Is Aconitum poisonous?

Aconitum is poisonous, but it can dispel cold, relieve pain and dredge the meridians. Therefore, we must properly handle aconite when we eat it. We cannot eat it raw. It is possible that the decocting time is too short, leading to the presence of poisonous substances. If it is not processed, toxins will remain. Therefore, we must pay attention to the handling method of aconite to avoid poisoning when eating aconite. I hope everyone can pay attention to it.

1. Is Aconitum poisonous?

Aconitum is poisonous. It is an important medicine for dispelling cold and relieving pain. It can remove the coldness in the meridians and disperse the coldness in the internal organs. However, it is highly toxic and should be used with caution.

2. How to be easily poisoned?

1. The cooking time is too short

Long-term decoction of Aconitum or the recently adopted high-pressure steaming can reduce its toxicity. If the condition requires increasing the dosage of Aconitum, it is better to decoct it for a longer time. Decoction time that is too short can easily lead to poisoning. Aconitum should never be used raw.

2. Unprocessed

Aconitum is highly toxic, so it must be processed before it can be taken internally. The prescription for internal use should also state processed Aconitum, processed Chuanwu, or processed Caowu. If taken without being processed, even a small amount can cause poisoning.

3. Accumulative poisoning

Long-term use of Aconitum can accumulate in the body and cause poisoning, especially in patients with liver and kidney dysfunction. If the condition requires long-term use of preparations containing Aconitum, intermittent medication can be used. After taking it for a few days or weeks, take a break for 1 week. In addition, you can take the medicine in small amounts and multiple times a day, dividing the total daily amount into several doses to facilitate the excretion of toxins.

4. Excessive dosage

Aconitum is divided into Chuanwu and Caowu. Aconitum is more toxic. The toxic dose of Aconitum varies greatly depending on the time of collection, processing and decoction. The dosage of Chuanwu is 3 to 30 grams, the dosage of Caowu is 3 to 4.5 grams, and 0.2 mg of aconitine can cause poisoning when taken orally. Symptoms of Aconite poisoning include numbness of the mouth, tongue and whole body, nausea and vomiting, chest tightness, convulsions, difficulty breathing, decreased blood pressure, no increase in body temperature, heart rhythm disorder, confusion, coma, and even death from circulatory and respiratory failure. The symptoms of poisoning by Aconitum kusnezoffii are basically the same as those by Aconitum carmichaelii The amount of poisoning caused by aconite varies greatly from person to person. Some people are poisoned by taking only 6 grams of Chuanwu, while others are poisoned by taking only 1 gram of Caowu. Therefore, special attention should be paid to the early symptoms of poisoning and treatment should be sought as soon as possible. The clinical use of Aconitum should also be started with a small dose.

5. Improper compatibility

Previous generations believed that Aconitum should not be used together with Fritillaria, Bletilla striata, Pinellia, and Trichosanthes. In addition, there are clinical reports of poisoning caused by using Aconitum and Ephedra together.