Abstract
Aconitum napellus, commonly known as Monkshood or Wolf’s Bane, is a plant steeped in history, myth, and medicine. Originally infamous for its potent toxicity and use in ancient poisons, A. napellus has found a respected place in modern homoeopathic practice. This article explores its scientific classification, etymology, rich mythological associations, and historical usage as both a deadly poison and therapeutic agent. The plant’s active principles, especially aconitine, exert powerful effects on the nervous and cardiovascular systems, making it both a substance of caution and a valued homoeopathic remedy. The review details the preparation of tinctures, storage, therapeutic indications, guiding symptoms, and complementary relationships with other remedies. The article also examines its pathogenesis and pathological action, underscoring the careful balance between risk and benefit. Through a comprehensive analysis of clinical insights and historical perspectives, this work highlights A. napellus as a prime example of the dynamic interplay between nature’s dangers and healing potential within the framework of homoeopathy.
Introduction
A = Anguish of mind, Anguish of body.
C = Calmness contraindicates Aconite.
O = Onset is sudden and violent.
N = Nash’s trio of restless medicines, Nash’s trio of pain-killers.
I = Interaction of Anxiety.
T = Thirst for large quantities of cold water.
E = Exposure to dry cold air; dry north or west winds; draughts of cold air during perspiration.
Scientific Classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Class: Tracheophytes, Angiosperms, Eudicots
Order: Ranunculales
Family: Ranunculaceae
Synonyms:
Aconitum angustifolia Bernh ex Reichb.
Aconitum multifidum Royle
Aconitum stoerckianum Reichb.
Aconitum coreuleum
Aconitum dissectum D. Don
Aconitum vulgare DC.
Common Names:
Hin.: Mithazaher
Eng.: Helmet flower, Aconite, Friar cap, Monk’s hood, Wolf’s bane
French: Aconit
German: Eisehut, Sturmhat
Origin of Name
The term “Monkshood” arises from the flower’s hood-like shape, symbolizing monastic associations. “Wolf’s Bane” refers to its historical use in wolf-poisoning. The genus name Aconitum possibly derives from the Greek akon (dart), referencing arrow poison, or akonitos (without struggle), a nod to its lethal qualities. Napellus translates to “turnip-rooted.” Sanskrit names Ativisha and Visha indicate its poisonous nature.
Mythological Background
Legend holds that Aconitum originated from the hill of Aconitus where Hercules slew Cerberus; the monster’s saliva became the plant’s deadly toxin. The goddess Hecate used Aconite to poison her father, the Titan Perses. Another tale links its origin to Prometheus’ blood. The “Prometheus complex,” derived from this myth, reflects the human drive for intellectual mastery, often at the cost of suffering.
History & Authority
Provers: Hahnemann conducted the first provings with 8 provers. An Austrian proving followed in 1843 with 15 provers using tincture.
Description in detail – Macro & micro
A perennial herb with tapering tuberous roots that are perpendicular. The erect, spherical, smooth, slightly hairy stem can reach a height of two meters. The leaves have hairs on the underside and alternately have lengthy stalks. The lower is more deeply lobed than the upper, and they are separated into three or five segments. Dark-violet in color, the flowers bloom from May to July. Both racemose and stalked.
It has five petaloid sepals, with the lower two being oblong-oval and the top helmet shaped and beaked, almost hemispherical, and the two laterals roundish and hairy within. Single or in groups of two or more, the tuberous roots are joined by a side branch or branches that connect the younger, smoother root or roots to the older, severely wrinkled roots. Each obconical root is typically 4–10 cm in length and 1–3.5 cm in width at the crown, to which the base of an aerial stem or the remnants of the bud with their many thin, wiry rootlets are attached. Young roots are yellowish-white on the inside, whereas older roots are brown. The outside is a dark brown color.
Microscopical: Near the tip of the root, cross section show diarch radial bundles, gradually upwards these become successively tetrarch, pentarch and occasionally octarch. The root cortex consists of narrow region bounded externally by a metaderm of about 1 to 4 layers of brownish cells. Cortical cells are pitted cellulosic parenchyma. The endodermis consists of brownish, longitudinally elongated rectangular cells, enclosing a pericycle of about 1 to 20 layers of parenchyma cells. Sclereids are occasionally present in cortex and pericycle. Five to eight bundles of primary phloem alternating with the angles of cambium lies within the pericycle. The metaphloem is a broad band of parenchyma cells, densely packed with starch grains, both simple and compound, 2 – 6 to 15 – 20 µ in diameter. Numerous islets of sieve tissues are embedded in this region; cambium in the upper part of the root, stellate in transverse section, consists of rectangular prismatic cells, enclosing at each angle, a wedge shaped group of parenchymatous medullary ray cells on the inner margin of which is a small primary xylem, containing spiral vessels, the wedge flanked on either side by a small group of secondary xylem, consisting mainly of reticulate and pitted vessels; additional groups of secondary xylem are distributed along the cambium. The medullary rays are indistinct and the pith consists of cellulosic parenchyma. Tincture from the whole plant and root when beginning to flower
Cultivation details & Time of collection
Aconite prefers a soil slightly retentive of moisture, such as moist- loam, and flourishes best in shade. It would probably grow luxuriantly in a moist, open wood, and would yield returns with little further trouble than weeding, digging up and drying. In preparing beds for growing Aconite, the soil should be well dug and pulverized by early winter frosts- the digging in form of rotten leaves or stable manure is advantageous.
In cultivating Aconite young tubercles are planted in the autumn, well-spaced in rows. Carly in the following spring the terminal bud on the crown of each root forms a flowering stem and in the axils of scale- leaves at its base, from one to several buds develop at the ground level to short lateral shoots, each of which forms at its extremity a root crowned by a bud. These roots gradually enlarge and become filled with reserves forming plump conical roots each with a bud at the apex and known as “daughter” roots. The ‘parent’ root gradually shrivels as its reserves are used for the production of the aerial plant, which flowers in July. Each plant usually produces several daughter” roots which may be as many as six. When the field is dug sufficient of the “daughter” roots are reserved for replanting and the remainder are well washed and brushed in water and are sometimes deprived of the wiry side roots: they are finally dried in warm air in drying- sheds. The plots are dug every other year and by using two plots alternately a regular yearly yield is ensured.
It can be propagate from seed, sown 1/2 inch deep in a cold frame in March or in a warm position outside in April. The plant should be gathered when it is partly in flower and partly in bud.
When the roots are dug up, they are sorted over, the smallest laid aside for replanting and the plumper ones reserved for drying. They are first well washed in cold water and trimmed of all rootlets, and then dried, either entire, or longitudinally sliced to hasten drying.
Drying may at first be done in the open air, spread thinly, the roots not touching. Or they may be spread on clean floors or on shelves in a warm place for about ten days, turning frequently. When somewhat shrunken, they must be finished more quickly by artificial heat in a drying room or shed, near a stove or gas fire, care being taken that the heated air can escape at the top of the room. Drying in an even temperature will probably take about a fortnight or more. It is not complete till the roots are dry to the core and brittle, snapping when bent.
Active principles
Primary Alkaloids: Aconitine, mesaconitine, hypaconitine.
Aconitine is the principle constituent (0.4%). Other alkaloids are indaconitine, mesaconitine. neoline, songoramine, deoxyaconitine, hypoaconitine, ephedrine, neopelline, aconine picraconitine, benzaconine and napelline (luciculine), 12 epidehydro-napelline. piceplacetyldehydronapelline, 1,14 diacetylneoline, Also, aconitic, acetic, chlorogenic, malic, succinic acids. Root contains Vit. C. and starch. The drug yields from 2 to 6 per cent of ash
Uses
Historical & Conventional: Used as arrow poison.
Administered to criminals in ancient Greece.
Alleged cause of death for Roman Emperor Claudius and Pope Adrian VI.
Employed as cardiac sedative, painkiller, diuretic, and diaphoretic until the 1930s.
Folklore & Rituals:
Gustav Meyrink’s novel “Der Kardinal Napellus” describes mystical use of Aconite.
Symbolically linked with Saturn; birth flower for 9 September.
Represents deadliness, illicit love, and vengeance.
Preparation
Parts Used: Whole plant and root at start of flowering.
Mother Tincture: Coarse powder: 100 g
Purified water: 350 ml
Strong alcohol: 683 ml
Total: 1,000 ml
Potencies: 2x: 1 part tincture, 2 parts purified water, 7 parts strong alcohol.
3x and higher with dispensing alcohol.
Storage: Store crude and final products in tightly closed containers, away from light.
Doctrine of Signatures
The flower’s hooded shape mirrors its association with death, mystery, and shadowy forces, aligning with its toxic properties.
Mechanism of Toxicity
Aconitine is a highly toxic alkaloid that causes cardio toxicity and neurotoxicity due to its effect on voltage-sensitive sodium channels in excitable tissues like the myocardium, nerves, and muscles,
Pharmacology – Sodium Channel Activators
Effects: Ingesting it may result in a temporary burning sensation in the mouth, as well as salivation, vomiting, and diarrhea. Paresthesia, cardiac dysrhythmias, convulsions, and even death may occur.
Sphere of Action: Mucous membranes, muscles, nervous system.
Toxicology:
Symptoms: Muscular weakness, irregular breathing, weak pulse, bloating, dilated pupils.
Handling risk: Skin absorption can cause systemic symptoms.
Historical uses include fatal poison, sedative, and analgesic.
Pathological Action:
Brain: Injected vessels, serous effusion.
Stomach & Intestines: Red, inflamed, congested veins.
Lungs: Congested with black blood.
Heart: Right ventricle filled with gelatinous coagula.
Homoeopathic Aspects
| Ailments from | Exposure to cold, shock, fear. |
| Constitutions | Sedentary, timid individuals; robust or delicate; dark hair and eyes. |
| Temperament | Irritable and nervous. |
| Miasms | Psora (predominant), Sycosis. |
| Thermal Relation | Chilly. |
| Side Affinity | Mostly Right-sided |
| Diathesis | Inflammatory and neuralgic |
Therapeutics / Clinical Conditions:
Sudden onset fevers.
Shock, fright.
Acute inflammations.
Neuralgia.
Key Features / Guiding Symptoms:
Sudden, violent onset.
Intense fear and anxiety.
Restlessness.
Great thirst for cold water.
Aggravation from cold, exposure, and night.
Remedy Relations:
Complementary: Arnica, Coffea, Sulphur.
Aconite is the acute of Sulphur.
Antidotes: Vinegar (for poisoning), acids, wine, coffee.
Interesting Facts
Known as “queen mother of poisons.”
Used historically to ward off werewolves.
Poisoned arrows used in ancient warfare.
Conclusions:
Aconitum napellus demonstrates how a highly toxic substance can become a valuable homoeopathic remedy when used according to the law of similars. Characterized by sudden onset, intense anxiety, and acute inflammatory responses, it is especially useful in early stages of illness following shock or exposure to cold. Its study highlights the balance between toxicity and therapeutic potential central to homoeopathic practice.
