Wolfsbane, Gerard's Herbal: The General History of Plants, Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives, HATCH 39&40

Wolfsbane

Varieties: Wolfsbane (Thora Valdensium/Valdensis), Winter Wolfsbane (Aconitum Hibernum), Anthora

There are other varieties of Wolfsbane, the primary difference being the color of flower.  Some common colors are yellow, blue, and purple, and the flowers are often helmet-shaped.  Occasionally this leads the observer to confuse Wolfsbane with Monkshood. Different species of Wolfsbane grow nearly year-round.  Though many consider Wolfsbane to be beautiful, it is an incredibly deadly plant.

Wolfsbane grows abundantly in the Alps, and throughout Italy.  Winter Wolfsbane in particular grows in Germany, and has fairer flowers when in deep snow and extreme cold.  No species of Wolfsbane are native to England, but the plants are found in individual gardens.  Wolfsbane is also known by the names Aconite and Thora, though there are also varieties of Monkshood that are identified as Thora, which may cause some confusion.  Thora comes from the greek name which signifies corruption, poison, or death.

The name Wolfsbane comes from hunters who would use the plant's poisonous qualities to take down dangerous beasts, particularly wolf packs.  The hunters would leave out raw meat laced with the poison.  Once the wolves found it, they would eat it and die.  The most prominent symptom of Wolfsbane is extreme swelling, though other afflictions include stiffness, lethargy, and eyes hanging out.

Wolfsbane is pretty much incurable if it enters the bloodstream, and victims typically die within half an hour of ingestion.  If you are willing to cut out a lot of flesh, the poison can be removed.  Additionally, there is an antivenom that can be made using Anthora, but this remedy must be administered immediately.

While Anthora can be used as a remedy, if the plant grows too close to other strains of Wolfsbane, it will assume Wolfsbane's poisonous qualities. The antivenom created from Anthora is typically administered in wine form, and is also good for most poisons or removing tapeworms.

Gerard tells us that Wolfsbane is to be utterly refused in medicine.  He cites an instance where some contemporaries of his were attempting an experiment, in which they served Wolfsbane in a salad.  Unfortunately for all in attendance at the event, this dish was incredibly lethal, leaving all who ate it dead.

Gerard also comments that cows will naturally eat around Wolfsbane when grazing, but the flies that follow them will eat the flowers.  A remedy for Wolfsbane can be made using these flies.  One recipe calls for twenty flies with a dram of Aristolochia rotunda and a dram of Armoniack.  Another uses two ounces of Terralemnia, two ounces of Bay berries, two ounces of Mithridate, and twenty-four flies, mixed with honey and olive oil.