Wolfsbane

**Notice:** This **article** uses content directly taken from the Wolfsbane **article** at the Teen Wolf Wiki and Wolfsbane **article** at the Vampire Diaries Wiki, and is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike License.

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* Extant

**Wolfsbane**, also known as aconite or monkshood, is a potent herb that is extremely toxic to Werewolves, Werecoyotes, and Werejaguars. The effects of contact with wolfsbane can vary depending on the dosage, the species, and the method of ingestion. These effects extend to hybrids as well, who are vulnerable to both wolfsbane and vervain as a result of their dual nature. Its flowers can also be used by witches in traditional potion-making. Most wolfsbane will kill a Werewolf if it reaches their heart, though it can be cleared by ingesting the ashes of the exact same strain that poisoned them, or by literally burning out a wound that has been made by a wolfsbane-laced weapon if the correct type of wolfsbane is unavailable.

## Species

Wolfsbane adversely affects werewolves. Ingesting wolfsbane severely weakens them, making them appear feverish. Direct skin contact with wolfsbane causes them to be burned so severely that it causes their skin and mucous membranes to smoke slightly at the site of contact appearing from the contact area. Though a werewolf's enhanced cellular regeneration will eventually heal the wounds, it will take much longer than if it were a regular burn.

On the night of a full moon, just before their transformation into a wolf, many werewolves will dilute wolfsbane in water and drink it to weaken them to decrease the likelihood that they will break out of their restraints and harm or kill innocent bystanders. Both Mason and Tyler Lockwood have demonstrated this usage of wolfsbane to subdue oneself before their transformations.

Werewolves, despite their healing ability, take much longer to recover from wolfsbane-induced burns and exposure than they would to ordinary burns and toxins, and ingesting diluted wolfsbane has caused many werewolves to become weak, clammy, and feverish for anywhere from several hours to several days, depending on how much they were exposed to at the time. Because of this, wolfsbane is a well-known weapon against werewolves by vampires and humans who are "in the know" about the supernatural to non-fatally subdue them. However, there are no apparent long-lasting affects to wolfsbane if ingested. This is because it causes them to become ill. In cases where a werewolf is exposed to large amounts of pure, undiluted wolfsbane, they can be burned so severely that they begin to bleed, as shown when Damon chained Mason up and force-fed him an entire bud of wolfsbane, which caused him to cough up blood and stomach acid. According to Jules, an experienced werewolf can use their heightened awareness to "sniff out" wolfsbane, such as when she sensed that Damon had laced her drink with it.

A werewolf's weakness to wolfsbane has not yet been explained in the show, although looking at the similarities at their specific weaknesses, this could be attributed to the creation of the first werewolves, much like how vervain was indirectly involved in the creation of the first vampires and became a weakness for their species as a result.

It was implied that a small mixture of crushed aconite flower and jimson weed combined in a mug of tea can be drunk by a pregnant werewolf to induce an abortion, a method that Hayley Marshall briefly considered when she first learned she was pregnant with her daughter, Hope, without directly harming herself.

There have been multiple species of wolfsbane introduced in the series, some of which has a specific name (such as Aconit Napel Bleu Nordique which translates to Nordic Blue Monkshood, a favorite of the Argent Hunters) and some of which is identified solely by its color (for example, purple, blue, and yellow wolfsbane, as well as the modified black wolfsbane created by the Dread Doctors).

The blue and purple varieties of wolfsbane are most commonly seen within the show. Yellow wolfsbane, also known as Aconitum anthora is far less common, as it was described as being very rare and very expensive. The Dread Doctors were also shown to use a modified black liquid said to be wolfsbane which only weakens the werecreature for as long as they are given it intravenously, and then it wears off with no after-effects, essentially being used as a sedative.

Like werecreatures, hybrids are also vulnerable to wolfsbane and share some of the common weaknesses of werewolves. So far, weaponized wolfsbane has only been shown to be used on hybrids. Katherine Pierce used wolfsbane grenades to slow down Klaus' sired hybrid army. Damon also used a wolfsbane grenade on the unsuccessful and rabid hybrid Ray Sutton, who had been forced to play a game called "truth or wolfsbane" with Stefan before his transformation.

## Cure

The most common treatment for curing wolfsbane poisoning is burning it out with fire as shown when the Ethan and Aiden were attacked by the resurrected Kate Argent; their blood turned black as it poured from their wounds, and Derek Hale was forced to burn it out with a torch to save them due to the fact that they had no idea what strain of wolfsbane it was and thus could not use the ash like Derek did when he was shot with the Nordic Blue Monkshood. However, this is not always the case such as for the yellow wolfsbane as Deaton had to slice Brett's chest open to cure him of the wolfsbane and, once cut open, yellow mist came flowing out his chest. Strangely enough, when Scott McCall was shot with a yellow wolfsbane bullet, Derek was able to cure him by burning out the wound, just as he did for the twins. These methods are usually only painful for a short time due to the Werewolf/Werecoyote/Werejaguar's accelerated healing ability.