Herb latin name: Aconitum chasmanthum


Family: Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family)



Medicinal use of Aconitum chasmanthum:

The dried root is analgesic, anodyne, diaphoretic, diuretic, irritant and sedative. The root is a rich source of active alkaloids, containing around 3%. It is best harvested as soon as the plant dies down in the autumn. This is a very poisonous plant and should only be used with extreme caution and under the supervision of a qualified practitioner.

Description of the plant:



Plant:
Perennial


Height:
50 cm
(1 foot)

Flowering:
September

Habitat of the herb:

Mountains at elevations around 4600 metres.

Propagation of Aconitum chasmanthum:

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. The seed can be stratified and sown in spring but will then be slow to germinate. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer. Division - best done in spring but it can also be done in autumn. Another report says that division is best carried out in the autumn or late winter because the plants come into growth very early in the year.

Cultivation of the herb:

Mountains at elevations around 4600 metres.

Known hazards of Aconitum chasmanthum:

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

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.