Symptoms and Treatment of Monkshood Poisoning

The information here comes from a few sources on the net, the signs and symptoms for Monkshood poisoning include:

• Nausea
• Burning
• Tingling
• Paralysis
• Vomiting
• Dizziness
• Sweating
• Confusion
• Headache
• Numbness
• Convulsions 
• Slowed pulse
• Blurred vision
• Shallow breathing
• Motor impairment
• Breathing problems
• Frothing at the mouth
• Alternating cold and burning sensations

A sufficient quantity of Monkshood will result in death in just a few hours. Less than a half a teaspoonful of the tincture has proved fatal in some cases; a whole teaspoonful will always do the job if left for long in the stomach.

Normally the whole time period from ingesting to death, depending on the quantity of toxin is about an hour, it's a slow and painful death, similar to strychnine poisoning. 

Most instances of contact with this plant is from touching the foliage, resulting in irritation, slight dizziness and a little nausea. Death definitely happens when the plant is eaten or if plant touches any open wounds. You should always wear gloves when handling Monkshood.

This is the classic poison, it leaves the victim writhing in agony, albeit one's consciousness remains normal to the last.  I found another website that states that atropine is an antidote.

• The physiological antidotes are atropine and digitalin or strophanthin, which should be injected subcutaneously in maximal doses.

Atropine is an active agent in Belladonna, and like Monkshood, Belladonna is one of the most toxic plants in the world.  I have a feeling that this bit of information may only be folklore.  I would not put my trust in one poison neutralizing another. 

According to several internet sourses, the treatment is to empty the stomach by tube or by a non-depressant emetic (an agent that induces vomiting).

Treatment:

• Don't Panic.
• There is no chemical antidote for aconite.
• Call 911 and tell them you have a poisoning victim, and/or call your doctor's emergency number and get instructions. 
• Immediately induse vomiting to rid victim's system of the poison.
• Immediately give victim  a teaspoonful of mustard, mixed in a teacupful of warm (not hot) water.
• If vomiting does not occur after ten minutes, repeat the last step using large amounts of warm water.
• If no mustard is available, a tablespoonful of salt, in a teacupful of warm, (not hot) water, will serve purpose.
• After victim has vomited, mix powdered charcoal, a teaspoonful at a time, in water, and let it be drunk; and also use lots of very strong tea.
• Briskly rub the victim's limbs with your warmed hands, and place hot bottles or bricks alongside the body and beside the feet.
• If other treatment is used, it should only be at the judgment of a physician, who should be summoned as soon as possible.