Aconitum hemsleyanum

Aconitum hemsleyanum

　　Aconitum hemsleyanum

　　Aconitum hemsleyanum, also known as blood monkshood, heart-piercing venomous herb, or creeping monkshood, is the tuberous root of Aconitum hemsleyanum, a plant in the Ranunculaceae family. Aconitum hemsleyanum is a perennial twining herb. The tuber is inverted cone-shaped and can grow over 6 cm in length. The twining stem is purple on the side facing the sun, smooth, and branched. It grows in shady, damp grassy areas at the edges of mountain forests or along roadsides. It is widely distributed in Sichuan, Hubei, Hunan, Shaanxi, Henan, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and other regions. It has an acrid and warm nature and is highly toxic. It can be used to treat lumbar - leg pain, unexplained swelling and toxins, bruises and injuries, and ringworm sores. It has the effects of calming convulsions, lowering blood pressure, inducing perspiration, and promoting diuresis.