Unani Bish, Bishnaag.
Siddha/Tamil Vasanaavi, Karunaabhi.
Folk Bacchanaag, Bish, Mithaa Zahar, Telia Visha.
Action Narcotic, sedative, antileprotic, anti-inflammatory. Extremely poisonous. (Roots possess depressant activity, but after mitigation in cow’s milk for 2—3 days, they exhibit stimulant activity.)
Key application In neuralgia.
(Aconitum napellus L. has been
listed by German Commission E
among unapproved herbs.)
The root contains diterpenoid alkaloids, which act as a powerful poison that affects the heart and central nervous system. Aconitine has a short- lived cardiotonic action followed by
cardiac depression. Topically, aconitine has analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anaesthetic activity.
Aconitum heterophyllum
Wall. ex Royle.
Family Ranunculaceae.
Habitat Cultivated at Manali and Rahla in Himachal Pradesh. Also found in northwestern Himalayas at altitudes ranging from 2,000 to 4,000 m.
English Atis Root, Aconite.
Ayurvedic Ativishaa, Arunaa,
Vishaa, Shuklakandaa, Bhanguraa,
Ghunapriyaa, Ghunavallabhaa,
Kaashmiraa, Shishubhaishajyaa
(indicating its use in paediatrics),
Vishwaa.
Unani Atees.
Siddha/Tamil Athividayam.
Folk Patis.
Action Often regarded as nonpoisosnous, antiperiodic, anti- inflammatory, astringent (used in cough, diarrhoea, dyspepsia), tonic (used after fevers), febrifuge, antispasmodic (used in irritability of stomach and abdominal pains).
Along with other therapeutic applications, The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India indicates the use of the dried, tuberous root in emesis and helminthiasis.
