Aconitum chasmanthum, Vatsanabha

Indian Napellus, Indian Aconite, Nepal Aconite (A. ferox)
Vatsanabha, Visha, Bish (Ayurveda)
Mohri (Hindi)
Visha Navi (Siddha)
Bong nga nag po བོང་ང་ནག་པོ (Tibetan)
Sman chen (A spicatum, Tibetan)
Beesh (Unani)
Zhan Hua Wu Tou (A. chasmanthum, TCM)
Ni Bo Er Wu Tou (A. ferox, TCM)
Tie Bang Chui 铁棒锤 (A. flavum, A. pendulum, TCM)

Aconitum ferox
F.E. Kohler, Medizinal Pflanzen, vol. 3 (1890)

Botanical name:

Aconitum spp.
Several varieties of Aconitum are recognised as supplying the market for Vatsanabha:, equated with the Bong nga nag po (‘Black Aconite’) of Tibetan Medicine

A. chasmanthum (syn. A. napellus var. hians)
A. deinorrhizum (Kashmir)
A. ferox (syn. A. atrox)
A. flavum (Tibet, West China)
A. pendulum (syn. A. szechenylanum)
A. violaceum (Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Unani)
A. balfourii (Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Nepal)
A. falconeri (Nepal, Sikkim, East Himalayas)
A. laciniatum (Nepal, Sikkim, East Himalayas, Darjeeling)
A. spicatum–Sman chen (Nepal, Sikkim, East Himalayas, Darjeeling)
A. rotundifolium (syn. A. napellus Linn. var. rotundifolium) (Unani)
A. napellus has occasionally been listed as a source of Vatsanabha; this earlier identification turned out to be incorrect, however A. ferox and others have been used in Europe as A. napellus due to their similar alkaloidal content and medicinal effects.

Parts used:

Prepared Root

Temperature & Taste:

Hot, dry. Pungent, Sweet. Very toxic
Regarded as Cooling in Tibetan Medicine (Drungtso); some Unani sources considered in very Cold and dry while others have accounted it Hot and Dry in the 4th degree.

Constituents:

A CHASMANTHUM: Alkaloids (2.9–3.1%) including indaconitine, chasmaconitine, chasmanthinine, chasmanine, homochasmanine
A FEROX: Alkaloids (0.63–4.7%), primarily psuedoaconitine; lesser alkaloids include bikhaconitine, veratroyl pseudoacaonine, and diacetyl pseudoaconitine.
After detoxification, the root contains pyro-alkaloids that are far lower in toxicity,

Uses:

1. Settles Wind, Relieves Inflammation:
-all Fevers associated with Inflammation
-Typhoid and Intermittent Fever
-various types of Inflammation
-inflammation of the Throat (Tibetan Medicine)
-Pleurisy, Pneumonia (Unani)
-Gastroenteritis with piercing pain, Diarrhea with Fever

2. Clears Damp, Settles Wind, Eases Pain: (Ayurveda, Tibet)
-Rheumatism, Arthritis (Ayurveda)
-pain of the muscles, Bones and joints (Tibetan Medicine)
-Neuralgia, Trigeminal Neuralgia
-Headache
-various Wind diseases in Ayurveda and Tibetan Medicine
-Hypertension, Palpitations, Arrhythmias
-Heart diseases associated with Wind (Tibet)
-regarded as being especially effective for Phlegm and Melancholy in Unani
–Leprosy, Leucoderma, Vitiligo (Unani, Tibet)
-Tumors, Cancer

3. Warms the Kidney Yang, Promotes Urine:
-regarded as Rasayana
-Anuria, Urinary retention
-Incontinence
-Aphrodisiac, Spermatorrhea
-regarded as tonic and strengthening, useful for diseases of old age

4. Clears Phlegm, Relieves Wheezing:
-Cough, Asthma (Unani, Ayurveda)

5. Resists Poison:
-Snake Bite
-Worms and Parasites (Ayurveda, Tibet)

6. Externally:
-applied to neuralgia, rheumatism, sciatica, migraine etc (paste, liniment or tincture)
-liniment is applie to chilblains

Dose:

Detoxified Powdered Root: 10–30mg (some have given the doses of 7.5–15mg)
Tincture of the Detoxified Root (1 in 8): 2–5 drops

Comment:

1. This is analagous to Aconitum napellus and has been used as a substitute for it in Europe, hence its name, Indian Napellus. It was regarded as more diuretic but less antipyretic than A. napellus. (Materia Medica of India and their Therapeutics, Khory and Katrak, 1903)
2. It is also equivalent to the Chinese Aconitum Wu Tou and Aconitum Chuan Wu.
3. In Unani, purified Aconite root is regarded as being effective against ‘all’ human diseases, but especially those coming from Wind, Phlegm, Damp and Melancholy. Some sources state it is useful for Tridosa diseases, diseases caused by derangement of all 3 Dosas (Humors).
4. Evidently certain varieties in certain areas are critically endangered, while other sources in other areas are relatively abundant.

Correctives:

1. Castor leaf (Unani)
2. Licorice and Ginger are used to lessen toxicity of the related Chinese varieties.
3. Chebula has been shown to reduce cardiotoxicity. (see here)

Substitutes:

1. Delphinum denudatum (Unani)
2. Chinese Aconitum Wu Tou and Chuan Wu can be used in place.

Preparation:

It is purified by being cut into small pieces and steeped in Cow Urine or Cow Milk for 3 days, changing the urine or milk each day. Then wash and dry in the sun.
–Śodhana: An Ayurvedic process for detoxification and modification of therapeutic activities of poisonous medicinal plants

Main Combinations:

1. Typhoid and Intermittent Fevers, purified Aconitum chasmanthum root with Cinnabar and Borax (as in Tribhuvana-Kirti Rasa from Yogaratnakara). In acute Fever, the same medicines are combined with Sulphur, Black and Long Pepper,
2. Neurasthenia, Hysteria, Neurosis, purified Aconitum chasmanthum root, Ginger, Pyrethrum, Black Pepper, Long Pepper, mixed with Ghee (as in Habb-e-Beesh of Unani)
3. Regulate Qi and promote Happiness, purified Aconitum chasmanthum (ferox) root, Galangal, Costus, Aloeswood, Nutmeg, Clove, Asafetida, Rabbit Heart (as in Happiness of Mind, Tibetan Medicine)
4. Cephalgia and Hemicrania, purified Aconitum chasmanthum root with Licorice and Vigna mungo (equal parts), formed into one grain pills.
5. Rheumatoid arthritis, joint pain, cold pain of the lower back and lower legs, purified Aconitum chasmanthum root with Chebulic Myrobalan and Long Pepper (as in Pill of Three Tastes of Mongolian Medicine)
6. Indigestion, Loss of appetite, purified Aconitum chasmanthum root with Clove, Sulphur, Black Pepper, Nutmeg, triturated with Tamarind and formed into 2 grains pills.
7. Gastroenteritis with piercing pain, abdominal lumps, purified Aconitum chasmanthum root with Triphala, Ginger, Long Pepper, Embelia ribes, Calamus, Tinospora (as in Sanjivani Vati or Ayurveda)
8. Stomach or Intestinal pain, Gastritis, abdominal distention, Diarrhea, purified Aconitum chasmanthum (ferox) root with Costus, Emblic & Chebulic Myrobalan, Pomegranate, Lesser Cardamon, Calamus, Clove, Tinospora (as in Costus Garuda of Tibetan Medicine)
9. All types of Fever, Infectious diseases, Inflammation, skin diseases including Leprosy, Rheumatic Arthritis, Sciatica, purified Aconitum chasmanthum root with Chebulic Myrobalan, Costus, Calamus, Musk (as in Garuda 5 of Tibetan Medicine)
10. Worms and Parasites, purified Aconitum chasmanthum root with Chebulic Myrobalan, Costus, Calamus, Embelia, Musk (as in
Eliminator of Undying Micro-organism of Tibetan Medicine)
11. Venomous Snake Bite, purified Aconitum chasmanthum root with Orpiment, Realgar, Aristolchia bradeata, fruit of Randia dumetorum (equal parts), formed into 2 grain pills by triturating with Betel leaf juice.
12. Cancer, purified Aconitum ferox root is taken with Bezoar (Laufer, Tibetische Medizin, 1900)

Major Formulas:

Sanjivani Vati (Ayurveda)
Tribhuvana Kirti Rasa (Yogaratnakara)
Habb e Beesh (Unani)
Mental Happiness (Tibetan)
Aloeswood 9 (Tibetan)
Aloeswood 18 (Tibetan)
Aloeswood 35 (Tibetan)
Asafetida 25 (Tibetan)
Catechu 25 (Tibetan)
Garuda 5 (Tibetan)
Costus Garuda (Tibetan)
Eliminator of Undying Micro-organism (Tibetan)
Great Death-defying Pills (Maha Mrutyunjaya Rasa) (Ayurveda)
Great Yellow Compound (Sman ser chen mo) (Tibetan)
Influenza Pills (Lo gyon ril bu) (Tibetan)
Notopterygium 29 Pills (Spru nag nyer dgu) (Tibetan)
Pill of Three Tastes (Mongolian)
Pomegranate All Inclusive Pill (Se ‘bru kun ‘dus) (Tibetan)
Red Coral 25 (Rin chen byur dmar nyer lnga) (Tibetan)
Red Pony (Rta zi dmar po) (Tibetan)
Selinum 6 (Tang kug drug thang) (Tibetan)
Supreme 25 (Bla med nyer lnga) (Tibetan)
Universal Conquering Vajra (Tibetan)
Vajra conquering Heart Wind 17 (Tibetan)

Cautions:

1. Exceedingly toxic. Avoid overdose. Only the detoxified root is used internally.

Antidote:
1. Atropine and Digitalis (Foxglove) have been used to counter poisonous effects.
2. Nux Vomica and Strychnine have been used as antidotes (Ayurveda, Unani)
3. Capparis decidua

Main Preparations used:

Tincture,

Extra Info
History
European Text

‘The greater part of the drug is generally supposed to be derived from A. ferox, but we have no very exact information upon this point.

‘Aconitum luridum, H. f. and T., is found in Sikkim, A. Lycoctonum, Linn., from Kashmir to Kuinaon, A. Napellus, Linn., along the temperate alpine Himalaya in four varieties, viz., proper, rigidum, multifidum, and rotundifoliuin. A. palmatum, Don., in the Eastern temperate Himalaya from Garhwal to Manipur. The last species is considered by the natives of Sikkim not to be poisonous. (Dr. G. King.)

Hindu writers mention no less than eighteen kinds of Bish or poison, of which ten are said to be unfit for medicinal use on account of their extremely poisonous properties, which they exaggerate to such an extent as to say that their touch is fatal; of the eight kinds which may bo used, that known as Teliya Bachnag is said to be the best; it is of a yellowish brown colour, and in shape like a deer’s horn. Bish as a name for Aconite appears to have been known to the Hindus from the earliest ages, but the word appears to have been applied also to any very poisonous root. The nine virulent poisons mentioned by Sanskrit writers are certainly not all Aconites, as some of them are described as growing in parts of India in which Aconites are not found; thus it would appear that the Sanskrit Visha, and its equivalent, Bish and Bikh, in the modern Indian languages, may be understood to mean poison, and especially Aconite as being the most virulent poison known. The non-poisonous Aconites, which are known and used as medicines, have distinct vernacular names. The author of the Makhzan-el-Adwiya and other Arabian and Persian writers describe Bish as an Indian root, and appear to have copied their accounts of it from Hindu books; there is some difference of opinion as regards its properties, some considering it to be cold in the fourth degree, and others hot and dry; the latter opinion seems to prevail, as the drug is recommended in diseases arising from cold humours and atrabilis, and also in leprosy, cough, asthma and ulceration of the throat. Bish is much used as an external application, the root being formed into a paste (lep) and spread upon the skin as a remedy for neuralgia and other painful affections, such as boils, &c.; internally it is prescribed in fever and rheumatism, but is generally mixed with a number of other drugs,

both mineral and vegetable; moreover, it undergoes a process of purification by being boiled in milk or cow’s urine, which must considerably diminish its activity. In native prescriptions for cough, asthma, and fevers Aconite is combined with borax and aromatics, sulphur and croton seeds are added if there is constipation. The famous Indian pill for snake-bite contains aconite root, white arsenic, yellow arsenic, red arsenic, herb of Aristolochia bradeata, fruit of Randia dumetorum in equal parts. These drugs are rubbed down on a stone with the juice of the Betel pepper-leaf, and made into pills, the size of the seed of Abrus precatoriux (about 2 grs.). The dose is one pill every five minutes rubbed down with Betel-leaf juice until three pills have been taken. European physicians in India have long been in the habit of using Bish as a substitute for ordinary Aconite root, and it has of late years been used in Europe as a source of Aconitine. As far as our experience goes it is not more dangerous than the mixed roots known in the European markets as German Aconite; a supply of Aconite of known botanical origin is still a desideratum in pharmacy. Modern physiological research shows that Aconite applied externally acts as a local irritant and narcotic, producing numbness and tingling. Introduced into the circulation in large quantity it causes sudden paralysis of the heart-muscle, which appears to be due to the action of the poison upon the vagus roots; smaller, but poisonous doses, cause disturbance of the respiration, muscular weakness, vascular depression, and death. Therapeutic doses cause reduction of the force and frequency of the circulation, muscular inertia, and slight tingling in the extremities or lips. Similar effects are produced in man and in animals. Numerous experiments have been made to ascertain the manner in which Aconite influences the heart, but further investigation is still required to settle this point. Aconite may be used to lower arterial action, and with it excess of temperature in fevers of a sthenic type, to relieve over excitation of the sensitive nerves, as in neuralgia or rheumatism. It must be borne in mind that its influence upon the motor centres and nerves is much less than upon the sensitive centres and nerves and upon the heart. Atropine and Digitalis have been used with success in cases of poisoning by aconite; they appear to restore the power of the heart by counteracting the effects of the poison upon the vagus roots.

The Pharmacopoeia Persica (1681) was a Latin translation of a Persian Pharmacopoeia. It contains several formulas which contain Aconite.

In the rear of the text it contains notes of some of the Materia Medica. Under the heading Bisch, it says the following:

“The inhabitants of the royal kingdom of Persia, Aspahanun, mix the root of this plant, or Napellus, with stews and condiments; nay, by the title of small gifts, they offer it to be chewed several times after a meal; and I confess that I have not seldom used it for both purposes; for it should be seasoned with spices, fragrant, and pleasing; & provides a restorative effect; if it is employed, it conquers the odor of the mouth; belching, and settles the wind of the stomach in an instant; and promotes wonderful joy and tranquility of the senses throughout the whole body …”

“They are chiefly used by the Tattian Indians, whom they commonly call (Diuli), from the Kingdom of Sind, of the river Indus. nor was I able to learn anything else from them, except that it would be fatal if eaten fresh and green; dried (it is) indeed completely harmless, and a medicine; wherefore they know that it must be a species of Antithora; or Napellus antidote; how that little animal like a wall which, corroding the roots of Napelli, and constantly walking near it, they consider it to be the most illustrious anti-poison.”

“The roots of Bisch appear entirely similar to the bones, or vertebrae of a mothua fish: they are very light, and white; holes, and rottenness on every side (so to speak) fermented”.

This is an interesting thing to find on the use of the toxic aconites as they were well known as a poison in the West, but were rarely used internally. The texts alludes to it being non-toxic when dried, which is false. Only after preparation is it safe to consume, and this may be referenced in the last line of the text where it is referred to as “fermented”.

It is remarkable that it is said that the Persians use it in their food. The people of Sichuan province, China, are also known to add (toxic) Aconite to dishes which are slow cooked over hours to reduce toxicity. It is also notable that it refers to its restorative effect.