Aconitum is known since antiquity as a poisonous plant. The most poisonous part is root.

French and germans are extracting the juice from the whole plant, while in India it is used only the root.

The fame of this plant, which is considered toxic and bad, is mentioned even in Greek mythology and Latin. Ovid says that the master of hell Cerberus, three-headed dog's Ecate, salivates seeds of Aconitum. When Hercules during pregnancy of the Twelfth, kidnaps a beast from hell and bring the earth, the anger was so big that dog salivates, to the ground, turning land into Aconitum plants.

In the Middle Ages - except to make people invisible, this plant also has other magical properties: it is said that putting a few flowers of Aconitum in a bag under the pillow will be stimulated intelligence and wisdom of those who were lucky enough to sleep.

Popular name - devil grass - and fits very well. As it is beautiful the plant is so poisonous that, indeed, contains powerful alkaloids that can be absorbed directly through the skin just holding a bouquet in hand. These alkaloids act on the nervous system, causing death by respiratory or cardiac paralysis.

Only at the end of 1700 was introduced as Aconitum analgesia in medicine using fresh or dried leaves and inflorescences.

Source www.scienzenews.it