LAUSR

Aconite is a potent cardiotoxin and neurotoxin found in the Aconitum species such as Aconitum vulparia (“wolfsbane”) and Aconitum napellus (“monkshood”). It is commonly incorporated into herbal recipes by traditional medicine providers in China and India for use as an analgesic and antipyretic. The plant itself, especially its roots and root tubers, is known to be extremely toxic when raw and must be processed to hydrolyze the alkaloid components into a less-toxic or nontoxic derivative.1,2 The widespread availability of the plant renders the possibility of its intentional ingestion during a suicide attempt a viable area of concern. We describe a rare case of ventricular arrhythmia secondary to aconite ingestion.