Aconitum carmichaelii is a flowering plant species native to East Asia, particularly in China and Japan. It is commonly known as Chinese Aconite, Carmichael's Monkshood and Chinese Wolfsbane. It is known in Mandarin as Fu Zi (meaning daughter root, or lateral root) and as Wu Tou (meaning tuberous mother root, or root tuber).
The botany of Chinese Aconitum species is briefly reviewed. Five species have been identified as sources of arrow poison: A. carmichaelii, A. nagarum, A. ouvrardianum, A. stylosum, and A. episcopale.
All parts of this plant are extremely toxic, and has historically been used as a poison on arrows. It is considered a medicinal herb in traditional Chinese medicine and the root is most commonly used to restore yang and expel cold, for increasing blood flow, vasodilatation, hypertension, anti-inflammation, analgesic, and sedative and immunostimulation.