycardia, turning into ventricular fibrillation.Urgent Care
Emergency care There are no specific antidotes (i.e., antidotes) for aconitine. Help is provided by symptomatic means. Treatment begins with gastric lavage through a tube, followed by the introduction of a saline laxative, activated carbon orally, forced diuresis, hemosorption. Intravenously 20-50 ml of 1% novocaine solution, 500 ml of 5% glucose solution. Intramuscularly 10 ml of 25% magnesium sulfate solution. For seizures - diazepam (Seduxen) 5-10 mg intravenously. For heart rhythm disorders - intravenously very slowly 10 ml of a 10% solution of novocainamide (with normal blood pressure!) or 1-2 ml of a 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 for aconite poisoning
1. Allow the patient to drink 0.5-1 liter of water and induce vomiting by putting his fingers in his mouth and irritating the root of the tongue. Do this several times until the stomach is completely cleansed of food debris, i.e. before clean water.2. Give the patient a saline laxative to drink - 30 g of magnesium sulfate in half a glass of water. 3. In the absence of a laxative, give the patient an enema with 1 glass of warm water, to which it is advisable to add one teaspoon of soap shavings from household or laundry to enhance the effect. baby soap.
4. Give the patient activated charcoal - crush charcoal tablets (at the rate of 20-30 g per dose), stir in water and give to drink.
5. Give the patient to drink 1 diuretic tablet available in the home medicine cabinet (furosemide or hypothiazide or veroshpiron, etc.).
6. Give the patient strong tea or coffee.
7. Warm the patient (with blankets, heating pads).
8. Deliver the patient to a medical facility.
Pharmacotherapeutic group. Antiarrhythmic, analgesic agent.
Description of the plant
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Rice. 10.47. Djungarian aconite
Grass of the fighter (monkshood) white-mouthed- herba aconiti leucostomi
Borets (wolfsbane) white-mouthed- aconite leucostomum worosch.
Sem. Ranunculaceae- ranunculaceae.
large plant 120-200 cm high with a powerful tuberous expanded vertical rhizome.
Lower leaves long-petioled, collected in a basal rosette, stem leaves short-petioled.
All leaves dense, leathery, kidney-shaped and rounded in outline, deeply incised, glabrous above, below, especially on strongly prominent veins, with short bent hairs.
Inflorescence usually branched, very dense, multi-flowered, with a powerful main axis.
Flowers irregular, corolla-shaped calyx of 5 free sepals, the upper sepal elongated in the form of a helmet.
Petals transformed into nectaries, turning into a thin spirally twisted spur. Flower color ranges from dirty purple to yellow.
Fetus- trifoliate, often glandularly pubescent.
It blooms in July - August, the fruits ripen in August - September.
Rice. 10.47. Djungarian aconite– Aconitum soongaricum Stapf:
1 – upper part of a flowering plant; 2 – root tubers with the lower part of the stem; 3 – flower; 4 – flower with the calyx removed (nectaries visible); 5 – fruit (three-leaflet).
Wrestler lineup
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Chemical composition. The above-ground part contains diterpene alkaloids in the amount of 0.5 to 4% (lappaconitine, lappaconidine, etc.), and the underground organs at the end of the growing season - up to 4.9%. There are also isoquinoline alkaloids - coridine, etc., as well as saponins, coumarins and tannins.
Properties and uses of wrestler
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The plant is used to obtain drugs
- "Allapinin" and
- "Aklesin"
used as an antiarrhythmic agent.
Spreading
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Spreading. Distributed in Western Siberia (Altai), Central Asia (Tarbagatai, Dzungarian Alatau, Tien Shan). The main areas for the procurement of raw materials on an industrial scale are Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.
Habitat. Grows in the mountains in forest and subalpine meadows, among shrubs.
Procurement and storage of raw materials
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Preparation. The above-ground part is harvested from early May to early June, during the growing season (before budding begins). Plants are mowed at a height of 4-5 cm from the soil surface.
Security measures. Plants should not be pulled out, since the regeneration buds are located close to the soil surface and when the stems are torn off, they are damaged, which leads to depletion of the thickets. Repeated procurement is possible no earlier than after 3 years.
Drying. The collected raw materials are dried for 24 hours, then cut into pieces 3-10 cm long. Dry in the sun, laying out a layer of 3-5 cm, in dryers - at a temperature not exceeding 80 ° C. When collecting, drying and packaging aconite herb, precautions must be taken (!).
Standardization. VFS 42-1666-95.
Storage. Raw materials are stored according to list B. Shelf life is 5 years.
External signs of raw materials
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External signs
Pieces of stems, petioles and leaf blades.
Stems and petioles are slightly pubescent, ribbed, up to 10 cm long. Stems are hollow, up to 0.8 cm thick.
Pieces of leaves of various shapes, slightly pubescent below (visible under a magnifying glass), the edges are entire.
Color stems, petioles and leaves from light green to dark greenish-brown.
Smell weak; taste do not define (!).
Other types
GF VIII included two types of tubers:
- Karakol aconite (Aconitum karacolicum Rapaics) and
- A. Djungarian (A. soongaricum Stapf) (Fig. 10.47),
growing in humid mountain forests in the Tien Shan. Tubers of these species contain a sum of diterpene toxic alkaloids. The most poisonous component, aconitine, is one of the strongest plant poisons.
In addition, fresh Djungarian aconite herb (FS 42-269-72), collected during the flowering period, was used to obtain a tincture included in the complex preparation “ Echinor", which was used to treat sore throats.
In folk medicine, these species are used as an anticancer agent. Highly poisonous!
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) - 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
The chemical composition of the plant has not been fully 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.
Djungarian aconite is an herbal perennial, which belongs to the ranunculaceae family. This plant has a horizontal rhizome, and the aconite tubers are large, cone-shaped and fused. Djungarian aconite has a straight, strong and simple stem, its height varies between 70–130 cm, and it can be bare or pubescent. The stem has petiolate leaves, and the lower leaves die off during the flowering period of the plant. The inflorescence is a terminal raceme bearing large zygomorphic flowers, and the calyx consists of five purple leaves. The pedicels of Djungarian aconite have two narrow-linear bracts, and towards the end they thicken. The sepal, located at the very top of the aconite, is bent in the form of an arc, similar to a helmet with a long nose, in which there are two nectarine petals.
The fruit of aconite is called a trefoil, although sometimes only one leaflet ripens. The leaflets have many seeds and curved spouts. The seeds of this plant have transverse wing-shaped wrinkles.
Flowering of Djungarian aconite lasts from July to September, and ripening occurs from August to October.
Aconite can be seen on moist and grassy mountain slopes, and it also grows on the banks of rivers and streams located near the mountains. The plant reproduces vegetatively and using seeds.
Djungarian aconite is also called “fighter”; the plant owes this name to Scandinavian mythology. The wrestler grew up in the place where the god Thor died, who defeated the poisonous snake, but died from its bites. Then the Germans said that Thor fought the wolf with the help of aconite, hence the name of aconite - “wolf-killer”, or “wrestler”.
“Tsar Grass” is another name for Djungarian aconite. It received this name because of the strong poison in its composition. Even in ancient times, aconite was not considered a medicinal plant, but on the contrary, it was called poisonous. It was used as an ointment on arrow and spear tips and even on sword blades.
Collection and preparation of Djungarian aconite
The medicinal raw materials of Dzhugar aconite are the tubers and leaves of the wild plant. This is due to the fact that aconite, which is cultivated, ceases to be poisonous after a couple of years. When collecting aconite, you must wear gloves or mittens on your hands; this is necessary to prevent the poison, which is contained in the stems and tubers of the plant, from entering the human body through the skin of the hand. When collecting aconite, do not touch your eyes, and after harvesting you need to wash your hands using soap.Tuberous roots are harvested from mid-August to October 1, and it is during this period that they are the most poisonous. The tubers need to be dug out of the ground, the soil removed from them, and washed with cold water. Next, without stopping for a second, you need to dry them in a dryer, where the temperature is not lower than 60 degrees Celsius.
Aconite leaves are collected before and during the flowering of the plant, because during this period they are very poisonous. The leaves need to be collected and dried in the sun. After drying, they are dried under a canopy. If the raw material turns dark green after drying, this means that the drying was correct.
Raw aconite cannot be stored together with non-poisonous plants. It must be packaged in a sealed package and labeled “Poison”! This raw material is stored for a year.
Medicinal properties and uses of Djungarian aconite
Djungarian aconite has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, narcotic and analgesic effects on the body. Preparations made from aconite tubers are used as an analgesic for colds, joint pain and trigeminal neuralgia.Due to the fact that aconite is toxic, traditional medicine does not use it, but traditional medicine, on the contrary, has found worthy use for this plant. In folk medicine, aconite is used for the following diseases:
– osteochondrosis;
– arthritis;
– gout;
– epilepsy;
– external bruises;
– external sciatica;
– convulsions;
– depression and nervous disorder;
– excessive tearfulness;
– nervous system disorders;
– migraines and headaches;
– paralysis;
– sore throat and acute respiratory infections and many other diseases.
Aconite can be used as a diaphoretic. Aconite is also used by people who have urine retention in the body or blood flowing from the nose. Aconite acts on hair growth.
Chemical composition of Djungarian aconite
The chemical composition of this plant has not yet been fully studied. But all scientists claim that all parts of Djungarian aconite contain an alkanoid - aconitine. The tubers contain mesoaconitine, hypoaconitine, benzoilaconine, neopellin, sasaaconitine and sparteine, flavones and saponins and resins, as well as starch and traces of ephedrine.In addition to these substances, myristic, stearic, palmitic, oleic and linoleic acids were found in aconite.
The stems and leaves of the plant contain the alkaloid aconitine, inositol, ascorbic acid, tannins, flavonoids and trace elements in an amount of more than 20 items.
Recipes from Djungarian aconite
For oncological diseases, tincture of Djungarian aconite is used. To prepare it, you need to take 1 teaspoon of powder from the roots of aconite, pour 500 ml of vodka over it and leave for 14 days in a dark room, but shake it daily. After infusion, it is necessary to strain the tincture through double gauze.Half an hour before meals, take 1 drop of tincture mixed with 50 ml of water, 3 times daily. Every day, add 1 drop per dose, and when you reach 10 drops, you need to drink this amount for 10 days in a row, and then you need to reduce it by 1 drop per dose every day - this way you will reach one drop 3 times a day.
Stop taking the tincture for 1 month. And then continue the treatment again, and so it is necessary to undergo 7 courses of treatment.
The tincture can also help with migraines, toothache, rheumatism, and neuralgia. In order to prepare it, you need to take 20 grams of roots and pour 500 ml of vodka into them, all this must be left to brew for a week. The tincture should have the color of brewed tea. If a person has rheumatism, then he needs to rub this tincture into the problem area at night, and then wrap himself in a flannel cloth.
For neuralgia and migraine, the tincture should be drunk, starting with 1 teaspoon and increasing the dose every day until the dose per dose is 1 tbsp. spoon. Treatment should be carried out for 1 month. If a person suffers from toothache, then aconite tincture will help him. In this case, you need to drop 1 drop of the prepared tincture into the hollow of the tooth, and rub 1 tbsp into the cheek where the tooth hurts. spoon of tincture.
Contraindications to the use of Djungarian aconite
Djungarian aconite is a very poisonous plant, so it must be handled skillfully. Do not increase your dosage under any circumstances! Aconite should not be given to children - accordingly, it must be stored where children cannot reach it. Label the container in which you will store aconite: “Poison.” If you grow Djungarian aconite yourself, and you have a hive with bees nearby, then place the aconite plantings at a great distance from the hive, otherwise the bees will collect poisonous honey.
Other plant names:
Brief description of aconite whitemouth:
Wolfsbane (fighter) is a perennial herbaceous plant with an erect or climbing stem 70–200 cm high, belonging to the angiosperm group. The roots are cord-like, sometimes densely reticulate.
The leaves are dark green, large, dense, leathery, heart-shaped or kidney-shaped in outline, 20–40 cm wide and 10–20 cm long. The leaf blade is 5–11 palmately incised into wide lanceolate or almost triangular segments. The inflorescence is very dense, multi-flowered, usually branched, with a powerful main axis. The flowers are dirty-purple, rarely grayish-yellow, almost white inside the throat, with a thick straight protruding helmet 1.6–2.4 cm long, 0.4–0.6 cm wide at the top, greatly expanded to 10–12 mm at the bottom. Leaflets, 3 in number, often glandular-pubescent or glabrous, 10–18 mm long. The aconite flower is very similar to the helmet of a warrior of the ancient Roman army. The seeds are triangular, transversely wrinkled. It blooms from June to September, the plant begins to bear fruit in the third year of life.
There are about 300 species of aconite all over the world, of which about 50 are found in Russia, and about 38 species in the Far East.
Whitemouth aconite belongs to the Lycoctonum section.
Different kinds aconite are combined into 4 large sections, or groups: 1. Anthora; 2. Napellus; 3. Catenatae; 4. Lycoctonum.
The Anthora section has pronounced antitoxic properties. The flowers of this group of fighters are white or yellow in color.
Sections Napellus and Catenatae differ from each other only in the number of root tubers per plant. The fighter of the Napellus section has 2–3 tubers, the Catenatae group has a chain. Poisonous.
Section Lycoctonum includes species of aconite that do not have a pronounced tuber. Plants have many hair-like roots extending from a single flat and twisted root plate.
Places of growth:
Grows in Mongolia, Western Siberia, Altai, Central Asia at an altitude of 2100–2400 m above sea level in forest and subalpine meadows, in sparse, wet larch and larch-birch forests.
Growing aconite:
Whitemouth aconite is introduced into cultivation. Seeds are stratified for 5 months before sowing. The plant can be grown as seedlings from seeds sown 2–3 cm deep in a cold greenhouse in March, or in a greenhouse in April.
An interesting fact is that many wild plants, including aconite, bred at home for decorative purposes, lose their poisonous or medicinal properties. Most often, aconite reproduces by tubers, which are dug up in the fall after the stem dies. To do this, smaller daughter tubers are separated from the old root, which are then introduced into the soil to a depth of 3–5 cm at a distance of 30–40 cm from each other. Planting should be carried out in October - November, and in areas with mild climates - in December - January. The time of flowering and fruiting in a cultivated plant reaches its third year of life.
Preparation of aconite:
For medical purposes, the following types of aconite are usually used: aconite, growing in the mountains of Central Asia and Southern Europe, in the forests of the southwestern and central regions of the European part of the former USSR, in Siberia and the Caucasus; Karakol aconite, common near the city of Przhevalsk (the old name is the city of Karakol), and Dzungarian aconite (Issyk-Kul root, ak-parpi, uugor-goshun), growing in the eastern part of Mountainous Kazakhstan, in the Dzungarian Alatau. Karakol, Dzungarian and Talas wrestlers are the most important medicinal plants Central Asia. However, their reserves have been greatly depleted, and they need protection. Also, the Jacquena wrestler is a species most valuable for science, growing in the Eastern Carpathians, and the Tangaut wrestler, found only in one place in the Eastern Sayan Mountains.
In oriental medicine, aconites Chinese, palmatum and Fischer are used.
Leaves, flowers and tubers are collected during flowering, using precautions: the poison quickly penetrates the skin, aconite is collected with gloves. It is dangerous to touch your eyes and mouth during collection.
For medicinal purposes, the entire plant or rhizome with roots is used. The collection of the aboveground part of the plant must be done in June - July during the budding period, since it is at this time that the leaves and stems contain the maximum amount of alkaloids. Green succulent leaves and fresh flower clusters without signs of insect damage and retaining their natural color are subject to collection. Tubers are harvested in the fall, at the end of October - beginning of November (by the time the above-ground parts die off). At this time, the amount of alkaloids and starch in the mother tuber is minimal, and in the daughter roots it reaches a maximum. If the root is not dug up at this moment, then the embryonic buds located on the tubers begin to develop either into the next year's stem or into young taproots. This process occurs underground during the winter months. You cannot remove the root from the ground by the stem, as it is fragile and brittle. The roots are sorted: the old ones, blackened ones, and those that have lost their elasticity are thrown away, and the smallest ones are selected from the young ones and left for replanting. The remaining roots are cleaned of hair-like processes, washed in cold running water, and laid out to dry whole or cut lengthwise.
Dry in the sun or in dry, well-ventilated rooms for a week or two, periodically (at least once a week) turning and loosening so that the raw materials do not rot. To avoid poisoning, collection and drying of raw materials should be done with gloves. During drying, the raw material emits an unpleasant, pungent odor. Dried raw materials can be identified by the following characteristics: it becomes brittle when bent, the odor intensity disappears or is significantly reduced.
Raw materials can also be dried in dryers at a temperature of 40–50°C.
An alcoholic tincture of aconite roots should be stored in a closed box, like a potent poison, with the obligatory label “POISON!” on the bottle.
Chemical composition of aconite whitemouth:
All parts of the plant contain alkaloids and saponins. The largest amount of alkaloids is contained in the roots of the plant during its fruiting period, and in the leaves and stems - during the beginning of flowering and during flowering. The roots and rhizomes contain 0.8–4.9% of alkaloids of various groups (mesaconitine, axin, axinatine, excelazin, lappaconitine, lappaconidine), tannins, coumarins, flavonoids. Alkaloids are also contained in the stems - 0.3-1.07%, leaves - 0.62-3.99% and flowers - 1.38-4.56% - lappaconitine, lappaconidine, coridine.
The rhizome and roots contain various macroelements and microelements. Macroelements (mg/g): K – 16.3; Ca – 11.0; Mg – 2.7; Fe – 0.4.
Microelements (µg/g): Mn – 73.3; Cu – 11.3; Zn – 58.5; Mo – 0.4; Cr – 0.32; Al – 512.8; Ba – 54.88; V – 1.04; Se – 0.11; Ni – 4.0; Sr – 280.8; Pb – 0.88; B – 60.8; I – 0.9.
All these active ingredients form the basis of the chemical composition of aconite (wrestler).
Aconite alkaloids were first discovered by the French chemist Pechier in 1820. However, aconitine was isolated in its pure form 18 years later, in 1838, by German scientists, toxicologists Geiger and Hesse. Aconite alkaloids are insoluble in water, poorly soluble in ether, well soluble in chloroform and alcohol.
Pharmacological properties of aconite whitemouth:
The pharmacological properties of aconite are determined by its chemical composition.
Aconite has antibacterial activity. Tubers are used in medicine as an analgesic and antipyretic. The drug allopinin, which has an antiarrhythmic effect and is used in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, is obtained from the rhizomes and roots.
Aconite in small doses acts mainly on the circulatory system - as an antifever agent, and in high doses it most often has a calming effect on the nervous system.
Taken immediately in small doses and at short intervals (an hour - half an hour - a quarter of an hour), at the onset of a disease, both cold and infectious (accompanied by chills and fever with dry skin), it is able to stop the further development of the disease.
Use of aconite in medicine, treatment with aconite:
For cramps and coldness of the extremities, pain and a feeling of cold in the back, apply a tincture or decoction of aconite root externally.
For chronic diarrhea, vomiting, weakened cardiac activity, cold sweat and rapid pulse, weakness after illness, for tuberculosis of the lungs and glands - orally.
Ancient healers used an ointment made from aconite root ground with vinegar and olive oil to lubricate areas of the skin affected by scrofula. Highly effective poultices were also prepared from the root, which were applied to areas of the body affected by eczema, vitiligo, and leprosy.
Aconite mainly affects the heart, larynx, sclera, pleura, peritoneum and joints. The diseases that are treated with it worsen, as a rule, by midnight; if a person is awake, he gets worse when he stands, and if he is resting, then when he lies on the sore side.
Aconite is an excellent insecticide; it is widely used in everyday life to combat flies and cockroaches; the infusion of the herb is used to wash the head against lice. In veterinary medicine, preparations from the plant are recommended for use against scabies and lice in cattle and horses.
The results of scientific experiments on animals revealed a very strong antimetastasis effect of Baikal aconite with a relatively weak cytostatic effect. It was established that the intensity of inhibition of metastasis growth was: for melanoma B 16–92%, Lewis lung carcinoma – 73%, Walker carcinosarcoma – 94%; alcohol tincture of the herb Baikal aconite has a moderate direct inhibitory effect on the growth of transplantable tumors: sarcoma-180 - by 78%, Ehrlich ascites tumor - 56%, melanoma B 16-58%, Lewis lung carcinoma - 64%.
Dosage forms, method of administration and dosage of aconite preparations:
Effective medicines and forms used in the treatment of many diseases are made from the grass, rhizomes and roots of aconite. Let's look at the main ones.
Tincture of aconite roots:
Tincture of aconite roots: pour 1 liter of vodka or 60% alcohol into 10 g of crushed roots, place in a warm, dark place for 3 days, strain through multi-layer gauze. Take 1-3 drops per day 30 minutes before meals 2-3 times a day, with 1/2 glass of cool boiled water for ulcers and cancer of the stomach and duodenum, pernicious anemia, sepsis, diabetes, as a narcotic, antispasmodic and analgesic for convulsions and epilepsy, paralysis, cardiovascular diseases.
Tincture of aconite root:
Tincture of aconite root: pour 1 liter of vodka or 60% alcohol into 100 g of crushed roots (only the roots, not the above-ground part!), place in a warm, dark place for 3 days, shaking the contents periodically. When the tincture acquires the color of strong tea, it is suitable for external use: for rheumatism, radiculitis, sciatica, arthrosis, bruises, etc.
People with a weak heart can use no more than 1 teaspoon per rubbing; healthy people can use 1 tablespoon. The product has enormous power; when rubbed in, it increases blood circulation so much that it causes heart palpitations. Therefore, one day you can rub the tincture only into one leg, the next day (if necessary) into the other, to avoid unnecessary stress on the heart.
Rub the tincture dry. The treated part of the body is wrapped in flannel, and on top of it - woolen cloth.
This procedure is best done at night, and in the morning, remove the bandage; after another 2 hours, wipe the compressed area with a cloth soaked in cold water and wrung out tightly. This must be done quickly, otherwise you may catch a cold.
If rheumatism is very painful, with tumors, then rubbing the tincture is done for four or five weeks, daily, before bedtime.
Immediately after rubbing in the tincture of aconite, you should definitely wash your hands with soap and a brush to remove particles of the poisonous tincture from the pores of the skin of your hands. This condition must be strictly fulfilled. Because if aconite comes into contact with your eyes, you can go blind. If painful ulcers appear on the skin from rubbing, do not be alarmed: this tincture has begun to exert its healing effect. Rubbing should be stopped for a while to give the skin a rest. As soon as the wounds heal, treatment is resumed. If the ulcers appear again, the course of treatment must be interrupted again. Usually, ulcers do not appear more than twice.
A decoction of the roots of Djungarian or Karakol aconite:
In eastern folk medicine it is prepared as follows. Dip 2 or 3 tuberous roots (depending on their size) into a porcelain bowl (1–1.5 l), add cold water and boil over low heat for 2 hours, after which the roots are removed and the decoction is drunk - only hot , 20 ml per dose. It is recommended to take the decoction only once a day before bed. The dishes with the broth are carefully wrapped in cloth and placed in a place well protected from children and the uninitiated.
Before each use, it must be brought to a boil; drink only hot. It is believed that a cold decoction will cause fatal poisoning, but fire will drive out the “poisonous power” from aconite, leaving only “healing power” in it. Cold, as is known, has an effect opposite to fire, and can have a detrimental effect on a patient who has taken a hot decoction of aconite. Therefore, during the period of treatment with aconite, the patient is prescribed bed rest. As a rule, after taking the decoction the patient becomes slightly drunk, sweats heavily, the pain disappears, and he falls asleep.
The duration of the course depends on the type of disease and the depth of the pathological process. The course can last from 1 to 2 weeks. If necessary, treatment is recommended to be repeated after 40 days.
Aconite root ointment:
Ointment from aconite roots: dilute 150 g of fresh (main) root powder in table vinegar to the consistency of glue and put on low heat to evaporate until a brown liquid appears. Then apply the drug to a cotton cloth and secure it to the sore area of the body when treating sciatica. The patch must be changed every day or every other day.
Infusion of aconite herb:
Infusion of aconite herb: brew 1/2 liter of boiling water 1 tsp. dry herbs, leave in a sealed container in a boiling water bath for 15 minutes, cool at room temperature 45 min, strain. Take 1 tsp. 3-4 times a day 20 minutes before meals. Store in a dark, cool place for 2–3 days.
Tincture of aconite herb:
Tincture of aconite herb: pour 1/2 liter of 70% alcohol 1 tsp. dry herbs, leave for 1 week, shaking the contents occasionally, strain. Dissolve in 1 tbsp. l. water 10 drops of tincture and use for rubbing.
The antiarrhythmic drug “Allapininum”, which is a hydrobromic salt of the alkaloid lappaconitine, was obtained from the herb aconite. It is a white or off-white crystalline powder. Slightly soluble in water.
The drug has an antiarrhythmic effect. Belongs to group I antiarrhythmic drugs. Slows down the conduction of excitation through the atria, His bundle and Purkinje fibers.
Used for supraventricular and ventricular extrasystoles, paroxysms, atrial fibrillation and flutter, paroxysmal supraventricular and ventricular tachycardia, as well as for arrhythmia due to myocardial infarction.
Prescribed orally, intravenously and intramuscularly.
Take orally 30 minutes before meals with warm water. It is recommended to crush the tablets beforehand. First, 0.025 g is prescribed every 8 hours. If there is no effect, the dose is increased by prescribing 0.025 g every 6 hours. It is possible to further increase the dose to 0.05 g per dose, every 6–8 hours. The duration of treatment depends on the patient’s condition and character rhythm disturbances and can last up to several months.
Maximum doses for oral administration: single 0.15 g, daily 0.3 g.
The onset of action when taken orally after a single dose is after 40–60 minutes, the maximum effect is after 4–5 hours, the total duration of action is over 8 hours.
Allapinin is administered intravenously at a dose of 0.3–0.4 mg/kg. Before use, the drug is diluted to 20 ml with isotonic sodium chloride solution. Allapinin is administered slowly - over 5 minutes. If necessary, after 6 hours, administration of the drug at a dose of 0.3 mg/kg is repeated.
When administered intravenously, the effect of the drug develops relatively slowly - after 15–20 minutes and reaches a maximum by the 2nd hour; the effect lasts for a long time – up to 6–8 hours.
When using allapinin, dizziness, headache, a feeling of heaviness in the head, facial flushing, and diplopia are possible. If these phenomena are severe, the dose of the drug should be reduced. Sometimes allergic reactions occur.
Contraindications for aconite whitemouth:
Aconite is a very poisonous plant. In ancient times it was called the mother queen of poisons. Lethal doses are about 1 g of plant, 5 ml of tincture, 2 mg of aconitine alkaloid. The most poisonous part of the plant is the tuber roots, especially in the fall after the tops have withered. Other parts of the plant are also poisonous. The above-ground part is especially poisonous before and during flowering. The possibility of poisoning by honey collected by bees from aconite flowers cannot be ruled out. Aconite is able to penetrate into the blood through the stomach, through the skin and through wounds and scratches on the skin.
The degree of toxicity of various aconites is influenced by both the type of plant and the place of its distribution, growing conditions, the growing season and the harvested part of the plant. 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 aconites are less poisonous. According to some researchers, when cultivating European species of aconite as 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 this plant and to assess the degree of its toxicity, any aconite used must be treated as highly toxic and all rules for harvesting, drying, storage, preparation of dosage forms and dosage of their use must be strictly followed.
Aconite poisoning develops quickly, and in severe poisoning, death quickly occurs either from cardiac arrest or from respiratory arrest.
Toxic substances contained in aconites can be absorbed into the blood even through intact skin. But if there are even the smallest scratches on it, the rate of absorption of toxic substances increases sharply.
Symptoms of aconite poisoning:
The effect of the aconite alkaloid (lethal dose of 0.002–0.004 g) develops instantly. Often, immediately after taking the tincture, a person experiences a burning sensation in the mouth. The victim immediately experiences drooling, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, shortness of breath, a feeling of numbness in the limbs, “pins and needles” or stabbing and itching pain, increased heart function, palpitations, increased blood pressure, a full hard rapid pulse, chills, high fever; loss of sensitivity in some places, convulsions, paralysis of one half of the body, a feeling of tightness and pressure in the cheeks, upper part of the face and forehead, turning into mild wandering pains, and then into constant severe pain in a small area; cutting, shooting pains in joints, muscles, fibrous tissues; intense internal heat after chill, profuse hot sweat, then cooling of the surface of the body, sticky sweat, weak pulse.
The larger the dose, the faster the excitement gives way to depression.
Further observed: a rush of blood to the head, redness of the face and eyes, lacrimation, hyperemia of the larynx, increased sensitivity of the abdomen to touch, stabbing pain in the chest - when breathing, coughing, movement, painful tingling in the tip of the tongue, increased urine output (red, fiery color ), bitterness in the mouth, bloating. The patient is overcome by mental anxiety, severe melancholy and despondency, and fear of death. He feels stuffy, he wants to open up, but as soon as he opens up, he trembles.
In severe poisonings, death occurs quickly - either from cardiac paralysis or from respiratory arrest.
Timely measures taken sometimes make it possible to save people who are actually already dying from poisoning. Save a man who has greatly exceeded lethal dose poison, almost impossible.
Emergency first aid:
- let the patient drink 0.5–1 liters of water and induce vomiting by putting his fingers in his mouth and irritating the root of the tongue. Do this several times until the stomach is completely cleansed of food debris, i.e. to clean water;
– give the patient a saline laxative to drink – 30 g of magnesium sulfate in 1/2 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;
– give the patient activated charcoal – crush a charcoal tablet (at the rate of 20–30 g per dose), stir in water and give to drink;
– give the patient to drink 1 diuretic tablet available in the home medicine cabinet (furosemide, or hypothiazide, or veroshpiron, etc.);
– give the patient strong tea or coffee to drink;
– warm the patient (with blankets or heating pads);
- transport the patient to a medical facility.
To eliminate symptoms associated with respiratory and cardiovascular disorders, oxygen or carbogen therapy is carried out (incubation of the trachea is not excluded), a 20% solution of caffeine-sodium benzoate (1-2 ml), a 20% solution of camphor is injected subcutaneously (1–2 ml), for bradycardia - 0.1% solution of atropine sulfate (1 ml), novocainamide (10 ml of 10% solution intravenously) is indicated as an antiarrhythmic agent. To eliminate convulsions and normalize breathing, a 10% barbamyl solution (10 ml intramuscularly) is used, and artificial ventilation is performed. The patient needs the most gentle regimen, warming the body when the temperature drops. Further treatment consists of maintaining and restoring all vital functions impaired by poisoning.
Use of aconite on the farm:
Aconite is an excellent insecticide; it is widely used in everyday life to combat flies and cockroaches. A very weak infusion of the herb is used in folk veterinary medicine: preparations from the plant are used for scabies and lice in cattle and horses.