Wolfsbane - where it grows in Russia, photo and description

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.

Akonite – a multifaceted traveler with “intercontinental registration”

Wrestler tall

Aconite or tall fighter is a perennial meadow plant with more than 300 species, of which the most common are Aconitum napellus, Aconitum exelsum, Aconitum Songoricum. In domestic folk medicine, aconite is known as Issyk-Kul root, blue buttercup, Dzungarian aconite, wolfbane, skullcap, etc. On the Eurasian continent, the plant is found in the south of Siberia and Altai, in the north of Central Asia, in Primorye. In addition, representatives of the genus Aconite are native to North America.

Bright blue, blue, purple (rarely white, yellow or variegated) 8-petaled flowers of the plant, shaped like a helmet, are collected in beautiful inflorescences. However, this beauty is deadly: flowers, leaves, seeds, and (especially!) nodule rhizomes of certain species of aconite are very poisonous, mainly during the flowering period.

The chemicals produced by aconites - alkaloids - include aconitines - the strongest plant poisons, due to which plant tubers emit a characteristic odor reminiscent of horseradish or celery. It is aconitines that are the main active ingredients in aconite tincture, used in informal and homeopathic medicine for the treatment of cancer and a number of other diseases.

Attention! Aconite poisons penetrate the skin easily and quickly enough!

Therefore, if you are going to harvest the plant yourself, stock up on strong rubber gloves, a mask and be very careful.

The content of aconitine in the cell sap of plants can vary significantly, which is reflected both in the anti-cancer and other medicinal properties, and in the degree of harm that “blue buttercup” can cause to humans if used incorrectly.

The toxicity of aconite depends not only on its type, but also on the place of growth, age, soil, climatic conditions, etc. Aconite is most poisonous (and most effective in treating cancer) in southern latitudes, while in the north the poison content in the plant is so low that in some countries (for example, Norway) it is fed to animals.

Different types of aconite differ from each other not only in the color of the flowers, but also in the type of stem (erect, twisting, climbing), as well as its length (from 50 cm for erect ones to 400 cm for climbing ones).

Another feature by which representatives of this genus can differ from each other is the shape of the leaves on long petioles. They are finger-separate, dissected or lobed. The color of the leaves on the upper glossy side is dark green, on the lower matte side it is lighter.

The plant blooms from July to September, after which the elegant clusters of inflorescences turn into multi-seeded leaflets (up to 3-5 in each fruit). Aconite seeds - gray-black or brown, triangular, with a jagged or arched edge - are very small and light: there can be up to 450 of them in 1 g.

The rhizomes penetrate underground to a distance of 5 to 30 cm. It is here that the main “poison storage” of aconite – the tubers – are formed. Young tubers are small in size, over time they increase in size and in a mature state reach from 4 to 8 cm in length and 2-3 in width. There are usually 2-3 such “bumps” on the roots. Stems with inflorescences grow from mature tubers in spring. After the stem dies in the fall, a characteristic scar remains on the tuber. Every year, aconite moves several centimeters underground due to the growth of rhizomes and the formation of new tubers, while old tubers that have completed their “fertile mission” die off. Thus, the plant slowly “travels” across the meadow, gradually changing its “location”.

Description of the plant

Aconite, also known as fighter, is a herbaceous perennial up to 1.5-2 m high. It belongs to the Ranunculaceae family, but its flower is atypical for buttercups: it looks like a helmet with a high crest, and in some species it looks like a medieval cap. It is formed by large modified sepals of blue color, the petals are turned into two nectaries. Monkshood flowers differ from related larkspurs by the absence of a spur. About two dozen of these flowers are collected in a large cluster at the top of the shoot, which makes the plant from a distance resemble a lupine.

In late autumn, the entire above-ground part of the plant dies. Only the root of aconite, short, swollen, covered with black bark, overwinters.

Aconite is a herbaceous perennial up to 1.5-2 m high

The generic names of the plant - aconite and fighter - are associated with the Greek word acontion (arrow) and the use of the herb for single combat with a large dangerous animal. The juice of the leaves was used to rub arrowheads against wolves, leopards, and bears. Hence the popular names of the plant: wolfsbane, wolf root, king potion, dog death. The wrestler is mentioned in Scandinavian legends as a plant that grew at the site of the death of the god Thor. A similar honor was given to him for the similarity of the flower to the helmet of a mythological deity.

Wolfsroot is very decorative and grows well in poor, rocky soils with virtually no care. Several types are used in landscape design:

• monkshood, or blue aconite: has a garden hybrid with white and blue flowers;
• wolfsbane: characterized by smaller growth (up to 1.5 m) and yellow flowers;
• aconite carmichelia rendsi: medium-sized plants for decorating ridges.

It is important to remember that aconite is highly toxic and to prevent children from coming into contact with it. In addition, the root of the wrestler is similar to the root of lovage, used as a spice.

Aconite is a toxic plant

Symptoms of aconite alkaloid poisoning

The picture of aconitine poisoning is determined by its multidirectional destructive effect. All vital systems are affected by the poison: nervous, cardiovascular, respiratory, excretory. The deadly alkaloid disrupts metabolic processes and immune defense mechanisms.

Do not under any circumstances try to taste the aconite tuber! The first signs of the harmful effects of aconitine - vomiting, goosebumps and numbness of the tongue - appear immediately. Following this, the classic picture of poisoning with curare-like poisons develops. For a fatal outcome, it is enough to swallow just 1 gram of a plant tuber!

The effect of aconitine on the heart and blood vessels

The muscles of the heart and blood vessels react to critical doses of poison with a drop in tone, as a result of which a person’s blood pressure sharply decreases. The reaction of the conduction system of the heart in the initial stage of poisoning is manifested by a slowdown in its rhythm - bradycardia. As the process progresses, the picture changes: bradycardia is replaced by increased heart rate - tachycardia. Following this, in the absence of emergency assistance, fibrillation occurs - chaotic contractions of the heart.

Other manifestations of poisoning

Cardiovascular disorders in aconite poisoning are accompanied by thirst, nausea and vomiting, impaired sensitivity of the lips, cheeks, tongue and fingertips, dry mouth, and temperature fluctuations.

A high degree of intoxication is manifested by twitching of the muscles of the face, arms and legs, periodic deterioration of vision, and difficulty breathing. This is followed by loss of consciousness, cessation of breathing and heartbeat.

Can poison be medicine?

The chilling details of the harmful effects of aconitine cause understandable fears among people who are faced with a serious health problem and are seeking to find an effective method of treatment with alternative methods.

Is it really possible to use aconite as a medicine, obtaining a powerful effect where official medicine is powerless? Yes, and also without fatal changes in the body?

Pests

1. Aphid. An insect that often carries illnesses. To protect your aconite from such a pest, spray the plant with an insecticide. Read the instructions for use on the drug label.
2. Rapeseed flower beetle. Such a parasite can be eliminated at the initial stage of its development. Therefore, we advise you not to forget to loosen the soil.
3. Nematodes. They are like a group of special agents. Almost invisible, but they affect the plant for several days. If you find such pests, protect yourself with fungicides.

Aconite tincture and official anti-cancer drugs: similarities and differences

Aconite tincture

To begin with, it is necessary to recall that all chemotherapy drugs used in standard cancer treatment regimens are aggressive substances with a huge number of side effects.

Thus, official antitumor agents, like the alcoholic extract of aconite alkaloids, have a detrimental effect not only on cancer cells, but also on healthy organs and tissues. This also applies to the latest generation of chemotherapy drugs, which work quite selectively.

However, the effect of official medications in the vast majority of cases can be planned and controlled.

As for the tincture of aconite, the use of this poison, even in homeopathic doses, is associated with a high risk, since in order to obtain a lasting therapeutic effect, the drug must be taken for a long time, gradually increasing the dose to the so-called saturation threshold, which can vary significantly in different patients.

Therefore, the tall wrestler is not included in the WHO-approved treatment regimens for cancer, as well as other serious diseases.

However, homeopathic remedies based on aconite tincture are officially approved for use in China and India, as well as in Bulgaria.

It is worth adding that the healing properties of the plant have been known since ancient times. Moreover, in the not so distant past, professional oncologists successfully used aconite in the complex treatment of cancer tumors.

Spreading

It grows naturally in the center of Europe and northern Asia. A prerequisite for the existence of aconite is a large amount of fertile soil, so most often the flower grows in meadows and highlands and along rivers. Certain varieties of aconite grow in North America.

In Russia, aconite is an ornamental plant that is grown only under cultivation conditions. However, the flower grows quickly, so if not properly cared for it can go wild. Wild plants in Russia are found on the sites of old houses, abandoned areas and along roads.

History of the use of aconite in medical practice

The first official notes on the healing properties of aconite in homeopathic doses appeared in the mid-19th century. One of them was published in an English medical publication called The Lancet. The article contained a large number of examples of miraculous healings under the influence of “useful poison”, on the basis of which the homeopathic remedy was, in fact, elevated to the rank of a “panacea”.

The creator of the famous “Explanatory Dictionary” and a doctor in one of the professions, Vladimir Dal, treated aconite with great reverence. In 1838, his letter to Prince Odoevsky described a real case of a patient being cured of a severe form of pneumonia under the influence of a homeopathic medicine based on this amazing plant. This letter was subsequently published in the progressive publication of those times - the Sovremennik magazine. By the way, Dahl treated his son, who was ill with lobar pneumonia, with tincture of aconite in homeopathic doses.

Professional oncologists in various countries of the world quite actively used aconite in the practice of treating tumor diseases in the last century, when official chemotherapy drugs were not much different from aconitine in their destructive effect on the body and were significantly inferior to the “healing poison” in effectiveness.

For example, in the Soviet Union, practicing oncologist surgeon T.V. Zakaurtseva. developed a technique that she used in her medical practice for more than 20 years. The doctor prescribed courses of aconite tincture for cancer patients in the preoperative period, as a result of which it was possible to achieve localization of the tumor (disappearance of metastases) even in the late stages of the disease. After treatment with aconite, the lesion was completely removed.

In the postoperative period, Zakaurtseva again prescribed the patient a course of treatment with an extract from the Issyk-Kul root. This made it possible to prevent the occurrence of new metastases: a common complication after operations to remove malignant tumors.

Propagation by seeds

Propagating aconite by seeds is the most labor-intensive method. It is necessary to carry out stratification. Stratification is the creation of conditions of different temperatures and humidity levels to stimulate seeds. Before winter, the seeds are sown in a container with soil and placed in a fairly cool place - a refrigerator, cellar or balcony.

In mid-spring, the container is transferred to a warm place for germination. After the first shoots germinate and the first two leaves form on them, the seedlings can be pruned. Aconite sprouts can be transplanted to a permanent place in the garden or flower bed in August. The distance between plants is about 25 cm. After about two or three seasons, aconite will bloom.

Versatile capabilities of aconite

Unlike modern official oncology, which has opted for synthetic antitumor drugs of targeted action, traditional medicine to this day successfully uses aconite tincture for the treatment of cancer tumors - both auxiliary and primary.

In addition, the high wrestler is used in treatment regimens for a number of diseases that are difficult to treat with traditional medications.

The range of indications for taking aconite is extremely wide: this amazing drug has no analogues among herbal preparations in terms of effectiveness and multidirectional therapeutic effects.

An alcoholic extract of a mixture of plant alkaloids can be used externally and/or internally, and gives a good effect for lesions of the skin, bones and joints, blood vessels, nerves, muscle tissue and mucous membranes of various nature, location and gravity.

In addition to the tincture, short-term wraps with fresh leaves of the plant can be used for local treatment of old deep suppurations.

Treatment of diseases of the skin, mucous membranes and hair

• External use of aconite tincture gives positive results in the treatment of neuroallergic diseases with pronounced skin manifestations: psoriasis, neurodermatitis, erysipelas.
• Treatment with aconite tincture has a quick and complete effect on scabies and lice.
• The positive results of the complex use of plant alkaloids in the treatment of cancer of the skin and mucous membranes, including melanoma, are described.

Therapy of infectious diseases

Aconite has been used for a long time to treat diseases of an infectious nature, including especially dangerous ones - anthrax, leprosy - as well as venereological diseases prone to relapse. To obtain a lasting effect in these cases, homeopaths prescribe taking aconite tincture orally in combination with local treatment of foci of infection on the skin.

The effect of aconite on allergies, poisoning by berries and mushrooms, bites of poisonous snakes and insects

fly agaric

One of the most amazing features of the extract of aconite alkaloids is the ability to act as an antidote for poisoning with strong poisons of a similar structure.

In this case, the therapeutic effect is due to the binding of aconitine to blood cells and/or other human tissues, preventing their interaction with deadly substances.

Aconite alkaloids ideally “suit” their chemical formula to the structure of cell receptors. Therefore, the receptors interact specifically with aconite alkaloids, and not with more dangerous poisons.

Using tincture for injuries and diseases of bones and joints

Wraps with aconite tincture help with bruises, dislocations and fractures, arthritis and polyarthritis, gout and osteochondrosis, radiculitis, and various forms of bone cancer.

Application of aconite in neurology and psychiatry

Homeopathic treatment with tincture of Djungarian aconite is highly effective in the complex treatment of diseases caused by disturbances in the functioning of various parts of the nervous system.

In psychiatric and psychotherapeutic practice, the wrestler is successfully used for convulsions and epilepsy, schizophrenia and other mental illnesses, neuroses and psychopathy, and impotence.

In neurology, aconite is used in the treatment of neuralgia and neuritis, migraines and dizziness, Parkinson's disease, paralysis, beriberi disease, etc.

Treatment of inflammatory and allergic respiratory diseases

Aconite is effective for sluggish and advanced pneumonia, pleurisy and bronchitis, pulmonary tuberculosis, bronchial asthma, tonsillitis and acute respiratory infections.

Use in the treatment of diseases of the digestive system

Taking the tincture orally helps with gastritis, stomach and duodenal ulcers, constipation and flatulence, hepatitis and cholelithiasis, intestinal colic, and worms.

Therapeutic effect of extract from aconite tubers on the cardiovascular system

The relaxing effect of aconitine on the walls of arterial vessels allows its tincture to be successfully used in the complex treatment of angina pectoris and hypertension.

Other diseases for which aconite helps

Aconite tincture is used for:

• anemia,
• hearing and vision impairments,
• senile decline of strength,
• problems with the thyroid gland (goiter),
• diabetes mellitus,
• baldness,
• uterine fibroids and persistent uterine bleeding of other nature,
• hydrocele and cystitis (as a diuretic and anti-inflammatory),
• prostate adenoma,
• kidney stone disease, etc.

Important information! For oral administration, aconite is prescribed in microdoses, according to special regimens and with mandatory constant monitoring of well-being. The dose and timing of treatment are most often selected individually. The occurrence of pronounced side effects and complications serves as a signal to immediately stop taking aconite; the question of further treatment should be decided only after professional medical consultation and occur under the supervision of a doctor. However, given the ambiguous attitude of official world medicine towards a highly toxic poison, treatment with aconite under the official supervision of a doctor is very often difficult or impossible.

Types and varieties

The variety includes more than 300 varieties. Of these, about 4 varieties are found in the European part of Russia. To date, only 5 species of aconite have been cultivated, among which the most common are two-colored wrestler and glomerulus.

Monkshood bicolor two-color

An unusually colored plant. The peculiarity of the flower lies in its high decorative qualities, achieved due to the irregular shape of two-color white and blue inflorescences. The height of the bush can exceed one and a half meters. Racemose inflorescences rise above the foliage, located on a high peduncle.

The plant is also decorative due to its foliage, which is colored in dark shades of green and has a diamond shape. The leaf blade is smooth with a visible vein in the center. The foliage is arranged alternately on the stem.

Wolfsbane Eleonora

It is a small shrub with herbaceous foliage. The height of individual flowers does not exceed half a meter. The peculiarity of the plant is its thin stem, which droops under the weight of the foliage. Therefore, when growing decoratively, bushes need additional support.

The rich green tint of the foliage gives aconite an additional decorative effect. This type of borer has palmate, divided leaves located on the petioles. The leaves are quite large, despite the height of the plant itself, they can reach 15 cm along the central vein.

The wrestler blooms with large white inflorescences with a purple border. The flowers are racemose, at the top located on a high peduncle. Unlike other varieties, this species blooms in early summer and ends in mid-August. The plant is poisonous throughout its life.

Altai aconite

An ornamental plant that is found only in the Altai region, along the banks of rivers and lakes, meadows. The stems of this variety are covered with a large amount of green foliage. The shoots are quite thin, but tall, reaching a meter in length. Petioles and foliage are attached alternately over the entire surface of the stem.

The leaf blade of aconite is pentagonal and flat. The shade of the leaves above is dark green, and below is grayish. The leaves are petiolate, attached to the shoots alternately.

The inflorescences are large, collected in small cysts, like those of lupins. The plant blooms by mid-summer and continues to bloom until mid-August. The buds are dark blue, irregularly shaped flowers. The inflorescences are located on high peduncles, so they are visible from afar.

Treatment of cancer patients: advantages and possibilities of aconite

The centuries-old practice of using aconite tincture and/or decoction in treatment regimens for cancer patients indicates its high effectiveness and allows it to be considered a full-fledged alternative to chemotherapy drugs, including the latest generation of drugs.

The main advantages of homeopathic therapy based on high-wrestler alkaloids:

• prevention of the formation of metastases, as well as a significant slowdown (and in some cases, reverse development) of existing secondary tumor foci;
• competent use of aconite practically does not lead to the occurrence of irreversible processes in internal organs;
• Strict adherence to the dosage minimizes the side effects of aconitine.
• Aconite not only counteracts the progression of the tumor, but also significantly reduces, and in some cases leads to the disappearance of, almost all the main symptoms of cancer: pain, depression, intoxication, etc., which is especially valuable in the treatment of older people, as well as cancer patients weakened by illness or long courses of official chemotherapy.

Habitat

All varieties of aconite are common in Eurasia and North America. But in the USA this flower is endangered and is even included in the Red Book. In other parts of the world it grows unhindered.

But due to the situation in North America, several years ago the fighter was included in the IUCN Red List, so harvesting the plant may be illegal in some regions. Typically, the plant chooses roadsides in steppes and forest-steppes, in deciduous forests or mountain meadows. This habitat is due to the fact that wolfsbane needs humus-rich soils.

Methods and treatment regimens for aconite in alternative oncology

In oncological practice, a 10% alcohol extract from the tubers or leaves of turnip or red aconite is usually used. Due to the high toxicity of these plant species, it is better to dose the drug with an insulin syringe (U-40 scale). The contents of such a syringe are 1 ml or 40 drops of a strictly defined volume. It is not recommended to dose the medicine using an eye dropper: the volume of drops from it is unstable, and this can lead to both an overdose of toxins (up to double) and a decrease in the effectiveness of the tincture.

Usually the tincture is taken on an empty stomach, half an hour before meals, or 2-3 hours after meals. The standard treatment regimen involves a gradual increase in the daily dose. Treatment begins with 1 drop 3 times a day, daily increasing the number of drops by 1 at each dose. On the 20th day, the dosage reaches a maximum of 60 drops per day. After this, the number of drops begins to be reduced in the same order. Thus, the standard treatment cycle with aconite takes 39 days.

However, taking into account the different individual tolerance to the action of the poison, as well as focusing on the general condition of the patient and the level of functioning of his vital organs and systems, the treatment regimen with aconite very often has to be adapted to the individual characteristics of each patient, as well as to the characteristics of a specific tincture.

Before use, any number of drops are dissolved in boiled water, cooled to room temperature (50–60 ml or a quarter glass).

Attention! Tinctures from slightly poisonous species of aconite with a low content of alkaloids (for example, Chekanovsky's aconite) are dosed not in drops, but in milliliters.

In the absence of pronounced side effects and a sharp aggravation of the condition during treatment, it is recommended to take three courses of taking aconite tincture with a 2-week break after the first and second. When a lasting positive effect is achieved, treatment with aconite is completely stopped. In case of incomplete cure or relapse of the disease, it is possible to continue therapy, the duration and frequency of which are determined individually.

The importance of an initial individual approach to taking aconite tincture is clearly shown by the following example. When using a tincture from the roots of aconite Djungarian, the content of toxic alkaloids in 1 ml is 0.08%, the potency of the drug is very high. If there are decompensated disorders of the internal organs due to the underlying disease and/or previous treatment with other anticancer drugs, it is not recommended to take more than 30 drops of tincture daily (10 drops per dose). Thus, in this case, the course of treatment will be only 19 days when taken according to the standard regimen.

It should be noted that “killer” doses of alkaloids are not always necessary. For example, in the treatment of certain forms of cancer, as well as in the early stages of the disease, oncophytotherapists give preference to tinctures of medium concentration (2.5-5%) with a more gentle effect and the ability to increase the dose as smoothly as possible. This approach allows us to count on lower risks for the patient.

It seems even more correct to carefully analyze the patient’s condition for oversaturation of the body with aconite alkaloids, which is manifested by the symptoms of poisoning described above. The dose increase stops when the first signs of oversaturation appear, after which its uniform reduction begins.

Important! When drawing up individual plans for treatment with aconite according to this scheme, it is very important to strictly adhere to the timing of breaks between courses of one stage of treatment.

It is necessary to rest from the effects of aconitine for as many days as there are drops in the maximum single dose of the medicine. So, for example, if the first signs of oversaturation were identified on the 17th day of treatment (i.e., when taking 17 drops of tincture 3 times a day), then the second course of therapy should be started not after 2 weeks, but after 17 days.

The main advantage of the standard dosage regimen is the ability to use aconite tincture independently without mandatory medical supervision. The main disadvantage of standard dosages is the high risk of developing pathological changes (including the occurrence of irreversible disorders) in vital organs.

Attention! In most cases, the drug is started according to the standard regimen. The transition to gentle methods occurs when undesirable effects occur - this happens quite often: the body of a cancer patient is weakened. The most important condition for the effectiveness of treatment, regardless of the technique used, is its continuity. Remember: in the absence of life-threatening changes in the functioning of the organs and systems of the body, there should be no intervals between taking the tincture - only the dosage can change.

The duration of the break between stages of treatment (if necessary) is determined based on the patient’s condition, diagnosis, rate of disease progression and other objective reasons, and ranges from three months to one year.

A good effect in the treatment of cancer patients is achieved by alternating treatment with aconite tincture with herbal medicine with other medicinal plants with similar properties: tinctures of hemlock, fly agaric, and milestone.

Possible difficulties during cultivation

With the wrong approach to plant care, gardeners may encounter problems such as:

• Lack of flowering - the cause of this condition is often an insufficient amount of water in the soil. In addition, the flower stops blooming if the soil contains few nutrients or air.
• Late flowering - the cause of this phenomenon is low air temperature or characteristics of the variety. In the first case, the solution to the problem comes with improved climatic conditions, in the second - the problem simply does not exist, these are the characteristics of the variety.

Growing a wrestler in a garden does not require special efforts or creation of conditions from the grower. However, any plant requires care, which determines the duration of flowering and the beauty of the shrub.

Sequence of actions when signs of poisoning with tincture of aconite appear

Severe poisoning with tincture of aconite causes dangerous disruptions in the functioning of vital organs and serves as a signal for urgent action to prevent irreversible changes in the body, including death.

In such a situation, it is recommended to immediately stop taking the drug and carry out desintoxication (drip infusions of saline and glucose solution, if necessary, together with an antidote/antidote). In this case, the treatment effect is nullified, but in this case there is simply no other way out.

During treatment strictly according to the regimen, signs of intoxication may also appear, as mentioned above. However, if these signs are noticed in time and the treatment regimen is adjusted, it will not have to be interrupted. Thus, the patient will still have the chance to take advantage of the destructive effect of the drug on tumor cells without significant harm to his health.

The first signs of poison overload include:

• general weakness,
• nausea,
• loss of sensitivity and tingling on the tips of the fingers and tongue,
• disruptions in the functioning of the heart (disturbances in the normal rhythm of heart contractions).

If these symptoms appear, it is necessary to reduce the single dose of the drug by 3 drops and continue treatment with this dosage until the patient’s condition improves. In only 5% of patients such measures are ineffective. This group of people is advised to stop treatment and take a 2-week rest, after which it is necessary to start the course of therapy again, choosing the appropriate concentration, dosage and sequence of taking the tincture.

Important! If an allergy to the action of the poison occurs, further use of aconite tincture is completely contraindicated in any doses!

Good to know…

• In ancient Rome, aconite was quite popular as an ornamental plant and was widely cultivated in gardens. However, the Roman Emperor Trajan banned the cultivation of aconite in 117 due to frequent cases of suspicious deaths from poisoning. In Rome and Ancient Greece, death sentences were carried out using aconite.
• The ancient Gauls and Germans impregnated the tips of spears and arrows intended for hunting leopards, wolves, panthers and other predators with aconite extract. This is to some extent confirmed by the names of the fighter preserved among the people - wolf root, wolf killer, among the Slavs - dog potion, dog death, black potion.
• It is believed that aconite is a symbol of crime, verbal poison and coldness. Often referred to as the witch's flower.
• Plutarch spoke about the poisoning of Mark Antony's soldiers with aconite poison. Warriors who ate aconite lost their memory and were busy turning over every stone they came across, as if they were looking for something very important, until they began to vomit bile.
• There is a legend that Tamerlane was killed precisely by the poison of aconite - the juice of this plant was soaked in his skullcap.

Using an aqueous decoction of aconite leaves and tubers: pros and cons

If necessary, an alcohol tincture of aconite can be replaced with an aqueous decoction of tubers or other parts of the plant.

Aconite decoction is usually taken orally 3 times a day, half an hour before meals, warmed, 60 ml per dose.

To obtain a therapeutic concentration of active ingredients, it is necessary to boil 3 medium-sized root vegetables in 1.5 liters of water over low heat for half an hour.

The advantage of this dosage form is the absence of the harmful effects of alcohol on the weakened body of a cancer patient.

Disadvantages of aconite decoction:

• impossibility of precise dosage,
• disruption of the structure of alkaloids during processing with a deterioration in their therapeutic effect.

Compound

The chemical composition of aconite has not been fully studied. But it has been proven that all parts of the plant contain concentrated alkaloids, small percentages of aconitic acid and aconitine. The green part of the flower contains tannins, ascorbic acid, inositol, flavonoids and less significant biologically active compounds. There are more than 20 species.

The compounds pose a potential danger to the human body, so the leaves and stem of aconite are almost never used. Wrestler tubers contain the following chemicals:

• Aconitine;
• Hypoaconitine;
• Napelline;
• Daucosterol;
• Mesoaconitin;
• Organic resins;
• Saponins;
• Coumarins;
• Starch;
• Benzoic acid;
• Oleic acid;
• Palmitic acid;
• Stearic acid;
• Myristic acid;
• Transaconitic acid;
• Lemon acid;
• Linoleic acid;
• Fumaric acid;
• Sasaakonitine;
• Sparteine;
• Ephedrine;
• Getaconitine;
• Neopellin;
• Benzoylaconine.

Special cases of using aconite tincture for various cancer localizations

Treatment of skin cancer with an alcohol extract of aconite alkaloids can be carried out both locally and in combination: external treatment of the tumor (applications) + oral administration of the drug. In this case, one should take into account the rapid and complete absorption of aconitines through the skin (to avoid overdose and poisoning). A proper ratio, as well as a gradual increase in doses of aconite tincture to a state of saturation with combined external and internal use, ensures high efficiency in the treatment of skin forms of tumors, including extremely malignant ones (melanoma, etc.)

Tumors of the lower intestines - rectum and colon - are treated with aconite by taking the tincture per os (by mouth) and in the form of enemas. Instead of enemas, suppositories or ointments with aconitine can also be used, which provides a more lasting, smooth and complete therapeutic effect. The high effectiveness of ointments and suppositories is explained by the slow and uniform absorption of alkaloids through the rectal mucosa, as well as their selective delivery directly to the site. As a result, the drug acts for a long time without serious side effects. The only disadvantage of ointments and suppositories is the impossibility of accurately adjusting the dose.

For what diseases is aconite used?

All types of wrestler contain potent poisonous alkaloids. In ancient times, due to its poisonous properties, aconite was often used to prepare poisons. Later, aconite found use in folk medicine as an external pain reliever for neuralgia, joint pain, rheumatism, and colds.

Chekanovsky's aconite is used in traditional medicine in the treatment of acute and chronic inflammatory diseases, epilepsy, toothache, and cancer.

In Russian folk medicine, aconite is known as an external pain reliever. Antidote aconite, as it is less poisonous, is taken orally for the treatment of malaria, paralysis, migraines, lower back pain, for worms, and also as an antipyretic and antidote for poisoning.

In China, aconite is popular as an ingredient in anti-cancer and other remedies.

Examples from the practice of traditional healers

Patient S. diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer

Surgical treatment was refused due to the presence of tumor metastases in the liver and colon, as well as the spread of its foci throughout the omentum and mesentery of the small intestine. By the time the treatment with aconite began, the patient complained of general weakness due to intoxication with tumor decay products, he had a picture of liver failure, and a pronounced decrease was noted. In addition, the patient complained of severe girdling pain in the hypochondrium. The officially received symptomatic treatment consisted of pain-relieving injections of narcotic drugs twice a day every 12 hours. Therapy with aconite followed a standard method, the drug was taken orally. Already at the end of the first course, the patient was able to refuse one injection of anesthetic, and in the middle of the second course the need for pain relief completely disappeared. After completing all 3 cycles of treatment with aconite, the patient did not seek help for 10 months due to the absence of any signs of disease progression. However, then the pain reappeared, and the patient’s wife came to the traditional healer for a new tincture.

Patient V. diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer with metastases in the liver and bladder

received supportive treatment - removal of accumulated fluid from the abdominal cavity using laparocentesis every one and a half to two weeks. The patient noted severe pain in the right hypochondrium and complained of scanty and infrequent urination. After the next removal of ascites fluid, the patient’s condition sharply worsened, she stopped getting up and practically could not talk. After two weeks of treatment with aconite tincture in a standard concentration according to the usual regimen, the patient’s condition improved significantly, muscle tone increased, intoxication symptoms disappeared, and her mood improved. The patient returned to her normal lifestyle, including walking in the fresh air. Currently, treatment with aconite continues.

Patient D. after radical surgery for sarcoma of the lower jaw with removal of a section of it

I was bothered by constant pain in the problem area. The patient was in a state of depression due to the underlying disease, as well as the presence of a pronounced cosmetic defect of the face. An alcohol extract for the tall wrestler was prescribed according to the standard regimen, and the treatment was tolerated without complications. Carrying out 3 standard cycles led to the disappearance of pain, improvement in general condition, and the cessation of pain relief. Other positive effects include significant weight gain after a course of aconite therapy (+10 kg). The patient went to work, despite the fact that cosmetic surgeons did not consider it possible to perform reconstructive cosmetic surgery on the lower jaw at this point in time. At the present time (8 months after the end of the first course of treatment), a decision is made to conduct repeated therapy with wrestler tincture

Patient F. with rectal cancer in stage III

surgery was refused due to an unfavorable prognosis. The patient was bothered by the periodic urge to defecate, feces were practically not retained, and blood was constantly present in the stool. In addition, he noted general weakness (in the absence of pain). Treatment with aconite tincture was carried out according to a standard regimen in combination with rectal suppositories based on pork fat. The full course of therapy led to a decrease in the severity of the symptoms of the disease, bleeding from the intestines is observed sporadically and easily stops, positive dynamics in mood, weight, and general well-being are noted.

Patient V. with operated testicular cancer

asked for help with complaints of severe aching pain in the groin area. At the time of treatment, the inguinal lymph nodes were enlarged and painful on palpation. In addition, the patient noted problems with sleep and lack of appetite, and rapid weight loss (8 kg in the last 6 weeks). Treatment was carried out with alcohol tincture of aconite according to the standard regimen. On the 17th day, signs of oversaturation with toxic alkaloids were noted - nausea and vomiting. The therapy adjustment consisted of reducing the single dose by 3 drops and freezing it for 3 days. The dose plateau led to the disappearance of nausea and vomiting, after which the drug was resumed as usual. After the end of the first cycle, the disappearance of pain was noted along with a decrease in lymph nodes, restoration of normal sleep and appetite, and a tendency to gain weight.

Patient I. diagnosed with stage IV thyroid cancer with metastases to the bones of the lower extremities

asked for help with complaints of severe pain in the hip area, as well as along the femur and tibia bones of both legs. The patient was prescribed aconite tincture according to the standard regimen in combination with rubbing and applications at the site of pain. The patient was treated independently, and after a year and a half she asked for a tincture for a second course.

Growing aconite grass

Recommendations

1. Aconite does not like excessive moisture. This may kill the flower.
2. If it’s hot outside, water the aconite fighter once every two weeks.
3. Make sure that the soil on top does not dry out.
4. Don't forget to loosen the soil. This paves the way for oxygen to reach the aconite root.
5. Weeds take away nutrients from the plant. Rip out unwanted neighbors.

The soil

Aconite flower grows well in light and loose soil. Planting of aconite occurs after preparing the ground. It is recommended to dig up and feed.

Peat and compost are perfect. The result will be a comfortable space for the development of a wrestler.

Transfer

Schedule the procedure for spring. Prepare the area for the plant in advance.

1. It is better to plant aconite flower in a new place with an old clod of earth. This way the aconite root will definitely remain intact.
2. Form the drainage with expanded clay.
3. Top with mineral fertilizer according to the instructions on the package.
4. Dig out a space slightly larger than the aconite root with the old soil.
5. Replant and cover with soil.
6. Tamp down before watering.
7. Whether aconite will take root will be known in a month and a half. At this time, the flower needs special care.

Fertilizers

Aconite exists at one point for a long time. During this period, the soil becomes poorer in beneficial properties. Therefore, do not forget to fertilize.

Both organic bait and minerals are suitable. The best season for the procedure is spring. Compost is recommended to add vibrancy to flowers and increase the lifespan of the plant.

Wintering

Yes, aconite is famous for its resistance to cold weather. But preparation for hibernation cannot be skipped. With the onset of frost, aconite is cut off.

The roots of the plant are immersed in dry peat. A layer of about 20 cm. Then dry leaves. When the snow melts, remove the cover. Let the soil evaporate moisture. Wolfsbane will wake up faster.

Collection and drying of Aconite raw materials

Raw materials are collected and dried from early August to October. Dates may change due to weather. On average, this is 2 months of preparations.

• It is advised to harvest only those plants that have produced fruit or are vegetative with more than three leaves.

Don't touch the rest, let them restore the bush. These will provide less raw materials than costs.

• In the same place, blanks are collected once every twenty years. The roots removed from the ground are shaken off and the stem is separated. Remove the inner cavity of soil. To do this, cut the rhizome in any way.
• Dry in special electric dryers. The mode is not higher than 80 degrees. If you don't have a gadget, try drying it in the sun.

Distribute the raw material thinly on asphalt, concrete and other well-heated surfaces. Turn over from time to time.

Please note that aconite breaks easily after drying. Dried raw materials are about 20 percent of fresh plants.

Attention! Don't forget, aconite is often poisonous. Protect your respiratory tract with masks or respirators. After touching the raw materials, wash your hands thoroughly with a disinfectant.

Trimming

To ensure that aconite is lush and continues to blend with the interior, it is important to trim off the withered parts.

The flowering period is short, but such intervention can serve as a signal for repetition. If you want to get the seed, leave a few inflorescences. After they mature, you will receive material for propagation.

Precautions and first aid for poisoning

Since the drug aconite is very dangerous, all necessary precautions should be taken. Store only closed and away from children's hands and eyes.

After using the tincture, always wash your hands with soap and boil the cup you drank from. Do not change the treatment regimen or increase the recommended dose under any circumstances.

In case of overdose, the following symptoms are observed:

• Nausea;
• Vomit;
• Numbness of the limbs;
• Numbness of the tongue, cheeks and lips;
• Fever;
• Sudden loss of vision;
• Thirst and dry mouth;
• Strong headache;
• Low pressure;
• Loss of consciousness.

In such cases, emergency medical care must be provided immediately. Until the doctors arrive, it is urgent to rinse the stomach. You can do it yourself using a liter of warm water in which a couple of manganese crystals are diluted. You should quickly drink the liquid and induce vomiting, then take activated charcoal. Plenty of hot drinks in the form of strong tea and coffee are recommended.

From all of the above, we can summarize that many years of experience in using the plant proves its effectiveness in the fight against many ailments. However, the plant itself and medicines based on it are highly poisonous. Therefore, their use must be precise, following all instructions. To obtain a positive result, regular course therapy is needed; chaotic use will not give the desired result. It is ideal to use tincture, extract, or decoction of wrestler under the strict supervision of a doctor in order to control the dose and the body’s reaction to the active ingredients. But for now, unfortunately, this is impossible, since aconite is not recognized in official medicine as an effective means of fighting cancer. Therefore, the decision to start treatment with this drug rests solely with the patient. Before deciding on a course, you need to weigh the pros and cons, study the relevant literature, and identify possible risks.

When deciding on treatment with a fighter, you need to follow the exact dosage.

And, if possible, do not prepare the drug yourself; it is safer to buy it at the pharmacy.

Video addition:

Useful properties and features of the tincture

Tincture of aconite (the drug "Oncolan") is made from the roots, less often from the leaves, and contains two types of alkaloids:

1. Atisic (non-toxic) - esters of acetic and benzoic acid.
2. Aconitine (poisonous) – hypoaconine, mesaconine, aconine.

The plant has the following medicinal effect:

• anti-inflammatory (antiseptic, antiviral and antibacterial);
• antitumor;
• antispasmodic;
• analgesic.

In everyday life, aconite infusion destroys flies, mosquitoes and cockroaches.

Contraindications for Djungarian aconite:

It is not recommended to treat children with aconite yourself!

Aconite is one of the most poisonous plants in the world. In homeopathy, the pharmaceutical fighter is used in a dilution of 1:1000, 1:1000000 or 1:1000000000000. It must be handled with great care, since the poison, upon contact with the plant, can penetrate even through the skin. The most poisonous part of the plant is the tuber roots, especially in the fall, after the tops have withered. The aerial part is especially poisonous before flowering and during flowering. The degree of toxicity of various aconites is influenced by both the type of plant and the place of distribution, growing conditions, the growing season and the part of the plant being harvested. A.P. Chekhov described cases of poisoning of people on Sakhalin who ate the liver of pigs who were poisoned by aconite tuber roots.

Medicine

The literature describes a case where 3-4 milligrams of aconitine killed an adult. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Dutch doctor Meyer took 50 drops of aconitine nitrate in order to convince the wife of one of his patients that the medicine was not poisonous. An hour and a half later, he showed the first signs of poisoning. Four hours later, a doctor was called to see Dr. Meyer, who found him sitting on the sofa, very pale, with a rapid pulse and constricted pupils. Meyer complained of chest tightness, difficulty swallowing, pain in the mouth and stomach, headache and a feeling of freezing cold. All the measures taken did not help. The feeling of anxiety intensified, the pupils dilated, about forty minutes later attacks of suffocation occurred, and after the third attack (5 hours after taking the medicine), Dr. Meyer died.

European species of aconite are less poisonous. According to some researchers, when European species of aconite are cultivated as an ornamental plant, after 3–4 generations they generally lose their toxic properties. But due to the impossibility of determining at home the quantitative content of alkaloids in a given plant and accordingly assessing the degree of its toxicity, any aconite used must be treated as highly poisonous and strictly follow all the rules for harvesting, drying, storage, preparation of dosage forms and dosage when used . The possibility of poisoning by honey collected by bees from aconite flowers cannot be ruled out. Poisoning occurs most often in cases where the tincture is drunk by mistake or during an attempt to commit suicide. Severe poisoning, including death, is also possible with self-medication. Poisoning with aconite develops quickly, and in severe poisoning, death quickly occurs either from damage to the respiratory center, or immediately from paralysis of the heart muscle.

Lethal doses are about 1 g of plant, 5 ml of tincture, 2 mg of aconitine alkaloid.

Risks of use

If you use aconite tincture, it is important to remember the signs of poisoning by this plant:

• urge to vomit;
• the tongue, cheeks, lips, fingertips become numb;
• there is a feeling that goosebumps are running all over the body;
• thirst appears;
• temperature fluctuates;
• In case of severe poisoning, the muscles of the legs, arms, and face twitch, vision deteriorates, and breathing is difficult.

It is strictly forbidden to try even a tiny part of the aconite tuber! The root of Djungarian aconite is extremely poisonous. Even 1 gram can contain a lethal dose of aconitine.

As you can see, Djungarian aconite can only be used informally in the treatment of cancer

It is important to take into account the type of tumor, its size, location, presence of metastases, and dynamics of treatment. Of course, you can’t use just one tincture.

Treatment must be comprehensive. It is carefully selected by the oncologist. Ask your doctor if it is possible to supplement complex treatment with tincture of aconite.