Episode 41: Whimpering Werewolves & Deadly Drool- Wolfsbane
Hello and welcome back to another week of Rooted! This week we are wrapping up our potion miniseries with Tooth of Wolf- also known as Wolfsbane!
Now, wolfsbane is also famously known as monk’s hood due to its extremely distinct bloom, that almost looks like a hooded figure. It’s a member of the Ranunculaceae, or buttercup family, just like toe of frog from our earlier episode in the series!
It’s botanical name is Aconitum, and it’s native across the northern hemisphere. While there are several varieties, they are all very similar in terms of chemical composition and history, so we will just be generally referring to all of them. They like to grow in moist but well draining soil in mountain-y meadows, and they aren’t too picky about soil or sunlight.
They are best known for their stunning flowers that can be purple, pink, yellow, or white. They are zygomorphic, which means their flowers are bilaterally symmetrical- so if split them in ½, both parts are the same. Their blooms tend to have 5 petals- but could have between 2 and 10, with one of those petals always being a large and prominent Gaela- or cylindrical hood that covers the top petal- hence its name “monk's hood” or Devil’s helmet. They have dark green, multiple-lobed leaves, and tall slender stems that hold up those iconic blooms.
In Greek mythology, the story goes that wolfsbane sprouted from the saliva or Cerberus- hade’s three headed dog that guarded the gates of hell. While it’s hard to say what caused the close tie to wolves, or if it was started because of it, one thing is for sure- these two are forever linked.
Ancient Greeks used to lace meat with poison extracted from the root of wolfsbane in order to poison wolves that were getting too close to livestock and causing problems for farmers. Which is why when lycanthropy started taking Europe by storm, people turned to wolfsbane for protection, and to prevent their loved ones from turning.
Folks would plant wolfsbane in their gardens, hoping to keep werewolves at bay, and it was even said that mixing it into a tea or soup could help heal those suffering from lycanthropy- a very real phenomenon where people (typically those who have been isolated due to weather or remote living) genuinely begin to believe they are turning into wild animals- especially around the full moon. Why lycanthropy is less commonly reported now, back in the 1500’s doctors were eager to find a cure. Knowing the greeks tended to know a thing or two about herbal medicine and mythical creatures, they decided to turn to the history books for help, stumbling upon wolfsbane…and while they tried their best to give appropriate doses, the vast majority of patients died, as wolfsbane is an extremely potent poison.
Scarily enough, the symptoms of wolfsbane poisoning is actually said to look extremely similar to that of rabies- with those who have ingested it foaming at the mouth, seemingly losing a good deal of their motor function, and eventually slipping into a coma before dying.
Interestingly, this reaction also created the myth that wolfsbane could turn you INTO a werewolf if you were to touch it during a full moon, only furthering the connection between wolves and the plant- and presumably confusing lycanthropy sufferers everywhere.
But just what exactly makes it so toxic? That would be the work of aconitine- an alkaloid that opens sodium channels, causing an influx of sodium into the bloodstream and preventing re-polarization. In humans, this leads to increased excitability and heart rate, the numbing of the face, and lowered blood pressure- slowing and eventually stopping the heart.
And it wasn’t just used against werewolves- it’s also been employed as a poison against pesky predators and prisoners alike.
When it came to hunting, several cultures across the northern hemisphere would dip darts and arrow tips into aconitine from the root- causing the animal being hunted to lose control much faster, and therefore being easier to catch.
As far as prisoners are concerned, it was really just a very horrific form of torture. But, it did also (kind of) lead to an antidote to other poisons when one old-timey doctor decided to test it on all the prisoners?? He essentially decided the best thing to do would be to give everyone the poison and only one person the antidote…and well, they all died except that one guy, unfortunately.
Aside from poison, pollinators really seem to love the stuff, with certain caterpillars choosing to feed almost exclusively on the stuff- really spitting in the face of all of us who can’t even touch wolfsbane without drooling involuntarily.
Next time you see a mysteriously hooded flower in the woods, be sure to say hello, but definitely DON’T give it a kiss on the head, as it will lead to some very troubling times and a less than stellar walk in the park.
That’s all I’ve got for this week, but I’ll be back next week with a new plant for us all to oggle over! See you then!
https://carnegiemnh.org/wolfsbane/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aconitum
https://www.chicagobotanic.org/blog/plants_and_gardening/monsters_magic_and_monkshood
https://www.chicagobotanic.org/blog/plants_and_gardening/monsters_magic_and_monkshood
https://sites.evergreen.edu/plantchemeco/wolfsbane-fictious-plant-contains-very-real-dangers/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19514874/
