The History, Use and Cultivation of Aconite

 

Aconite is a beautiful flower with a strong history. It is a perennial with a "smooth, round, and leafy stem" (Kowalchik, 1987, p.1). The flowers of the aconite are a purplish blue in color, and it bears 5 petals in the late summer and fall. The flowers are slightly bell shaped. This plant is located in "the mountains of France, Switzerland, and Germany," and it is "widely cultivated in Europe and North America" (Kowalchick, 1987, p.1). These plants are lovely, but they are also poisonous.

Aconite is very prevalent in Greek mythology. It is said that the plant became poisonous because it "grew on the hill of Aconitus," and this hill is where "Cerberus, the three headed dog that guards the gates to hell" fought with Hercules; it is said that saliva fell from the dogs mouth onto the plant causing it to be deadly (Kowalchik, 1987, p.1). Aconite seems to have been a choice plant for poisoning people in Greek mythology as well. "Hectate" was said to have used this plant to poison her father, and "Medea" also poisoned "Theseus" with this deadly plant (Kowalchik, 1987, p.1). This plants poison is very toxic.

This plant is harmful, and has been used by many different groups for medicinal purposes, but I believe this plant is best left for show. Witches in the middle ages would mix the poison from this plant with belladonna, which is another poisonous plant, to create a potion for flying. I believe that their reaction to this mixture made them hallucinate and believe they were flying, but too much would surely kill them.

Aconite is a powerful plant, and although Chinese herbalists believe in the benefits of this plant, I believe it is too dangerous to be meddled with. This plant will cause "the heart to slow, decrease in blood pressure, and sweating;" it is also used topically as a pain reliever because when applied it is "absorbed into the skin and produces a warm and tingling sensation followed by numbness" (Kowalchik, 1987, p.2). This is dangerous because such a tiny amount of this plant will cause poisoning.

Although this plant is deadly it does make a beautiful addition to your garden It can be grown from seed and sown in April. It is a hardy plant, but it takes 2 to 3 years to flower. The best method of propagation for Aconite is through the roots. Every four years dig up the plant and break off the small roots that have grown around the old root. Plant these baby roots about a foot and a half away from the mother.

This plant is lovely, but be aware of its chemical properties. It can harm and even kill you if absorbed internally or by the skin.

Reference:
Kowalchik, C. (Ed.). (1987). Rodale's encyclopedia of herbs. Emmaus, PA: Rodale.