Korean Monk's Hood

Aconitum koreanum

Physical Characteristics

Aconitum koreanum is a PERENNIAL growing to 1.5 m (5ft). The flowers are 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 - Korea.

Habitats

Woodland Garden Dappled Shade;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves Edible Uses: Young leaves - cooked[177]. This report should be treated with great distrust due to the poisonous nature of the genus.

Medicinal Uses

Analgesic Cardiotonic Uterine tonic The root is used in Korea to treat chills in the legs and arms and articular pain[279]. The root contains a number of highly toxic alkaloids that can be carditoxic, causing hypotension and arrhythmia, unless they are first allowed to degrade, usually by drying the plant[279]. The root has been shown to be analgesic, cardiac tonic, uterine stimulant[279].

Known Hazards

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