Aconite

Aconite refers to the genus of Aconitum, which includes plants such as monkshoodUnknown. (1972). "aconite", in Leach, M. (ed) Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend. 3rd ed. p.7. It is also used more specifically to refer to monkshood/wolfsbane (Aconitum napellus).Melton, J. G. (1999). The Vampire Book. 2 ed. p.3
== Uses ==
Across Eurasia, aconites have been used as a source of poisons. Notable aconites used to extract poison from include the Indian mountain aconite, and the Nepalese Himalayan aconite. The Nepalese one is used to make Bikh poison, which the Nepalese have historically put in wells and springs to poison attackers who drink from them. Many of these poisons are contact poisons as well as ingested ones. In northern Asia, arrows for hunting large animals (such as tigers) or for use against humans were often coated in aconite poison. It is recorded amongst the Ainu people and other people on the east Asian coast. Aconite-poison arrows, spears, and harpoons were common amongst Kamchadal and Aleut hunters and whalers in Siberia, and also among the Alutiiq and Aleut peoples of Alaska. 
In parts of Italy, aconites are used to give relief from neuralgia, and are also used as a tonic, febrifuge, or aphrodisiac. 
== Legends ==
The Penzer notes of the Kathasaritsagara contain a Neapolitan story of two lovers who died to this poison: a young girl was told by her shady father to cover her body in an ointment he prepared, telling her it was a love charm to bind her lover to her forever. She used the ointment, and it killed both her lover and her that night. 
According to the Ancient Greeks, aconite arose from the mouths of Cerberus while he was under the influence of Hecate. 
It was said that witches used aconite as an ingredient in the ointments they would rub on themselves to allow them to fly to their sabbaths. 
In some Vampire stories, including the 1931 Spanish film Dracula, aconite is given instead of garlic as the plant used to repel vampires. 
== Further Reading ==
* Bizarre Plants: Magical, Monstrous, Mythical, Emboden, W. 
== See Also ==
* Poison Damsel
== References ==
Category:Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend
Category:Materials
Category:The Vampire Book