Monkshood
Aconitum napellus
Synonyms:
Wolfbane, Aconite, Friar's Cap
Family:
Ranunculaceae, Buttercup family
Where to find it :
On moist, shady ground; in the mountains in the range 1000-2000 m
Parts used:
all parts; the root is the strongest though
Special constituents:
Terpenoid alkaloids, up to 1,2% (root contains the highest percentage): aconitine, aconine, hypaconitine, neopelline, picraconitine, napelline, benzoylaconine, traces of ephedrine and sparteine. Aconitic and itaconic acids.
Correspondance:
Saturn (Beyerl)
Uses:
Anodyne, sedative, and diaphoretic.
Blauwe Monnikskap 
StormhatMonkshood is one of the most toxic plants in the world. It is the most toxic plant in Europe. The shape of the flower looks a bit like a hood, thus the name. The name Wolfsbane comes from a story that wolfes, when very hungry in the winter, would tear up the roots of this plant, eat it, and die. The active ingredient (the poison) is aconitine; 3-6mg of this is enough to kill a person. So be careful if you have it in the garden! Do not grow it near any kitchen herbs. People have died from eating Monkshood leaves that they thought were Parsley.
The growth of the root is very characteristic. He forms a new root tuber every year next to the old one which then dies off. The plant grows quite tall in mountain regions, and can be the only one seen to stick out - simply because it does not get gnawed by mountain goats and other animals.
The toxic properties of Monkshood has been well known since ancient times. One Roman emperor, Trojanus (117 a.D.) even made it illegal to grow Monkshood, as too many people used it to get rid of enemies or annoying family members.
In the Middle Ages, Monkshood was used medicinally as a painkiller. Due to its extremely potent effects on the central nervous system, Monkshood has also been prepared as a liniment or ointment for the treatment for neuralgia, sciatica, rheumatism, arthritis, and other pain conditions. It causes a tingling sensation followed by numbness. Even in the form of a liniment for topical application, the constituent Aconitine can be extremely toxic. In modern preparations of the drug, however, the amount of Aconitine can be controlled perfectly and it is thus safe - in older times, this was not the case, and there could be a 10-fold difference in strength between preparations.
In traditional Chinese medicine, Monkshood is considered an effective stimulant for the spleen and kidneys, and is a favorite treatment for malaise, general weakness, poor circulation, cancer, and heart disease. Monkshood is also occasionally used in very low doses by modern homeopathic practitioners as a treatment for colds, influenza, rheumatism and congestion.
Aconitine has a short-lived cardiotonic action followed by cardiac depression, and ending in cardiac arrest. Mrs. Grieve describes Aconite poisoning thus: "The symptons of poisoning are tingling and numbness of tongue and mouth and a sensation of ants crawling over the body, nausea and vomiting with epigastric pain, laboured breathing, pulse irregular and weak, skin cold and clammy, features bloodless, giddiness, staggering, mind remains clear." She recommends Digitalis as an antidote; it is a powerful cardiac stimulant. Should the victim not be able to retain anything given through the mouth, she recommends "diluted brandy injected per rectum"!
Monkshood is said to be among the ingredients of witches' flying ointments. However, I doubt this was ever the case, considering how toxic it is.
Magically, Beyerl states that Monkshood can be used in consecration of magical blades, "both to wash them and to cleanse them as an incense".
And we find Monkshood mentioned in the Holy Books of Thelema, Liber LXV: " Wolf's bane is not so sharp as steel; yet it pierceth the body more subtly. "