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Aconitum, Fu Zi, 附子
Prepared Aconitum, Zhi Fu Zi, 制附子
Sichuan Aconite accessory root, Aconite Daughter root
Fu Zi, Su Fu Zi (prepared) (TCM)
Fu Zi, Su Fu Zi (prepared) (TCM)
Curtis’s Botanical Magazine, 1841
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LEFT: Bai Fu Pian (White Aconite slices, without bark); RIGHT: Hei Fu Pian (Black Aconite slices, with bark)
Botanical name:
A. carmichaeli (syn. A. chinense)
A number of Aconite species are used in the various systems:
1. Europe: A. napellus
2. India & Tibet:
a. A. chasmanthum
b. A. ferox (Nepalese Aconite)
The above species are synonymous in effect, just the strength may vary. This is especially so with Wild versus farmed varieties. In TCM, the majority of the root of Fu Zi is farmed, whereas other varieties of Aconite (Chuan Wu, Cao Wu) are are gathered from the wild and are much more toxic. It appears most of that on the Indian market is wild-crafted, leading to its possible greater strength.
Parts used:
Prepared root
Temperature & Taste:
Hot, dry. Pungent, Extremely Toxic
A. carmichaeli (syn. A. chinense)
A number of Aconite species are used in the various systems:
1. Europe: A. napellus
2. India & Tibet:
a. A. chasmanthum
b. A. ferox (Nepalese Aconite)
The above species are synonymous in effect, just the strength may vary. This is especially so with Wild versus farmed varieties. In TCM, the majority of the root of Fu Zi is farmed, whereas other varieties of Aconite (Chuan Wu, Cao Wu) are are gathered from the wild and are much more toxic. It appears most of that on the Indian market is wild-crafted, leading to its possible greater strength.
Parts used:
Prepared root
Temperature & Taste:
Hot, dry. Pungent, Extremely Toxic
Uses:
1. Revives Yang:
-devastated Yang and where Cold is in excess; frigid extremities, pale complexion, faint pulse
-diarrhea with undigested food, feeling very cold, cold extremities and very faint pulse
-severe sweating, vomiting or diarrhea, and after Shock
2. Warms the Yang, Clears Cold:
-marked coldness and Yang deficiency of the Heart, Spleen or Kidney
-cold chest pain with palpitations and shortness of breath
-cold abdominal pain with watery diarrhea and undigested food, nausea
-cold pain of the lower back, lower back pain, copious clear urine, impotence
3. Clears Cold-Wind-Damp, Eases Pain:
-Wind-Cold-Damp painful obstruction of the muscles, joints and channels
-internal cold obstructing the organs
DOSE:
1. The root is always bought ready-prepared in factories. Therefore, it is common practice for a practitioner to taste a new batch of Aconite. If it is numbing to taste, it is still potentially toxic.
2. When decocted (typical use in TCM) it must be cooked for at least an hour (30–60 minutes before adding the other herbs). Larger doses are boiled for longer periods. In addition, cooking with Ginger or Licorice can enhance its function of warming Yang while reducing toxicity.
3. If the root is used in powdered form, the broken pieces of root should be dry-fried in a hot wok until they become slightly yellowed to further reduce toxicity.
4. In any dosage form, the addition of Licorice and/or Ginger root is wise.
5. Individual response can be varied. Some people may experience mild side effects within the dosage range while others can take far larger doses.
6. Tolerance is developed meaning doses can generally be increased if required.
Decoction: 3–15 grams, boiled for 30–60 minutes before adding other herbs (total cooking time minimum 1–1½ hours)
Prepared root in powder and pills: 10–50mg (up to 100 or 200mg)
In the 'Sichuan Fire School' (Huo Shen Pai) large doses of aconite are used, sometimes up to 200 grams per day.
In these cases:
1. Begin with lesser doses increasing as required.
2. Large doses require longer boiling. For example, a 50 gram dose may be boiled for 2 or more hours; 100 grams for 4 hours.
3. It is always advisable to use adequate amounts of correctives (detoxicants) such as fresh Ginger and Licorice.
4. Individuals response to the drug dictates how far the dose is raised.
5. Formulas specific to the 'Huo Shen Pai' School are generally used.
PREPARATION:
Various methods of preparation are employed. Usually, preparation involves soaking a number of times in water or brine, and cooking with herbs or salts, then drying. Processing is never carried out by practitioners, but the root is prepared in factories to be supplied to the medicine market. There are a number of different preparations used in China, but generally only White and Black types as pictured above are available on the Western market.
In India, the root is prepared with Cow urine.
CORRECTIVES:
1. Fresh Ginger (TCM)
2. Licorice (TCM)
3. Saposhnikovia Fang Feng was said to reduce toxicity of Aconite. (Ten Lectures on the Use of Medicinals, Jiao Shu-De)
SUBSTITUTES:
Delphinium denudatum (Unani)
COMMENT:
1. This is a very potent medicine and is responsible for more deaths in China than any other single herbal medicine. Nevertheless, it is a potent and indispensable medicine in TCM, Tibetan Medicine and Ayurveda.
2. There are a number of types of processing methods used.
3. There are two main varieties used: Black Aconite Pieces (Hei Fu Pian) and White Aconite Pieces, the former retaining its black root skin, the latter having the black skin removed.
4. There are several different Aconites used in TCM, Ayurveda and Tibetan Medicine. In TCM, Zhi Fu Zi, dealt with here, is most used. It is the strongest tonic. Zhi Chuan Wu is less tonic, but is hotter, and better for strong Wind-Cold-Damp pain.
5. The main difference in the use of Aconite is the application of it as an anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic, febrifuge in Traditions other than TCM. Its other uses, for example Rheumatic and Arthritic disease and Nervous disorders is quite similar.
1. The root is always bought ready-prepared in factories. Therefore, it is common practice for a practitioner to taste a new batch of Aconite. If it is numbing to taste, it is still potentially toxic.
2. When decocted (typical use in TCM) it must be cooked for at least an hour (30–60 minutes before adding the other herbs). Larger doses are boiled for longer periods. In addition, cooking with Ginger or Licorice can enhance its function of warming Yang while reducing toxicity.
3. If the root is used in powdered form, the broken pieces of root should be dry-fried in a hot wok until they become slightly yellowed to further reduce toxicity.
4. In any dosage form, the addition of Licorice and/or Ginger root is wise.
5. Individual response can be varied. Some people may experience mild side effects within the dosage range while others can take far larger doses.
6. Tolerance is developed meaning doses can generally be increased if required.
Decoction: 3–15 grams, boiled for 30–60 minutes before adding other herbs (total cooking time minimum 1–1½ hours)
Prepared root in powder and pills: 10–50mg (up to 100 or 200mg)
In the 'Sichuan Fire School' (Huo Shen Pai) large doses of aconite are used, sometimes up to 200 grams per day.
In these cases:
1. Begin with lesser doses increasing as required.
2. Large doses require longer boiling. For example, a 50 gram dose may be boiled for 2 or more hours; 100 grams for 4 hours.
3. It is always advisable to use adequate amounts of correctives (detoxicants) such as fresh Ginger and Licorice.
4. Individuals response to the drug dictates how far the dose is raised.
5. Formulas specific to the 'Huo Shen Pai' School are generally used.
PREPARATION:
Various methods of preparation are employed. Usually, preparation involves soaking a number of times in water or brine, and cooking with herbs or salts, then drying. Processing is never carried out by practitioners, but the root is prepared in factories to be supplied to the medicine market. There are a number of different preparations used in China, but generally only White and Black types as pictured above are available on the Western market.
In India, the root is prepared with Cow urine.
CORRECTIVES:
1. Fresh Ginger (TCM)
2. Licorice (TCM)
3. Saposhnikovia Fang Feng was said to reduce toxicity of Aconite. (Ten Lectures on the Use of Medicinals, Jiao Shu-De)
SUBSTITUTES:
Delphinium denudatum (Unani)
COMMENT:
1. This is a very potent medicine and is responsible for more deaths in China than any other single herbal medicine. Nevertheless, it is a potent and indispensable medicine in TCM, Tibetan Medicine and Ayurveda.
2. There are a number of types of processing methods used.
3. There are two main varieties used: Black Aconite Pieces (Hei Fu Pian) and White Aconite Pieces, the former retaining its black root skin, the latter having the black skin removed.
4. There are several different Aconites used in TCM, Ayurveda and Tibetan Medicine. In TCM, Zhi Fu Zi, dealt with here, is most used. It is the strongest tonic. Zhi Chuan Wu is less tonic, but is hotter, and better for strong Wind-Cold-Damp pain.
5. The main difference in the use of Aconite is the application of it as an anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic, febrifuge in Traditions other than TCM. Its other uses, for example Rheumatic and Arthritic disease and Nervous disorders is quite similar.
Main Combinations:
1. Devastated Yang with marked coldness, cold extremities, fatigue, lethargy, chills, watery diarrhea, faint pulse with dry Ginger Gan Jiang and Licorice, as in Si Ni Tang. If Qi is very weak, Ginseng is added to form Si Ni Jia Ren Shen Tang.
2. Kidney Yang deficiency, with coldness, weak and painful lower back, impotence, urinary frequency, with Rehmannia Shu Di, Cinnamon and Dioscorea Shan Yao. If there is lower back pain and weakness, add Eucommia Du Zhong.
3. Spleen and Kidney Yang deficiency with fluid accumulation, edema, abdominal pain, heaviness of the extremities, with Atractylodes Bai Zhu, Paeonia Bai Shao, Poria Fu Ling and fresh Ginger. This is Zhen Wu Tang, True Warrior Decoction.
4. Spleen Yang deficiency, with Atractylodes Bai Zhu, dry Ginger Gan Jiang and Licorice (as in Fu Zi Li Zhong Wan)
5. Heart Yang deficiency, with coldness, palpitations, shortness of Breath with Ginseng, Licorice and Cinnamon or Cinnamon twig Gui Zhi.
6. External Wind-Cold in someone with Yang deficiency, combine with Ephedra Ma Huang and Asarum Xi Xin and fresh Ginger.
7. Boils and Wounds, Aconitum Fu Zi, Ginger juice, Dragons Blood (Xue Jie), Sesame seed (Hei Zi Ma), Flowers of Sulphur, Pangolian scales, formed into Pills (Chinese Materia Medica, Stuauoft)
Major Formulas:
Fu Zi Tang
Fu Zi Li Zhong Wan
Shen Qi Wan
Zhen Wu Tang
Si Ni Tang
Cautions:
1. Extremely toxic in its unprepared state. Even the prepared drug is highly toxic in overdose. A number of deaths occur each year in China from Aconite poisoning.
2. Only the prepared root is used internally.
3. It is wise to begin with lesser doses, increasing as needed. Cooking time can also be longer to begin with (2 hours), reducing cooking time over a number of days.
ANTIDOTES:
1. Licorice (TCM)
2. Ginger (TCM)
3. Garlic
4. Asafetida
5. Anthora (Aconitum anthora) was regarded as a specific antidote to the toxic Aconites. Anthora is a non-toxic (less toxic) species of Aconite. Similarly, in Tibetan Medicine, non-toxic (less toxic) species of Aconite (A. heterophyllum etc.) are regarded as counterpoisons to the toxic Aconites.
6. Delphiniums are closely allied to the Aconites. D. denudatum has, similar to the above-mentioned Aconites, been regarded as an antidote to the toxic Aconites.
7. Ground Pine: "It is an especial thing for the Poison of the Aconites of all sorts". (Culpeper)
8. Herb True-Love: 'The leaves or berries thereof are effectual to expel Poison of all sorts, especially that of the Aconites'. (Culpeper)
9. Purified Borax is regarded as an antidote in Ayurveda. Recent research has shown it to be an effective antidote to both acute and sub-acute Aconite poisoning.
Main Preparations used:
Prepared Aconite Root (Zhi Fu Zi)
1. Extremely toxic in its unprepared state. Even the prepared drug is highly toxic in overdose. A number of deaths occur each year in China from Aconite poisoning.
2. Only the prepared root is used internally.
3. It is wise to begin with lesser doses, increasing as needed. Cooking time can also be longer to begin with (2 hours), reducing cooking time over a number of days.
ANTIDOTES:
1. Licorice (TCM)
2. Ginger (TCM)
3. Garlic
4. Asafetida
5. Anthora (Aconitum anthora) was regarded as a specific antidote to the toxic Aconites. Anthora is a non-toxic (less toxic) species of Aconite. Similarly, in Tibetan Medicine, non-toxic (less toxic) species of Aconite (A. heterophyllum etc.) are regarded as counterpoisons to the toxic Aconites.
6. Delphiniums are closely allied to the Aconites. D. denudatum has, similar to the above-mentioned Aconites, been regarded as an antidote to the toxic Aconites.
7. Ground Pine: "It is an especial thing for the Poison of the Aconites of all sorts". (Culpeper)
8. Herb True-Love: 'The leaves or berries thereof are effectual to expel Poison of all sorts, especially that of the Aconites'. (Culpeper)
9. Purified Borax is regarded as an antidote in Ayurveda. Recent research has shown it to be an effective antidote to both acute and sub-acute Aconite poisoning.
Main Preparations used:
Prepared Aconite Root (Zhi Fu Zi)