The medieval doctor Paracelus put it in a nutshell in one of his well-known sayings: Many plants can be medicinal plants and poisons at the same time, it all depends on the dosage. However, monkshood is so poisonous that you should keep your hands off your own experiments with it.

Monkshood is used in homeopathy

Effects of mere touch

When choosing a location for sowing monkshood in your own garden, not only factors such as soil quality and moisture are relevant. Many gardeners prefer to plant this perennial tall perennial in the middle of perennial beds, so that the plant is less likely to be accidentally touched. After all, just touching the flowers and leaves can lead to health consequences such as an unpleasant burning sensation and numbness in the limbs. That is why parts of the poisonous plant were also used in the Middle Ages for the preparation of witches' ointments, whereby the burning sensation on the skin is said to have felt like the growth of bird feathers. If possible, you should wear gloves for care measures such as pruning.

The use of monkshood in medicine

The monkshood was probably already known to scholars in antiquity with its effects, from the Middle Ages the plants of this genus were also used as a remedy and murder poison. Even today, certain monkshood species are used in traditional Chinese medicine and in homeopathy to treat the following diseases:

  • rheumatism
  • nerve pain
  • inflammatory diseases
  • gout
  • cold

Since monkshood is one of the most poisonous plants in Europe, medical applications should only be made with officially tested extracts and pharmaceutical products from monkshood. Even small doses of this plant can lead to severe symptoms of poisoning or even death.

Symptoms of poisoning caused by the ingredients in aconite

Accidental consumption of aconite usually does not go unnoticed, as numbness of the tongue and an unpleasant tingling sensation on the tongue sets in immediately. Depending on the amount of alkaloids and alkamines contained in the plant parts or seeds, severe cramps, vomiting and signs of paralysis sometimes occur. In the case of poisoning with monkshood, deaths regularly occur within about three hours after contact with the poison, which usually occurs with full consciousness due to respiratory paralysis in the area of the upper respiratory organs.

tips

Although monkshood can be found in a comparatively large number of private gardens, serious incidents are relatively rare. However, if there are children or pets in your household and garden, or if you have regular visits, it is advisable to be particularly careful with the plants, their seeds or a bouquet of flowers in a vase.

Category:

Vegetable garden