Aconite, baneful herb of Saturn oft uttered as Monkshood, Wolfsbane, Odin’s hat + Queen of poisons, is a plant of rich antiquity and bearer of a deadly + fast acting toxin.
In ancient times, Monkshood was widely feared as a poison, and commonly used as an arrowhead toxin for warfare + hunting. In the Middle Ages it was scribed in Scythian preparations, Indian tantric and Shamanic/lycanthropic rituals; in addition to receiving notoriety as one of the chief ingredients in witches’ and flying ointments.
Yet like many of its entheogenic sisters such as belladonna + henbane, aconite has also been used to the benefit of human health in homeopathic, Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine. A fascinating plant to make acquaintance with.
