The Efficacy and Functions of Raw Aconite (Sheng Fu Zi)
Raw Aconite refers to the unprocessed form of Aconite, which is the tuber of the Aconitum plant from the Ranunculaceae family. It is conical in shape, slightly curved, with a gray-black surface, often featuring a depressed bud scar at the top and surrounding tuberous rootlets or rootlet scars. Raw Aconite has a pungent and bitter taste, is hot in nature, highly toxic, and belongs to the category of warming interior medicines. It possesses the functions of warming the meridians and alleviating pain, reviving yang and rescuing from collapse, and tonifying fire to assist yang.
1. Warming the Meridians and Alleviating Pain
Raw Aconite is pungent and disperses warmth, moving without restraint, and has a strong effect in warming the meridians and alleviating pain. It can expel wind, cold, and dampness from the meridians, making it suitable for conditions such as wind-cold-damp bi syndrome, joint pain, cold pain in the heart and abdomen, and cold hernia pain, especially effective in cases of prevalent cold-dampness with widespread joint pain.
2. Reviving Yang and Rescuing from Collapse
Raw Aconite can assist heart yang, warm spleen yang, and tonify kidney yang, making it the primary herb for reviving yang and rescuing from collapse. It is applicable for critically ill patients, such as those experiencing yang collapse and cold pain throughout the body due to heart failure.
3. Tonifying Fire and Assisting Yang
Raw Aconite is suitable for patients with yang deficiency and can treat conditions such as kidney yang insufficiency and diminished life gate fire, which lead to cold pain in the lower back and knees, and frequent urination at night. It can also address spleen and kidney yang deficiency with internal cold dampness causing cold pain in the abdomen and loose stools. Raw Aconite has certain therapeutic effects on male impotence and premature ejaculation, as well as female infertility due to cold in the uterus.
Nutritional Value of Raw Aconite
Raw Aconite contains aconitine, including mesaconitine, hypaconitine, talatizidine, and aconitine. The aconitine content is high in raw Aconite, which is why it is toxic. Processed Aconite, known as prepared Aconite, has a relatively lower aconitine content, thus reducing its toxicity. The alkaloids in raw Aconite have a strong cardiotonic effect, and this substance is generally not affected by the cooking time; the longer it is cooked, the less the arrhythmogenic effect caused by the plant alkaloids, making the cardiotonic effect more stable. Aconitine and hypaconitine in raw Aconite have strong sedative effects and can act on the nervous system; the chlorides have certain antibacterial properties, thus raw Aconite can also be used to treat various inflammations.
Precautions for Using Raw Aconite
Not to be Consumed Together With
1. Fermented Soybeans (Dou Chi)
Raw Aconite has a hot nature, while fermented soybeans are a cold food; consuming them together may reduce the efficacy of the medicine.
2. Ephedra (Ma Huang)
Raw Aconite itself has certain toxicity, and consuming it in large amounts with Ephedra will significantly increase the toxicity of raw Aconite, potentially leading to poisoning.
Indications and Contraindications
Indications: Wind-Cold-Damp Bi Syndrome, Cold Extremities, Spleen Yang Deficiency
Raw Aconite can warm the meridians and open the channels, expelling wind, cold, and dampness, and has a strong effect in dispersing cold and alleviating pain. Its pungent and hot nature can dispel dampness and cold, strengthen yang, and tonify the kidneys, making it especially suitable for individuals with cold and weak constitutions. Therefore, it is appropriate for those with wind-cold-damp bi syndrome, cold extremities, and spleen yang deficiency.
Contraindications: Yin Deficiency with Excess Yang, True Heat with False Cold
Raw Aconite is pungent, very hot, and toxic; individuals with yin deficiency and excess yang, or true heat with false cold should avoid it, as adverse reactions may occur.
Maternal and Infant Considerations
Pregnant women should consume it with caution. Raw Aconite is highly toxic, and its use during pregnancy may lead to miscarriage or affect the normal development of the fetus, thus it is not recommended for pregnant women.
Infants and young children should also consume it with caution. Due to its toxicity and the relatively poor metabolic capacity of infants and young children, it is not recommended for them.
Warnings Regarding Raw Aconite
Raw Aconite is highly toxic, and excessive consumption may lead to toxic side effects, manifesting as nausea, numbness in the hands and feet, palpitations, vomiting, slow breathing, and decreased blood pressure; in severe cases, it may even be life-threatening. Therefore, it must be taken under the guidance of a physician, and prolonged cooking of this herb can appropriately reduce its toxicity.
Method of Use for Raw Aconite
For Medicinal Use
Prepare an appropriate amount of clean river sand, heat it in a pan, then slice the raw Aconite and add it to the pan, stir-frying until the Aconite changes color. Remove and let cool before using it as a medicinal herb, which can help tonify qi and strengthen yang.