Use of aconite in traditional and folk medicine

Aconite (fighter) is an extremely poisonous plant and should be used with great caution. You can find aconite bushes in damp nooks and crannies of our forests, next to rivers and swamps, in damp meadows near bushes. The wrestler reaches a height of up to 1 m, almost completely covered with palmately dissected dark green leaves. The flowers are blue, arranged on a long raceme.

Some gardeners transplant aconite from the forest to their flower beds; there are also large-flowered garden forms of aconite, however, they all cause poisoning in both people and animals. The alkaloid, which is part of all parts of the plant, has a paralyzing effect on the respiratory center, and eating it by domestic animals often leads to their death.

The petals of the aconite flower form the shape of a shoe into which bees and bumblebees crawl entirely. The insects apparently like aconite pollen, but the nectar still causes bee poisoning, so they collect it only in the absence of other honey plants. Under the ground, on the roots of aconite, tubers are formed that are even more poisonous than the plant itself.

Botanical description of Djungarian aconite

Aconite, or fighter in other words, belongs to the buttercup family. This is a tall (up to 2 m) perennial bush that blooms with beautiful purple flowers of a bizarre shape. Biologists call such flowers “zygomorphic”, because of them aconite does not look like most buttercups, it rather resembles lupine, which is a legume.

Aconite grows wild throughout the northern hemisphere. Science knows about three hundred species of this poisonous plant, of which 75 species grow in Russia alone. Despite their widespread distribution, some species of aconite are considered rare and protected. For example, the species Aconitum noveboracense is listed in the Red Book. The favorite habitat of aconite is the rich soils of river banks, the sides of country roads, and high-mountain meadows.

Diseases and pests

Despite the toxicity of the fighter, it is often provoked by pests that cause aconite diseases. So, the flower is often affected by diseases such as:

• Powdery mildew - symptoms of the disease are light or grayish spots on the foliage. Under the influence of pathology, the bush quickly withers and dies. To eliminate the violation, the affected parts are cut off with a sharp knife, and the entire plant is treated with fungicidal agents.
• Ring mosaic - when affected by this pathology, the foliage becomes lethargic with the presence of yellow or brown spots on the surface. For treatment, the affected parts of the plant are removed, and the bush is treated with insecticides. It is important to prevent aphids from appearing on aconite, since they are carriers of ring mosaic.
• Viral greening is a pathology that causes deformation of the stems. The disease damages flowers, which change their shape. There is no solution to this problem. Therefore, to prevent the disease of other individuals in the flowerbed, aconite will have to be dug up.

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In addition, aconite can be attacked by some pests that are not afraid of the poisonous properties of the fighter. Thus, the plant can be damaged by aphids, rapeseed flower beetle and nematodes. To solve the problem, the bushes are treated with insecticidal solutions. In addition, you can prevent the appearance of some pests by regularly loosening the soil.

Interesting facts about aconite

Aconite is one of the most mystical and legendary plants. Its name can be found on the pages of ancient legends, Scandinavian epics and witchcraft tomes.

There are interesting historical facts about this plant:

• In ancient Roman gardens, aconite was cultivated for decorative purposes; lush purple thickets even decorated the imperial palace. But in 117, Trajan suspected a connection between numerous cases of poisoning of his servants and aconite bushes, and forbade the cultivation of this plant;
• Aconite was used by the ancient Greeks as a poison to kill criminals condemned to death. Therefore, the plant has a sad fame, similar to the glory of hemlock (hemlock), with the help of which the philosopher Socrates, accused of political conspiracy, was poisoned;
• On the island of Chios, in the Ionian Sea, there was a cruel custom, according to which members of society who were not useful due to their illness or old age were obliged to drink aconite poison and pass on to another world;
• Plutarch described in his writings an episode of poisoning with aconite of soldiers of Emperor Mark Antony. According to the sage, the unfortunate warriors fell into unconsciousness and wandered in circles, picking up every stone in their path, as if they were looking for something extremely important. Then they vomited bile, and a painful death occurred;
• In eastern India, the poison “bik” is well known, which local residents have used for centuries to wet the tips of arrows and spears before hunting large animals. The Digaroa tribes still grind the roots of aconite for this purpose;
• During the Holy Inquisition in medieval Europe, the presence of aconite in a house was a reason for accusing the women living in it of witchcraft. The “witch” was tried and burned at the stake right in the city square.

History of the use of aconite in medicine

The first scientific information about aconite as a medicinal plant can be gleaned from the Tibetan treatise “The Four Books”. Most notably, the monks who wrote Zhud-shi in the seventh century AD used aconite primarily to treat tumors, and to a lesser extent to eradicate infections.

Pliny the Elder, author of Natural History, mentions aconite as a remedy for eye diseases. The scientist cites numerous facts of healing of patients from glaucoma and blindness with the help of aconite juice, but warns about the toxicity of this plant and calls it “plant arsenic.”

The Viennese physician Anton Sterk (1731-1803) paid the closest attention to aconite as an anticancer agent. This is the first doctor to conduct documented scientific research on a poisonous plant. Sterk tried to experimentally establish the dose of aconite that was optimal for the treatment of malignant tumors and the maximum permissible for humans.

In 1869, a large article on homeopathic treatment of cancer appeared in the authoritative London publication The Lancet. The main character of the medical publication was aconite, which was considered the most powerful remedy against malignant neoplasms of any location. The authors cited several cases of recovery of cancer patients who took aconite tincture.

Somewhat earlier, in 1838, the Russian magazine Sovremennik published a letter from Vladimir Dahl to his friend, Doctor Odoevsky, which was called “On Homeopathy.” The famous author of an explanatory dictionary and researcher of rural life Dahl tells how, with the help of aconite, he managed to cure a Bashkir from severe pneumonia. According to the author, on the third day the patient stood up, sat in the saddle and sang songs. It is also known that Vladimir Dal, who exclusively trusted the healing properties of aconite, treated his son with croup with this plant.

The first Soviet doctor to pay close attention to aconite was T.V. Zakaurtseva, oncologist with 35 years of experience. From 1953 to 1988, she conducted research on the healing properties of aconite, and the result was a unique method for treating cancer. First, Zakaurtseva subjected the patient to long-term therapy with aconite tincture, and then, when the tumor decreased in size and was localized, she performed surgical removal. To consolidate the effect and insure against metastases, the course of treatment with tincture was repeated. In this way, she managed to cure several dozen patients, including those in the second and third stages of cancer.

In 1946, two types of aconite were officially included in the Soviet State Pharmacopoeia: Karakol and Djungar. Although aconite currently does not have official medicinal status in Russia, its “palemouth” species is used in the production of the drug allapinin, which treats arrhythmia. And Djungarian aconite is actively used by herbalists to treat cancer and many other diseases.

Other uses of aconite

Western European flower growers and landscape design specialists cultivate several mildly poisonous species of aconite for decorative purposes: Aconitum variegatum, Aconitum lycoctonum, Aconitum napellus, Aconitum stoerckeanum and Aconitum cammarum, better known as "bicolor". All these are graceful low (1-1.2 m) shrubs with lush pyramidal inflorescences consisting of many beautiful purple, blue, white-blue and yellow flowers. Garden species of aconite, like wild ones, are very unpretentious in care and are not susceptible to the destructive effects of insect pests, since they are, although slightly, poisonous.

Aconite growing in meadows can act as a honey plant, but bees are reluctant to sit on it, and only if there are no other flowering plants nearby. Beekeepers recommend eradicating aconite thickets near apiaries, since there are numerous cases of poisoning and death of bees that collected nectar and pollen from aconite.

Chemical composition of aconite

The stems, leaves, flowers and roots of aconite contain two types of alkaloids:

• Atizinaceae;
• Aconitine.

The first type of volatile alkaloids is not toxic; it is a 5-7 ring-shaped molecular structure, which, as a result of hydrolysis, decomposes into arucanine and organic acid. Essentially, atizine alkaloids are mono- and diesters of benzoic and acetic acids. They are contained in aconite in very small quantities, and determine its beneficial effect on the human cardiovascular system.

The second type of alkaloid, named after the plant itself, is much more interesting. These alkaloids are represented by hypoaconitine, mesaconitine, icaconitine and aconitine itself. They do not dissolve at all in water, slightly in ether, and excellent in chloroform. Upon hydrolysis, they decompose into benzoic and acetic acids, hypoaconine, mesaconine or aconine, respectively. The highest concentration of aconitine alkaloids is in the tubers of the plant: for example, in Djungarian aconite it can reach 4%.

In addition to the poisonous alkaloid, aconite roots contain:

• Sugar;
• Daucosterol;
• Pseudoaconitine;
• Mesoinosidol;
• Saponins;
• Flavones;
• Resins;
• Coumarin;
• Starch;
• Organic acids (citric, benzoic, transaconitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, palmitic).

The aerial part of aconite also contains:

• Tannins;
• About two dozen micro- and macroelements;
• Inositol;
• Flavonoids;
• Vitamin C.

The toxicity of aconite depends on its type, soil type and time of collection. Less poisonous bushes grow in swampy and flooded areas. Aconite tubers collected in spring and autumn are more toxic, but have a weaker effect on the heart than those collected in winter.

It should be understood that it is the plants containing aconitine and its subtypes that are poisonous. Atisine alkaloids do not pose a danger to humans, but in nature there are very few types of aconite that contain only these non-toxic substances. The vast majority of plants are poisonous to one degree or another.

You can check this experimentally: if you rub your finger with aconite juice, the skin will first begin to itch and burn, and then temporarily lose sensitivity. The stronger the effect, the more poisonous the plant is. The alkaloid aconitine first irritates the nerve endings and then sharply paralyzes them. In principle, it is not recommended to conduct such experiments, and using grated roots for them is completely dangerous.

Reproduction

Aconite easily reproduces and grows. If approached incorrectly, bushes quickly fill the space. In order to get new young bushes at home, the plant is propagated in two ways - by dividing the bush or using seeds.

Dividing the bush

Dividing a bush is a method of propagation, which is carried out not only to create a new bush, but also to preserve the decorative appearance of aconite. Reproduction in this way is carried out in spring or autumn, after the bush blooms. Adult aconites are chosen for reproduction.

After digging the fighter out of the soil, part of the bush is separated along with the roots in such a way that half of the roots and shoots are separated into both halves. The detached bush is planted in a previously prepared hole. The hole is prepared in the same order as for transplantation. After digging in the soil and compacting the soil, the plants are watered and mulched abundantly.

In the case where aconite has a tuberous rhizome, the wrestler can also be propagated by dividing the tuberous rhizome. This method is only possible when several adventitious tubers have formed on the plant. After which the sprouted tubers are disconnected from the main one and planted in a permanent habitat.

When planting tubers, make sure that the sprouted sprout is above the surface of the ground, since if it is in a dark place, the sprout may begin to rot.

Cuttings

You can also divide aconite by germinating cuttings. For this purpose, young shoots are used, which easily take root. Before separating the cutting from the bush, it is important to check the presence of buds on the shoot. The length of the petiole must be at least 20 cm.

Cuttings of the fighter are carried out at the end of spring, at the moment of formation of young branches. To do this, cuttings are cut from the branch with a sharp knife. The cut site on the mother plant and cuttings is treated with natural charcoal. After processing, the cuttings are planted in moist soil and greenhouse conditions are created.

Under optimal conditions, the cuttings quickly produce roots. After new leaves appear on the plant, the greenhouse is removed, and aconite is planted in a permanent habitat.

Seed propagation

Propagation by seeds is carried out in the fall, when the fruits on the plant ripen. To do this, ripe seed pods are cut off and immediately sown in an open substrate. During winter, the seeds undergo natural stratification, and in the spring they germinate beneficially and begin to bloom. If seeds are planted in spring, aconite will begin to grow only after a season

When planting aconite seeds, create small holes about a centimeter deep. After sowing, the soil layer is covered with a thick layer of organic fertilizer until spring. In spring, with the advent of constant warmth, seedlings appear.

The effect of aconite on the human body

In terms of its effect on the human nervous system, aconitine is similar to the poison curare. That is why, when a dangerous dose of this alkaloid enters the body, death occurs as a result of paralysis of the respiratory center. Only tiny doses of aconitine are used for therapeutic purposes, and the therapeutic effect occurs only after the gradual accumulation of the alkaloid in the blood.

A tiny amount of aconitine normalizes heart rate and breathing, activates cellular metabolism, prevents the proliferation of infections and inhibits the growth of tumors. And in large quantities, this alkaloid leads to paralysis of the heart muscle, suffocation and death, so the main task of the homeopath is the correct choice of dosage.

Immediately after ingesting water with aconite tincture dissolved in it, a person experiences increased salivation. This is due to the fact that the poisonous alkaloid irritates the parasympathetic nerve when absorbed through the oral mucosa. Also, in the first hours after taking it, even a healthy person’s body temperature decreases slightly.

A pronounced therapeutic effect can only be achieved with regular intake of the alkaloid. The substance must accumulate in the body and provoke an immune response. Only then will the protective forces be activated and the person will begin to fight the disease. When treating, it is necessary to take into account that aconite decoction is twice as weak as an alcohol infusion.

Djungarian aconite is used in modern homeopathy to treat the following diseases:

• Anemia and loss of strength;
• Hormonal dysfunctions, infertility, impotence;
• Diabetes mellitus, toxic goiter;
• Deafness, cataracts, glaucoma, blindness;
• Benign neoplasms (fibroids, adenomas, fibromas, polyps and cysts);
• Gallstone and kidney stone disease;
• Arrhythmias, angina pectoris, hypertension;
• Ulcers, gastritis, cholecystitis, pancreatitis, constipation, diarrhea, flatulence;
• Bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma, tuberculosis, pleurisy;
• Trigeminal neuralgia, migraine, depression, insomnia, paralysis, Parkinson's disease;
• Psychosis, schizophrenia, epilepsy, seizures and tics;
• Rheumatoid arthritis, arthrosis, radiculitis, gout, osteochondrosis, bruises, dislocations, fractures;
• Venereal diseases, syphilis, anthrax;
• Psoriasis, erysipelas, vitiligo, eczema, neurodermatitis;
• As an external antiseptic – for pediculosis and scabies;
• As an antidote – for poisoning by poisonous plants and mushrooms;
• As an antitumor agent - in the treatment of any type of cancer.

CHARACTERISTIC

1. Extreme anxiety and agitation with excessive melancholy and fear of death. This condition occurs in severe cases of inflammatory fevers, in certain heart diseases and in exophthalmic goiter.

This fear, as well as the illness that causes agitation in the patient, are characteristic of this remedy.

2. Fear of crossing the street, going into society, fear that something might happen, fear is constant, incomprehensible, inexplicable. Here we note that Aconite

- an excellent remedy for diseases developed as a result of fright, recent and distant (
Opium, Ignatia, Veratrum album
).

3. Diseases and pains that appear after exposure to cold wind. Other chief remedies related to dry and cold wind: Bryonia, Causticum, Hepar sulfur

and
Nux vomica
.

4. The severity of symptoms that appear suddenly and immediately develop with great severity.

5. Worsening of symptoms: agitation, pain, melancholy, etc. at night, especially after midnight.

Aconite pain

unbearable, sharp, tearing, accompanied by extreme excitement, melancholy, fear: the patient rushes in different directions, being unable to bear this pain or withstand touch.

The pain worsens towards night, around midnight, as do the symptoms of this remedy in general.

They are replaced by a feeling of numbness, tingling, goosebumps.

And the etiology is most important: exposure to dry, cold air. Stools are frequent, scanty, with tenesmus and unbearable urge.

Diarrhea with gastric mucous or chopped spinach-like stool in children during the hot season. Relief occurs after sudden release of mucus or blood.

Menstruation: very heavy, long, sometimes short-lived or replaced by nosebleeds in strong and full-blooded women.

Sudden stopping due to fear, anger, strong excitement, even joy, or exposure to a dry cold wind.

How to prepare aconite tincture?

The availability of raw materials and the simplicity of technology speak in favor of self-preparing medicine. In addition, if you make the tincture yourself, you will be absolutely sure of its quality and precisely aware of the concentration. A drug purchased from a private herbalist may turn out to be ineffective or, on the contrary, too potent.

Collection and procurement of raw materials

If you are not confident in your botanical knowledge, carefully read the photographs of aconite so as not to confuse it with lupine, for example. Or ask the locals if that plant you saw in the neighboring field is aconite. People are probably well aware of poisonous herbs growing in pastures.

In homeopathy, the stems, palmate leaves, pubescent shoots, flowers, seeds and rhizomes of aconite are used. If we are talking about Djungarian aconite, it is the tubers of the plant that are harvested. It is advisable to collect the green parts in May, before flowering, and the underground parts - in early autumn, immediately after withering and fruiting.

At the slightest damage, the flowers and leaves of aconite release poisonous juice, so collection must be done with gloves. Avoid contact of fingers with the mucous membrane of the eyes and mouth. You can dig up tubers without gloves, but at home, when processing raw materials, you will still have to protect your hands.

Tubers of Djungarian aconite reach 8 centimeters in length and 3 centimeters in width. They are black or dark brown in color, and look like a turnip root, from which branching shoots extend, usually in one direction. Every year, aconite seems to walk underground, and above each shoot of the root system a dried stalk is clearly visible, going vertically upward. The collected rhizomes must be thoroughly washed, grated and immediately sealed tightly in a glass jar with a screw-on lid, since the aconitine alkaloid is volatile.

Recipe No. 1 for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases

For 500 ml of good vodka you will need 10 grams of aconite flowers or seeds. Close the jar tightly and store the medicine in a cool, dark place for at least two weeks, shaking the contents occasionally. You need to take this tincture according to the classic “slide” scheme, starting with 5 drops per day and daily increasing the dosage by one drop to 30, and then gradually reducing it to 5 drops.

You need to drink the medicine on an empty stomach, in the morning, 30-40 minutes before meals, dissolving the tincture in a glass of clean water. For severe arrhythmia and arterial hypertension, some homeopaths prescribe this dosage to take not once, but three times a day.

Recipe No. 2 for external use

The preparation method is exactly the same, but for 500 ml of vodka take 50 g of grated Djungarian aconite root. The tincture turns out to be highly concentrated, and it is used only externally, to disinfect wounds, eliminate parasites (lice, scabies mites) and relieve pain in osteochondrosis, sprains, fractures, dislocations, radiculitis, and draft-chilled muscles.

Using this tincture, it is good to vigorously rub the back and joints, apply warm compresses for colds, if the patient does not have a fever.

Recipe No. 3 for treating cancer

To prepare a tincture for 1 course of cancer treatment, you need to take 100 ml of medical alcohol and 3 grams of grated aconite Djungarian root. Keep the medicine for three weeks in a tightly closed glass jar, in a shaded and cool place, and then strain.

You need to take the tincture according to the “slide” scheme, starting with one drop per day and gradually rising to 20, and then descending back to one drop. If during the process the patient feels unwell, nausea, or rapid heartbeat, then it is necessary to begin reducing the dosage by one drop daily, even if the course has not yet reached its peak.

Usually three full courses are prescribed with breaks of one month. In the third and fourth stages of cancer, a higher dose may be needed - up to 30 drops per day. In any case, an individual approach and consultation with an experienced homeopath are necessary.

Planting and care in open ground

Aconite is a fairly unpretentious plant that takes root well in various conditions. This condition allows the plant to be planted in garden conditions, both in the shade and in the sun. However, in order for the plant to bloom for a long time and grow normally for several years, the bush requires care and regular watering.

Young shoots are very poisonous and can cause poisoning. Therefore, before planting a bush, you should think about the fact that the flower should be located away from the constant presence of people in the place of growth. In addition, planting should be warned if there are children in the house.

Seeds are planted in the soil in the fall, before the onset of frost. Shoots appear in the spring. The seeds are first stratified for a month at a temperature of no more than 18 degrees.

Watering

The grapple needs to be watered as needed. Although the plant is unpretentious and can withstand dry soil quite well, it is worth preventing the soil from drying out. It is necessary to water aconite as the top layer of soil dries out.

In hot weather, watering becomes more frequent, since the plant requires a lot of moisture for active growth and development. It is necessary to water the wrestler carefully, without touching or flooding the foliage. In winter, watering stops.

When watering a plant, it is worth considering that the root system of aconite does not tolerate stagnant water quite well. Otherwise, the roots begin to rot, causing the flower to die.

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Soil for aconite

Aconite is unpretentious to the composition of the soil. However, when grown in the garden, in order to obtain a truly ornamental plant, the wrestler is planted in a well-ventilated substrate. The soil for planting must be moist and contain a large amount of nutrients and minerals. Therefore, the flower cannot be planted in sand or rocky soil.

The soil must be loosened and ventilated throughout the flower’s growth. Some gardeners advise regularly weeding the soil to avoid damaging the roots with tools.

Transfer

Aconite is a perennial that does not require frequent replanting. However, for optimal flower growth, the location of the bush is renewed every 4-5 years.

Transplantation is carried out in the autumn, after removing the seeds from the bush and the death of the main leaves. A change of environment helps the flower not only get the necessary elements from the soil, but also maintain a neat appearance.

When transplanting a fighter, the hole for the plant is prepared in advance. The soil at the site of the new planting is loosened and dug up with the addition of peat and organic fertilizer. To do this, you need to dig a hole about half a meter deep. The size of the hole is selected based on the size of the earthen clod, digging out a slightly larger layer of earth. A layer of expanded clay is laid out at the bottom of the hole, which creates a layer of drainage. Then a small layer of fertilizing is created.

Since aconite has highly branched roots, the bush should be replanted with a lump of earth. This limits damage to small roots. After placing the kut in a new place, the remaining space in the hole is covered with peat and garden soil. The substrate is compacted to prevent the bush from falling. At the end of replanting, the bush is watered abundantly and the soil is mulched for a while.

Top dressing

Since aconite constantly grows in one place, the soil loses its mineral reserves and becomes poorer. In the spring, before a large number of leaves appear on the plant, organic fertilizer is applied to the soil. Mullein or bird manure are suitable as fertilizers. To obtain a liquid mixture, fertilizers are mixed with water in a ratio of 1:5. Watering is carried out under the roots of the flower.

After watering the soil with organic matter, immediately add a bucket of clean water. Thus, the remaining manure is washed off from the shoots and rhizomes, penetrating directly into the soil. In addition, some gardeners use mineral fertilizers purchased in specialized stores as top dressing. Compost, which is applied under the bush in dry form, is also suitable for fertilizer. Compost helps aconite form beautiful lush inflorescences.

When aconite begins to form inflorescences, the bush is watered with nitroammophos. To obtain the mixture, the substance is diluted in water. For normal development and flowering, potassium and phosphorus fertilizers are regularly applied to the shrub. Some inexperienced gardeners try to fertilize shrubs with ash. However, this should not be done, since ash reduces the acidity of the soil and contributes to the disease of aconite.

It is necessary to feed no more than once a month. In winter, feeding is stopped.

Bloom

Depending on the variety, aconite can bloom either at the beginning or at the end of summer. Most species begin to bloom in July-August. In addition, there are varieties that begin to bloom only in mid-September.

The flowers are long and large clusters of several buds. Depending on the variety, the flowers may be adorned with clusters of white, blue and yellow buds. In nature, there are also hybrid - two-color varieties of wrestler.

Trimming

Aconite grows quickly and runs wild. Therefore, in order to preserve the decorative appearance of the bush in garden conditions, it is regularly pruned. When pruning, the remains of old buds, shoots and leaves are removed. Removing buds after a short period of flowering can encourage the flower to reappear.

In order to preserve the variety and propagate aconite, some gardeners leave several buds untouched. After flowering, the buds form a fruit with seeds, which are collected after they ripen.

The effectiveness of Djungarian aconite in the treatment of cancer

Aconite has been tested by many years of practice by oncologists around the world, and its effectiveness has been scientifically proven. The mechanism of action of aconitine on the body is absolutely transparent and clear, so qualified doctors do not deny the possible practical benefits of such treatment. Moreover, taking aconite tincture can be considered as an alternative to chemotherapy, if the latter is not possible.

Treatment of cancer with aconite has a number of advantages over official methods:

• Aconite prevents the appearance of new metastases and suppresses the growth of existing ones, and in some cases even leads to a decrease in tumor size;
• When used carefully and wisely, aconite tincture does not cause side effects and degenerative changes in the body, unlike chemotherapy;
• Aconitine helps cancer patients return to normal life: relieves pain, neutralizes depression and insomnia.

Tincture of Djungarian aconite is approximately 40 times more poisonous than other popular anticancer drugs - tinctures of hemlock and celandine. If we are talking about treating advanced forms of cancer, then aconite is preferable, although you can try alternating medications with short breaks. There are cases where, with the help of Djungarian aconite, it was possible to extend the life of a stage 4 cancer patient by 1.5-2 years, despite the fact that doctors only gave the person 2 months.

Regarding the regimen for taking the tincture, a clarification should be made: most herbalists recommend taking a break between courses lasting the same number of drops as the maximum dosage. That is, if the patient stopped the “slide” at 15 drops due to poor health, he needs to rest for 15 days after returning to one drop.

Appearance

Due to the fact that the flowers of the borer are zygomorphic, they look like buttercups or legumes. At the peak of flowering, wolfsbane is most similar to a common agricultural crop - lupine from the legume family.

Typically, aconite buds have dark blue and purple petals with neat inflorescences and a spotted, irregularly shaped calyx. Flowers appear in the second half of summer. The leaves of the plant are rounded and are classified as deeply palmate.

The root system of wolfsbane is divided into two varieties. One is a small club-shaped conical root of black color, renewed annually. First, in the first months of summer, the plant develops up to two young daughter roots. And by next spring, several independent plants are formed from them.

The second is numerous thin roots in the amount of 12 to 15 pieces. Visually they resemble cords. Usually such roots twist, but easily suck out useful substances and drops of water from the ground.

Wolfsbane produces three to seven fruits around September, which look like multi-seeded leaflets.

What to do if you are poisoned by aconite?

To cause death, a person only needs to eat 1 gram of fresh crushed aconite root. It is difficult to imagine circumstances under which this could happen, but it is useful to describe the picture of aconite poisoning.

When aconitine alkaloid enters the body orally, the following symptoms are observed over time:

• Severe burning, pain, swelling of the tongue and oral mucosa;
• Increased salivation, sweating, frequent urination;
• Tachycardia, facial flushing, dilated pupils, darkening of the eyes;
• Headache, trembling of limbs, convulsions, vomiting;
• Choking, fainting and cardiac arrest.

If in the first minutes it becomes clear what exactly the cause of the poisoning is, you need to give the victim an emetic, or force him to drink 2 liters of clean water, and then induce vomiting. If time is lost, before the ambulance arrives, you can give the person a glass of water with a teaspoon of vinegar or a glass of dry wine.