White Aconite is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine for skin whitening. It belongs to a different species than Black Aconite, and their usage and effects are quite different. Let's take a closer look at the differences in toxicity between the two!
Toxicity of White Aconite
The toxicity of White Aconite is different from that of Black Aconite. White Aconite is highly toxic, with the highest toxicity in the tuberous part, causing significant irritation to the skin and mucous membranes, as well as suppressing the central nervous system.
Symptoms of poisoning may include numbness of the mouth and tongue, a feeling of tightness in the limbs and body, profuse sweating, thirst, dry mouth, palpitations, restlessness, followed by slurred speech, vomiting, diarrhea, cyanosis of the face and forehead, and eventually respiratory and circulatory failure leading to death.
Although White Aconite itself is toxic, its toxicity is very weak. When combined with different medicinal herbs during preparation, it does not pose harm to patients.
If you use White Aconite as a facial mask, you may notice some redness and swelling on the face the next morning. This is related to the nature of White Aconite, which is warm and pungent, and has toxic properties. Therefore, it is important to follow the guidance of a doctor before use.
White Aconite is indeed toxic, but traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions have undergone multiple verifications. Adding White Aconite to a prescription can be considered safe and will not cause harm to the body.
Toxicity of Black Aconite
The toxicity of Black Aconite is mainly caused by a class of alkaloids called Aconitine. The lethal dose of Aconitine is 3-4mg, and ingestion of 0.2mg of Aconitine can cause poisoning in adults.
Incidents of Black Aconite poisoning are more common. Aconitine poisoning mainly manifests as toxic reactions in the nervous system, digestive system, and cardiovascular system, and can be fatal in severe cases.
When a person mistakenly ingests Black Aconite and becomes poisoned, symptoms may include lip and limb numbness, facial muscle spasms, and convulsions.
Subsequently, the toxin acts on the stomach, causing nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. If a large amount of Black Aconite is ingested, the patient may become unconscious, experience seizures, respiratory arrest, and even death due to circulatory and respiratory failure. Therefore, prompt first aid is necessary after ingesting toxic Black Aconite.
If the poisoning symptoms are mild, the following measures can be taken for rescue: drinking cold water mixed with mung bean powder or honey, chewing raw slices of white radish, or taking a decoction of licorice; if possible, preparing a decoction of Saposhnikovia divaricata and black beans, or cinnamon powder, and taking it warm.
Note that the dosage for children is generally twice that of adults. If the poisoning symptoms are severe, the person should seek medical attention immediately. Before seeking medical attention, gastric lavage with potassium permanganate may be appropriate.
