Japanese Aconite, Carmichael's monkshood

Aconitum carmichaelii

Physical Characteristics

Aconitum carmichaelii is a PERENNIAL growing to 1.5 m (5ft) by 0.3 m (1ft in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 3. It is in flower from August to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in heavy clay soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Distribution

E. Asia - C. and W. China to N. America.

Habitats

Woodland Garden Dappled Shade;

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal Uses

Anaesthetic Analgesic Antiinflammatory Antirheumatic Cardiotonic Vasodilator A widely used herbal remedy in China, where it is cultivated for its root[218]. This is harvested in the autumn as the plant dies down and is then dried before being used. The root is anaesthetic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antirheumatic, cardiotonic, stimulant and vasodilator[176, 218, 238]. It is used in the treatment of shock and collapse, chronic diseases with symptoms of cold, gastralgia and rheumatic arthralgia, oedema and diarrhoea due to hypofunction of the spleen and kidney[176]. A tincture of the root is used externally in the treatment of rheumatism, arthralgis, sprains, contusions etc[283]. Use with great caution, the plant contains the toxic alkaloid aconitine and is very poisonous - should not be used internally[218] unless under the direction of a qualified practitioner[238, 283]. Overdoses lead to numbness of the tongue, lips and extremities, nausea, vomiting, irritability and coma[176].

Known Hazards

The whole plant is highly toxic - simple skin contact has caused numbness in some people[1, 238].