One Branch of Snow Mountain Artemisia, a traditional Chinese medicine, is the rhizome of the plant Aconitum gymnandrum of the Ranunculaceae family. It has the effects of dispelling wind and dampness, promoting blood circulation, and relieving pain. It is commonly used for joint and bone pain caused by wind, cold, and dampness, as well as bruises and pain caused by falls or insect bites. However, One Branch of Snow Mountain Artemisia is highly toxic. So why do traditional Chinese medicine practitioners still use it?
[Effects and Functions of One Branch of Snow Mountain Artemisia]
One Branch of Snow Mountain Artemisia, also known as Peng An Na Bu Luo Ma Cha Wa (in Tibetan), has a bitter and pungent taste, warm nature, and strong toxicity. It belongs to the Liver meridian. It is a classic Tibetan medicine originated from Tibet and widely used by the general public for pain relief and injury treatment.
One Branch of Snow Mountain Artemisia has the effects of dispelling wind and dampness, promoting blood circulation, and relieving pain. It is commonly used for joint and bone pain caused by wind, cold, and dampness, as well as bruises and pain caused by falls or insect bites.
One Branch of Snow Mountain Artemisia has remarkable effects on bruises, swelling, and pain caused by falls, rheumatism, and especially various internal and external injuries, both when taken internally and applied externally.
1. Various types of pain
One Branch of Snow Mountain Artemisia has pungent and warm properties, strong dispersing effect, and excellent pain-relieving properties. It is a good medicine for treating various types of pain.
2. Sores, swelling, and toxic insect bites
One Branch of Snow Mountain Artemisia can counteract toxins, promote blood circulation and relieve pain. It can be used externally by soaking it in alcohol to treat sores, swelling, toxic insect bites, snake bites, bee stings, etc.
Treatment for bruises, snake bites, and insect bites: Take 50 grams of One Branch of Snow Mountain Artemisia and soak it in one kilogram of alcohol for ten days, then apply it externally (do not take internally). (From "Commonly Used Tibetan Medicinal Herbs")
[Causes of Poisoning from One Branch of Snow Mountain Artemisia]
One Branch of Snow Mountain Artemisia is highly toxic. When used properly, it can treat diseases, but if used improperly, it can be fatal. It is not uncommon for poisoning and death to occur due to accidental ingestion or overdose.
In many incidents of poisoning from herbal alcohol, the incidence of poisoning from aconitine drugs is the highest and is also the "culprit" in recent news reports of herbal alcohol poisoning.
The main component of One Branch of Snow Mountain Artemisia is aconitine, which has analgesic effects on various neuralgia and gout. However, due to its high toxicity, it is no longer used clinically. The detoxification can be achieved by using mung beans and honeysuckle in traditional Chinese medicine.
Chinese medicine and folk remedies widely use various types of Artemisia to reduce fever and relieve pain, and to treat stubborn rheumatism. However, since Artemisia often contains aconitine, caution must be exercised when using it. The lethal dose of aconitine (oral) is 0.2 milligrams, and the lethal dose is 2.5 milligrams.
Therefore, I would like to remind everyone that aconitine in One Branch of Snow Mountain Artemisia is highly toxic, and it must be used under the guidance of a professional doctor!
