Is the traditional Chinese medicine aconite (Fuzi) actually toxic? A full analysis of its effects and functions

From late June to early August each year, monkshood lateral roots (Fuzi) in Sichuan, Shaanxi, Guizhou, Hunan and other regions reach their harvest season, which is also the busiest and happiest time for growers. So as one of the medicinal plants, is Fuzi actually toxic? What are its effects and functions? Let's find out together below.

1. What does Fuzi look like?

1. Fuzi in traditional Chinese medicine is the processed product of the lateral roots of the plant Aconitum carmichaelii, also called Fupian, Yanfuzi and Heishunpian. Although they are essentially the same thing, there are still slight differences in their physical characteristics.

(1) Physical characteristics of Yanfuzi: it is conical in shape, with a grayish-black surface and a grayish-brown cross-section, filled with salt frost in the small gaps; its odor is relatively weak, and after eating it there is a slight numbing and tongue-pricking sensation.

(2) Physical characteristics of Heishunpian: it is a longitudinal slice with a dark brown outer skin and a dark yellow cut surface, oily and glossy, overall semi-transparent, with little odor and a relatively mild taste.

(3) Baifupian has no outer skin, and its appearance is yellowish-white and semi-transparent.

2. The plant Fuzi is also called Aconitum, Caowu, E'erhua, Wudu, Tiehua and so on. The spacing between its leaves is roughly even; the lower leaves on the stem wither when it blooms, and the leaf blades are relatively thin with short appressed hairs on the surface. The flowers of Fuzi open in September and October each year, and the fruits mature in October and November. The plant is a perennial herb with a growth height of 0.6 to 1.5 m, and it often grows in mountain areas and shrub thickets.

2. Is Fuzi actually toxic?

Fuzi is a toxic Chinese medicinal material.

1. Fuzi contains aconitine, which is highly toxic. Accidental ingestion may lead to kidney failure, and in severe cases hematuria, proteinuria and acute renal failure may occur. However, there is no need to worry because the Fuzi generally used as medicine has been processed, which can remove part of its toxicity. Therefore, if a medical condition requires the medicinal material Fuzi, it must be used under the professional guidance of a professional doctor; otherwise, instead of treating the disease, it may cause poisoning.

2. Although processing Fuzi can remove part of its toxicity, it still needs to be decocted for a certain period of time. Insufficient decoction time can also cause poisoning. In addition, applying Fuzi externally at the navel area may cause dermatitis, so it should be used with care. The symptoms of Fuzi poisoning include numbness of the mouth and tongue, face or whole body, as well as a burning sensation in the mouth, nausea and vomiting, dizziness and blurred vision, arrhythmia, difficulty breathing and so on. If such a situation occurs, medical treatment must be sought promptly.

3. What are the effects and functions of Fuzi?

1. Fuzi has the effect of tonifying yang deficiency and yang qi, and helping yang in cases of aversion to cold: Fuzi itself is a pungent and hot Chinese medicine, and it can travel through the meridians as described in traditional Chinese medicine, and it has a certain effect on expelling cold-dampness and wind pathogens and tonifying yang deficiency.

2. Fuzi has the effect of improving vascular diseases: consuming Fuzi has a certain effect on improving blood circulation in the human body, can dilate blood vessels and increase the speed of blood flow, and can also appropriately regulate blood pressure.

3. Fuzi has a relieving effect on joint pain such as arthritis and rheumatism: pungent and hot Fuzi has a certain effect on removing the pain of rheumatic arthritis and aversion to cold.

4. Fuzi has a certain regulatory effect on abnormal heart rate: Fuzi can enhance the contractile capacity of our myocardium, producing effects such as speeding up the heart rate and increasing output.

5. Fuzi has a certain inhibitory effect on acute inflammation: consuming Fuzi has a certain therapeutic effect on weakness of spleen and stomach yang qi and poor digestion, and it also has a certain effect on some inflammations.

6. Fuzi warms the meridians, dispels cold and relieves pain: if symptoms such as deficiency cold of the house, cold attacking the meridians and cold headache occur in daily life, using Fuzi has a certain auxiliary therapeutic effect.

7. Fuzi has a certain effect on treating chronic bronchitis, emphysema, chronic diarrhea and cold pain in the abdomen, and it has a certain effect on various types of constitutional deficiency cold and chronic diseases.

8. Although Fuzi is good, the contraindications must also be remembered: pregnant women cannot consume Fuzi; medicinal materials such as Banxia, Gualou, Beimu and Baiji also cannot be used together with Fuzi. In addition, most importantly, one must follow medical advice and not use the medicine on one's own, because Fuzi does have a certain toxicity.

Attachment: Reference table of recent market prices of Fuzi