Poisoning with aconite
Aconite (wrestler) is a perennial herb of the buttercup family, has more than 300 species, some of which are listed in the Red Book. Irregularly shaped aconite flowers resemble a helmet with a lowered visor (hence the German name Eisenhut, literally "iron hat"). White, blue, yellow or lilac flowers are collected in a massive inflorescence up to 50 cm high. It blooms from mid-summer to late September.
Source: depositphotos.com
Aconite is very dangerous, which is reflected in the myths about its origin. The ancient Greeks believed that he grew up where the poisonous saliva of a dog from the kingdom of the dead fell; the Scandinavians believed that the wrestler appeared at the site of the death of the god Thor from the bites of a poisonous snake.
Aconite is an extremely toxic plant, all its parts can cause poisoning, but the ground part is most poisonous during the flowering period and the roots during the wilting of the tops. Toxicity is associated with the presence of a number of alkaloids in it, mainly aconitine. The degree of toxicity depends on the type of plant, its age, place of growth and the phase of vegetation. Aconite is used in traditional medicine, although representatives of official medicine consider its use unacceptable in any form.
How does aconite poisoning occur?
Poisoning can occur with the use of alcoholic tinctures and herbal decoctions, which are widely used by traditional healers as a remedy for alcohol dependence, oncological diseases, epilepsy, tuberculosis, and multiple sclerosis.
It is calculated that the lethal dose of 10% alcoholic tincture of aconite ranges from 50–80 ml (depending on the physical condition and age of the patient).
Poisoning is possible with external use of aconite (lotions, compresses, rubbing, applications), since poisonous alkaloids actively penetrate the bloodstream through the skin. The presence of scratches and other damage to the skin accelerates the absorption of toxins.
Cases of poisoning when eating meat of animals that died from eating aconite are described.
Poisoning with honey, which is collected from the flowers of the plant, is possible, since its pollen also contains poison.
Poisoning symptoms
Symptoms of poisoning appear in the interval from several minutes to 1.5-2 hours after ingestion of the toxin or application to the skin.
The clinic of poisoning is two-phase: hyperactivation of body functions at the initial stage, followed by a sharp depression.
Aconite intoxication is characterized by a variety of painful manifestations:
- sharp psychomotor agitation;
- profuse salivation and lacrimation;
- photophobia;
- intense itching of the skin;
- hyperemia of the skin, alternating with cyanotic pallor;
- increased skin sensitivity, alternating with a feeling of numbness, paresthesia;
- burning, rawness along the esophagus;
- nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;
- sharp abdominal pain in the epigastric region;
- interruptions in the work of the heart, a feeling of its fading, pain in the heart;
- acute fear of death;
- dyspnea;
- violation of urination, up to anuria (complete absence of urination);
- intense pain syndrome of unclear localization.
The target organs for the aconitine toxin are the heart and the central nervous system (central nervous system), it is their defeat that leads to death. Death develops due to paralysis of the respiratory center or cardiac arrest 0.5–5 hours after poisoning. At the time of death, the victim is usually conscious.
Source: depositphotos.com
First aid for poisoning with aconite
First aid for poisoning with aconite should be provided immediately, its initial stage should be to call an ambulance. Then:
- gastric lavage: drink 1-1.5 liters of warm water and provoke vomiting by pressing on the root of the tongue;
- oral rehydration with saline solutions (for example, Rehydron), or, in their absence, water: take a tablespoon of liquid every few minutes, on average up to one and a half liters per hour in small sips;
- reception of enterosorbents for binding toxin and its elimination (Polysorb MP, Activated Carbon, Polyphepan, Enterosgel).
When is medical attention required?
If aconite poisoning is beyond doubt, qualified medical care is needed in 100% of cases. Hospitalization is mandatory for resuscitation measures and round-the-clock monitoring of the victim.
There are no specific antidotes for aconitine, the treatment is symptomatic.
Possible consequences
After poisoning with aconite, both complete recovery and death are possible. If the victim did not die in the first 1–5 hours, the chances of recovery are high.
Prevention
To prevent poisoning you need:
- abandon the use of aconite as a therapeutic agent (both as part of decoctions, tinctures for oral administration, and in the form of external preparations);
- do not eat unfamiliar herbs collected in the wild;
- do not purchase honey, meat products in places not designated for trade (from hands, on roadsides, in spontaneous markets).
Olesya Smolnyakova Therapy, clinical pharmacology and pharmacotherapy About the author
Education: higher, 2004 (GOU VPO "Kursk State Medical University"), specialty "General Medicine", qualification "Doctor". 2008-2012 - Postgraduate student of the Department of Clinical Pharmacology, KSMU, Candidate of Medical Sciences (2013, specialty "Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacology"). 2014-2015 - professional retraining, specialty "Management in education", FSBEI HPE "KSU".
The information is generalized and provided for informational purposes only. At the first sign of illness, see your doctor. Self-medication is hazardous to health!
