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WARNING: All medicines, drugs, plants, chemicals or medicial precedures below are for historical reference only. Many of these treatments are now known to be harmful and possibly fatal. Do not consume any plant, chemical, drug or otherwise without first consulting a licensed physician that practices medine in the appropriate field.

Felter's Materia Medica on Aconitum Nepallus

ACONITUM NEPALLUS
   The dried tuberous root of Aconitum Napellus, Linné (Nat. Ord. Ranunculaceae). Mountains of Europe and Asia, and northwestern North America. Dose (maximum), 1 grain. Common Names: Aconite, Monkshood, Wolfsbane. Principal Constituents.—Aconitine (C34H47011N) one of the most poisonous of known alkaloids, occurring as permanent colorless or white crystals, without odor. A drop of solution of one part of aconitine in 100,000 of water will produce the characteristic tingling and benumbing sensation of aconite. The alkaloid itself must never be tasted, and the solution only when extremely diluted, and then with the greatest of caution. Aconitine is soluble in alcohol, ether, and benzene; very slightly in water. Other constituents of Aconite are aconine and benzaconine, both alkaloids; the former of little activity; the latter a strong heart depressant. Commercial Aconitine is a more or less impure mixture of aconite alkaloids. Preparations.—1. Specific Medicine Aconite. An exceedingly poisonous and representative preparation. Dose, 1/30 to 1/2 drop. ( Usual form of dministration: Rx Specific Medicine Aconite 1-10 drops: Water 4 fluidounces . Mix. Sig. One teaspoonful every one-half (1/2) to two (2) hours.) 2. Tinctura Aconiti, Tincture of Aconite (10 per cent aconite). Dose, 1 to 8 minims. ‡‡Fleming's Tincture of Aconite is many times stronger than the preceding, with which it should not be confounded. It should have no place in modern therapeutics. Specific Indications.—The small and frequent pulse, whether corded or compressible, with either elevated or depressed temperature and not due to sepsis, is the most direct indication. Irritation of mucous membranes with vascular excitation and determination of blood; hyperemia; chilly sensations; skin hot and dry, with small, frequent pulse. Early stage of fevers with or without restlessness. When septic processes prevail it is only relatively indicated. Action.—The effects of aconite, considered from the so-called physiological action, are expressed in local and general irritation followed by tingling, numbness, and peripheral sensory paralysis, primarily reduced force and frequency of the heart action, due to vagal stimulation, and subsequent rapid pulse, due to vagal depression. The heart muscle is also thought to be paralyzed by it. The action upon the vaso-motor system is not well understood, though the lowered arterial pressure is explained by some as due to depression of the vaso-motor center. In small doses aconite quiets hurried breathing, but large doses may cause death through respiratory paralysis. Temperature is lowered by aconite, probably by increase of heat-dissipation and possibly through the action of the thermo-genetic system. This action is most pronounced during fevers. Except of the skin and kidneys, the glands of the body seem to be but little, if at all, affected by aconite. The kidney function is slightly increased, while that of the skin is markedly influenced according to the quantity administered. The motor nervous system is not noticeably affected except when poisonous doses are given, but the sensory nerves, especially at the periphery, are notably impressed by even so-called therapeutic doses. It is quite clear that aconite does not act strongly upon the cerebrum, except that poisonous doses somewhat depress the perceptive faculty. Upon the skin and mucous surfaces it acts first as an irritant, then as an anaesthetic. The mode of elimination of aconite is not yet well determined, but it is thought that it is largely oxidized, thus accounting for the short duration of its action. Indeed, the systemic effects of aconite seldom last over three hours, though the therapeutic esult may be permanent. When aconite kills it does so usually by paralyzing the heart, arresting that organ in diastole. Locally, aconite and its alkaloid, aconitine, act as irritants, producing a tingling, pricking sensation and numbness, followed by peripheral sensory impairment, resulting in anaesthesia of the part. The latter is due to paralysis of the sensory nerve terminals. Usually no redness nor inflammation follows, but in rarely susceptible cases vesicular or pustular eruptions take place, or intense cutaneous itching. Both are extremely irritating to the nasal and ocular membranes, and when inhaled may give rise to a peculiar local sense of icy-coldness. Administered internally in small doses aconite occasions a tingling or prickling sensation, felt first in the mouth, tongue, and fauces, and quickly extending to the stomach. This is rapidly followed by more or less numbness. Gastric warmth and a general glow of the surface follow non-lethal doses. Slight perspiration may be induced, but sweating to any great degree does not take place except from large doses. Then it is an almost constant symptom. Temperature is reduced, but the more readily during pyrexia, when the pulse is frequent and small, if the dose administered be fractional. In maximum doses (by some called full therapeutic doses) aconite causes gastric heat. A sense of warmth throughout the system follows, and occasionally the thrilling or tingling sensation will be more generally experienced, with perhaps some numbness. There may be dizziness most marked upon assuming the upright posture, pain in the head, acute body pain, excessive depression, with feeble circulation and diminished respiration. The pulse may fall to 30 or 40 beats per minute and muscular weakness become extreme. Eclectic teaching has long protested against giving aconite in doses sufficient to produce these effects, which some, with extreme boldness, declare to be therapeutic results. Toxicology.—In poisonous amounts the symptoms given are exaggerated and the effects extremely rapid. Tingling and numbness increase and are felt all over the body, the thrilling and creeping coldness approaching from the extremities to the body. Excessive sweating comes on, rapidly lowering the body temperature, dimness of vision, 1


References

1) Felter, Harvey Wickes, 1922, The Eclectic Materia Medica, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Cincinnati, Ohio.