Aconitum ferox Wall. ex Ser.

Family:

Ranunculaceae.

Habitat:

The alpine Himalayas from Sikkim to Garhwal and Assam.

English:

Indian Aconite, Wolfsbane, Monkshood.

Ayurvedic:

Vatsanaabha, Visha, Amrita, Vajraanga, Sthaavaravisha, Vatsanaagaka, Shrangikavisha, Garala.

Unani:

Bish, Bishnaag.

Siddha/Tamil:

Vasanaavi, Karunaabhi.

Folk:

Bacchanaag, Bish, Mithaa Zahar, Telia Visha.

Action:

Narcotic, sedative, antileprotic, anti-inflammatory. Extremely poisonous. (Roots possess depressant activity, but after mitigation in cow's milk for 2–3 days, they exhibit stimulant activity.)

Key application:

In neuralgia. (Aconitum napellus L. has been listed by German Commission E among unapproved herbs.)

The root contains diterpenoid alkaloids, which act as a powerful poison that affects the heart and central nervous system. Aconitine has a short-lived cardiotonic action followed by cardiac depression. Topically, aconitine has analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anaesthetic activity.