We use the healing properties of the herb aconite for our health

Aconite or fighter is a plant that is covered in myths and legends. Some of them say that the flower appeared from the poisonous saliva of the dog Cerberus, who guarded the exit from hell and was brought to earth by Hercules during one of his labors.

This happened near the city of Akone. Where the vicious dog's saliva fell, aconite grew there. The plant is also credited with many incredible medicinal and poisonous properties. In ancient times, arrows were moistened with aconite juice and all kinds of poisonous preparations were prepared from it. Currently, aconite tincture is in demand, the application of which has a fairly wide range. It remains to understand the reasons for such popularity.

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.

Analogs

There are no drugs with similar properties and similar effects.

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A herbal remedy based on the properties of the herb lily of the valley and anise. Produced in the form of drops for oral administration. The drug is designed to normalize cardiac activity, provide a sedative effect in case of increased excitability and lack of sleep. Also used to control early forms of hypertension.

The drops are taken orally in the dosage prescribed by the doctor.

Pros:

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Flaws:

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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.

Medicinal properties

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Aconite is used in official medicine to a limited extent; its medicinal properties are more in demand in homeopathy and folk medicine.

The plant is extremely poisonous: in terms of its effect on humans, it is often compared to curare, since the substances are also capable of paralyzing the respiratory system.

In microscopic doses, the components contained in the plant normalize the rhythm of the heart, improve cellular metabolism, inhibit pathogenic microorganisms, and suppress the growth of malignant tumors.

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.

Side effects and overdose

After taking products with aconite, allergic reactions and a primary exacerbation of existing pathologies are possible (considered a normal phenomenon when treated with homeopathy).

Tincture, tablets

If symptoms of herbal poisoning appear, stop taking the drug immediately and immediately provide assistance to the patient: wash the stomach, give medications to induce vomiting and drink plenty of fluids (lukewarm water, oak bark decoction, black coffee). In addition, it is allowed to make microenemas with vegetable oil (olive, flax seed, hemp) and put mustard plasters on the limbs.

Homeopathic cereals

To date, no cases of poisoning or overdose have been recorded.

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.

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.

Contraindications and precautions

Medicines containing aconite should not be taken if:

• Supersensitivity to contained substances, current or past allergies to aconite
• Hypotension
• Under 5 years of age
• Pregnancy, lactation.

The plant is extremely poisonous; its substances penetrate into the body even after contact with the skin. To avoid complications, special care should be taken when working with it.

After using the tincture for external purposes, you must thoroughly clean your hands and utensils containing the medication, making sure that the product does not get into your eyes.

When treating with aconite granules:

• During therapy, inhalation of products containing menthol or camphor alcohol should be avoided.
• Diabetics should be aware that the homeopathic remedy contains sugar. Therefore, they will need to take its content into account when calculating the total amount of glucose. The daily amount of drugs is 0.13 XE.
• During therapy, you should refrain from acidic drinks, berries and other foods with natural acids, as well as drugs with ASA and ascorbic acid.
• If within 3-5 days of taking the granules there is no visible healing effect, the disease progresses, or unusual symptoms not mentioned in the description of the drug appear, then the patient should contact the treating homeopath.

Cross-drug interactions

When treating with aconite, it must be taken into account that antagonists of drugs containing it are corticosteroids, antihistamines, and liquids with caffeine.

If combination treatment is necessary, combination with antibiotic drugs is allowed.

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.