Aconitum napellus
(Monkshood, Aconite)

Therapeutic Actions:

• Analgesic
• Anti-inflammatory
• Increases coronary flow
• Vasodilation of the blood vessels in limbs (animal studies)

Clinical Indications:

• Endometriosis
• Bruises, topically
• Sciatica, topically
• Trigeminal
• Used in various forms of heart disease with aconitine removed

Contraindications:

• No contraindications have been reported

Drug/Nutrient Interaction:

• No interactions have been reported

Chemical Constituents:

• Acids:
  
  Aconitic acid
  Itaconic acid
• Terpenoid alkaloids including:
  
  Aconitine, dicyl ester - has short lived cardiotonic action then cardiac depression, arrhythmia and cardiac arrest
  Benzoylaconine
  Hypaconitine
  Napelline
  Neopelline
  Picraconitine
• Traces of sparteine and ephedrine
• Starch
• Sugars

Toxicity:

• Toxic dose: greater than 10 drops of the tincture
• Fatal dose: 5 ml. of the tincture, or 1 gm. of the plant
• Symptoms include:
  
  Chest pain
  Extreme anxiety
  Hypotensive
  Irregular heart beat
  Loss of speech control
  Nausea
  Pinpoint pupils
  Throat, hands and mouth numb
  Ventricular fibrillation in 1 - 7 hours
  Vomiting
  Death is due to respiratory failure
• Treatment:
  
  Activated charcoal
  Atropine to prevent slowing of the heart
  CPR
  Keep warm and quiet
  Next-gastric lavage Oxygen as needed
  Supine with elevated feet

Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).