Aconitum heterophyllum WALL. EX ROYLE SERINGE

Family : Ranunculaceae

Synonym(s) : Aconitum cordatum; Aconitum Atees

English Name : Asian monkshood, Atis root, Aconites, Indian Atees

Origin : Western Himalayas

Description

Perennial, aesthetic herb containing tuberous roots and standing 1-3 ft tall. Roots biennial, paired, tuberous, daughter tuber cylindrical to cylindrical, oblong or conic, long, thick, bearing few root fibres which are friable, bark very thin. Stem erect, simple or branched, high, glabrous below internodes short. Leaves are mainly heteromorphous, glabrous, Inflorescence a slender raceme, leafy panicle or in alpine specimens reduced to a few flowers, crispo-pubescent. Sepals blue or violet, Nectaries, glabrous. Seeds obpyramidal, long blackish brown.

Habitat

Moist places near forest edges in the alpine and subalpine regions of the northwest Himalayas. Common in Alpine and subalpine zone of the Himalayas from Indus to Kumaon from 6000 to 15000 ft. from the sea level.

Parts Used : Root

Herb Effects

Hypotensive, hypertensive (aqueous root extract), anthelmintic, antipyretic, aphordisiac, astringent, carminative, antiinflammatory, antiperiodic, cholagogue, febrifuge, tonic.

Active Ingredients

Altisine, heterophyllisine, heterophylline, heterophyllidine, atidine, hetisine and benzoylheteratisine.

Medicinal Use

Snakebite, fever, as a tonic, in abdominal pain, diarrhea, hemorrhoids,in the fevers of contagious diseases and inflammation of the intestines.

Dosage

Root powder: 20 to 30 grains every 3 to 4 hours (for sporadic fever); also. 5 to 10 grains. 3 times per day (as a tonic after a debilitating ailment)
Tincture: 10 to 30 minims

Contraindication

Overdoses will cause parasthesia, dry mouth, bradycardia, and in extreme cases, coma.

References

1. Sharma, Classical Uses of Medicinal Plants.
2. Chandel et al., Biodiversity in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in India.
3. Uniyal et al., Medicinal Flora of Garhwal Himalayas.