Aconite (wrestler). Legends, myths, symbolism, description, cultivation, methods of application

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Aconite (wrestler). Legends, myths, symbolism, description, cultivation, methods of application

cultivated and wild plants. Legends, myths, symbolism, description, cultivation, methods of application

Directory / Cultivated and wild plants

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Content

Photos, basic scientific information, legends, myths, symbolism
Basic scientific information, legends, myths, symbolism
Botanical description, reference data, useful information, illustrations
Recipes for use in traditional medicine and cosmetology
Tips for growing, harvesting and storing

Aconite (wrestler), Aconite. Photos of the plant, basic scientific information, legends, myths, symbolism

Aconite (wrestler)

Basic scientific information, legends, myths, symbolism

Sort by: aconite

Family: Honeysuckle (Ranunculaceae)

Origin: The genus Aconite includes over 300 species that originate from the northern temperate regions of Eurasia and North America.

Area: Aconites grow in the mountainous regions and forests of the northern temperate zones of Eurasia and North America. They are often found in the Caucasus Mountains, the Alps, the Himalayas and Alaska.

Chemical composition: The composition of Aconite may contain various biologically active substances, such as alkaloids, acids, flavonoids and others. Aconite alkaloids, such as aconaline and aconaitin, are strong poisons that can cause cardiovascular disorders and paralysis of the respiratory system. However, some Aconite alkaloids are also used medicinally to treat certain diseases.

Economic value: Aconites have no industrial value and are not used in the food or medical industries due to their high toxicity. However, they are often used in landscaping and as ornamental plants due to their beautiful foliage and flowers. In addition, some cultures use Aconite as a hunting or fishing poison.

Legends, myths, symbolism: In ancient Greek mythology, the goddess Hecate was depicted with a branch of aconite in her hands, symbolizing her power over secrets, magic and night spirits. In Chinese medicine, aconite was widely used to treat illnesses, but it was also considered poisonous and dangerous to use without due care. In Christian symbolism, aconite is associated with dark forces and temptation, as well as hell and the fall of mankind. It is often mentioned in medieval legends and was one of the ingredients in the witch's potion from Shakespeare's play Macbeth. In general, aconite is associated with the dark side of life.

Aconite (wrestler), Aconite. Description, illustrations of the plant

Aconite. Legends, myths, history

Aconite (wrestler)

Perhaps the Latin name of aconite alludes to the Greek city of Akone, where these plants were especially common.

Aconite is a poisonous plant. An ancient Greek myth is associated with this, describing the 11th feat of Hercules.

Once King Eurystheus ordered Hercules to descend into Hades and tame the terrible three-headed dog Cerberus (Cerberus). The entrance to the realm of the dead was located near the city of Akone. Hercules descended into the underworld and went to the god of death, Hades. He allowed Hercules to take Cerberus with him on the condition that the hero tame the terrible three-headed dog without arrows and spears.

The hero managed to overcome the monster and pull him out of the realm of the dead into the light. Cerberus whimpered in horror, poisonous saliva flowing from his mouth. Where it fell to the ground, deadly aconites grew.

According to Ovid's poem, Medea wanted to poison Theseus with the juice of aconite. The ancient Scandinavians called aconite a "fighter". In one of the Scandinavian sagas, this plant is associated with Thor, the strongest of all gods.

Aconite flowers in their shape resembled his helmet. Aconite was also familiar to the ancient Germans. In myths, poisonous aconite is often associated with the Wolf - the embodiment of World Evil. It is no coincidence that the Germans called this plant "wolf root". Among the Slavic peoples, aconite was called "king-grass"; only enlightened people, in particular monks, could deal with this poisonous plant.

Author: Martyanova L.M.

Wrestlers. Interesting plant facts

Aconite (wrestler)

If you happen to walk among tall meadow grass, stop on the path and look around. From the grass, here and there, the purple helmets of the Dzungarian wrestler look out, very similar to the helmets of the ancient steppe warrior riders.

The flowers-helmets of the plant are arcuately carved and with a long nose, as if adapted to block the bridge of the nose of a warrior. And if you look even more closely at the Dzungarian wrestler, you will notice that his blue-violet color is similar to the color of hardened steel and, therefore, to the color of a metal helmet. Was it not in such combat helmets that the steppe patrols met uninvited guests

And maybe, where the purple flowers of the Dzungarian wrestler are now swaying, desperate battles used to take place.

One after another, the defenders, struck to death, fell into the grass, thudding to the ground, metal helmets rolled aside.

Years passed. The helmets, affected by rust, decayed, and at the place of their fall, the helmets of the Dzungarian wrestler rose. It seems that they look at the renewed world with amazed eyes, look, shaking their purple heads, and quietly sing a hymn to the departed.

In England, for the similarity of colors not only with a helmet, but also with a hood, they called them a monk's hood. And botanists call the wrestler aconite, from the ancient Greek city of Akone, near which this plant grew in abundance.

About three hundred species of wrestlers are known. Yellow aconite is found in the steppe, in the taiga - with blue and purple flowers, in the mountains, where there is a lot of snow and the soil does not freeze through, aconite sometimes reaches two and three meters in height. In its thickets it is always dark and damp.

Gardeners have long appreciated aconite for its beauty, and the ancient Himalayan hunters for the poisonousness of its tubers. Aconite poison replaces curare poison. Before hunting, the tips of spears and arrows were soaked with tuber juice. Animals or animals struck by such spears instantly froze from paralysis.

The aerial part of the plant is also poisonous, and even the smell of flowers. It is dangerous to place a large bouquet of aconite in a room.

In Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, this plant is called the Issyk-Kul root, or Ugorg-son, which means poisonous lead or poison bullet.

From time immemorial, people have known about the poisonous properties of aconite. In ancient Greece and China, poison for arrows was obtained from it, and in Tibet the plant is still considered the king of medicine, its alkaloid is widely used for a variety of medicinal purposes.

Aconite venom serves as a guarantee of the safety of the plant; herbivores bypass it. However, the animals are not averse to them and heal. G. Uspensky in the book "On the Reserve Wilds" says that many animals eat poisonous herbs as a medicine against worms.

Very fond of aconite rodents, similar to gophers, which are called hay pikas. Pikas harvest aconite stalks, rake them into sheaves and dry them. It has been established that dried aconite loses its toxicity, and therefore they began to mow it for hay. And where aconite blanks are produced, its plantations die out. They also disappear when the soil is compacted, near roads and tourist paths.

Aconite (wrestler)

According to legend, aconite grew from the saliva of the dog Cerberus. Hercules, in order to deserve immortality, had to perform twelve feats; the eleventh was to bring to earth the dog Cerberus - a terrible three-headed monster covered with snakes. Cerberus was the guardian of hell. Hercules descended there through an entrance that was in the ground not far from Cape Genar in Laconia. The lord of the underworld, Hades, allowed him to take Cerberus away, if only Hercules could defeat the dog without using weapons. And although Cerberus wrapped the serpent tail around Hercules' legs, and the dragon's head dug its teeth into his body, Hercules defeated the dog and brought him to the ground.

Cerberus was horrified by daylight. Poisonous saliva flowed from all three of its mouths, and where it fell, a poisonous aconite flower grew.

The wrestler is called aconite on the basis of the Scandinavian legend about the last struggle of the god Thor with the poisonous snake king-potion.

All the Scandinavian gods and the warriors resurrected by them then rose to fight the dark forces that extinguished the sun and stars, awakened volcanoes, made rivers boil and engulfed the world in fire. In an unequal duel, Thor defeats the world serpent, but after nine steps, he himself dies from his poisonous bites. At the site of the death of the god, the wrestler subsequently blossomed, as the news that life on earth continues.

There is an opinion that garden forms lose their poisonous properties. In India, for example, some cultivated species of aconite are even eaten, and, apparently, that is why a legend was born there about a Hindu beauty who ate so much aconite that she herself became poisonous.

It was impossible not only to touch her, but even to meet her gaze, since the gaze of the beauty poisoned people's lives.

In late Greek mythology, the goddess Hecate, a highly mysterious and dark creature by origin, was considered the patroness of poisoners. In the early period, Hekate was a completely virtuous goddess, patronizing hunting, fishing and sailors. But from the fifth century BC, her character changed dramatically, Hekate became the goddess of evil magic, evil spells, nightmares and poisoners. Shakespeare wrote about this: "... the pernicious juice of midnight herbs, thrice riddled with the curse of Hekate."

In the arsenal of magical herbs of the goddess, the well-known aconite wrestler, who received a loud but sad fame, is often mentioned.

These slender plants with dissected dark green leaves carry a beautiful bunch of dark blue or purple flowers at the top of the stem. The structure of the flower at the same time resembles both a helmet with a lowered visor, and ... an elegant lady's shoe, which is why it also has the names skullcap and zozulin laces.

Aconite looks very beautiful in the chernozem substeppe, where purple color is extremely rare in the herbage.

The outstanding domestic researcher P.S. Massagetov in the book "Treasured Herbs" wrote This plant has an arrogant look, as if condescendingly allowing neighboring herbs to serve as a background for itself. However, do not rush to succumb to its charm. The whole plant is poisonous. Even honey containing its pollen is poisonous. And it is this property of the plant that is reflected in its numerous names. So, Latin comes from the Greek words murder and dart, and popular names, such as wolf death, king-potion, tormenting grass, speak for themselves.

There is a legend according to which the famous Khan Timur was poisoned with aconite poison. The skullcap of the conqueror was soaked with the juice of this plant.

Plutarch's description of the poisoning of the warriors of Mark Antony with aconite has been preserved. The warriors, in whose food aconite got into, lost their memory and were busy turning over every stone in their path, as if they were looking for something very important ....

Therefore, this plant must be treated very, very carefully.

Author: Krasikov S.

Aconite (wrestler), Aconite. Recipes for use in traditional medicine and cosmetology

cultivated and wild plants. Legends, myths, symbolism, description, cultivation, methods of application

Ethnoscience:

For pain in muscles and joints: Aconite ointment can help relieve muscle and joint pain. To prepare the ointment, you need to grind the aconite root and mix it with butter. Then place the mixture in a water bath and heat over low heat for several hours, then strain and apply to sore spots.
For rheumatism: A decoction of aconite root can help reduce the pain and inflammation of rheumatism. To prepare a decoction, pour 1 tablespoon of chopped aconite root with 1 cup of boiling water, leave for 10-15 minutes and strain. Drink 1/4 cup of decoction 3 times a day.

Cosmetology:

There are no known recipes that use aconite for cosmetic purposes. Aconite is a highly poisonous plant and its use in beauty or other household applications can be dangerous. For cosmetic purposes, it is better to use other plants that do not pose a threat to health and safety.

Attention! Before use, consult with a specialist!

Aconite (wrestler), Aconite. Tips for growing, harvesting and storing

cultivated and wild plants. Legends, myths, symbolism, description, cultivation, methods of application

Cultivation, harvesting and storage of aconite (fighter), Aconite, should be done with extreme caution, given the high toxicity of the plant and its poisonousness.

Tips for growing, harvesting and storing aconite:

Cultivation:

Aconite grows best in moist and fertile soils. It is recommended to plant the plant in a place protected from direct sunlight.
Reproduction of aconite occurs with the help of seeds, which should be sown in the ground in autumn or spring. They will rise only after a few weeks or even months.
For the first few years, the plant may be slow and insignificant, but then it will begin to grow faster.
To avoid poisoning, do not collect aconite flowers or leaves at home.

Workpiece:

All parts of aconite, including leaves, flowers and roots, contain poisonous alkaloids, so the harvesting and use of aconite should be carried out only under the supervision of a medical specialist.
If you still want to use aconite for medicinal purposes, consult a qualified herbalist or Ayurvedic doctor.

Storage:

After harvesting the aconite, thoroughly rinse and dry it.
Store aconite in a dry place at room temperature, away from direct sunlight.
Store aconite in a separate container to avoid getting it on other plants or foods.

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