Table 2 Preparation of ethanolic extracts from the roots of Aconitum spp. and their medicinal use, as reported by 5 informants who knew the preparation well, described it precisely and had prepared it themselves
From: Rare tradition of the folk medicinal use of Aconitum spp. is kept alive in Solčavsko, Slovenia
Informant | Amount of Aconitum spp. root | Preparation of the root | Type of solvent | Amount of prepared extract / container | Duration of maceration | Interesting features | Dosage | Medicinal use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
I (woman, 78 years old) | Half a bottle of thinly sliced roots | The roots had to be fresh | Very strong spirit; the best was cveta | -Approx. 0.1 L -A small bottle | 3 weeks | At the end of maceration, the roots were filtered. | The informant did not remember the exact number of drops | MED: fever |
J (woman, 89 years old) | 10 cm of sliced roots; the amount of root was approximately one finger high in a 1 L bottle | Clean and freshly collected roots; it does not matter whether you use old or young roots; they used to say that thicker roots were older and stronger and you had to use fewer | Homemade fruit brandy made from pears or plums | -1 L -A bottle | Some time but not long; the roots quickly release the essence | The extract was used for a long time (more than one year); the extract was prepared similarly to other extracts. | A few drops were taken; the informant did not remember the exact number of drops | MED: fever; cold; external use for toothache and inflammation; good for everything; in the war, it was used for pain and inflammation |
F (woman, 90 years old) | 10 cm of a sliced root that was as thick as a water pipe | Fresh roots collected before the flowering of the plant; roots were collected as soon as the plants started to grow and could be identified; the roots were washed and sliced | Homemade fruit brandy usually made from pears | -1 L - One liter bottle | 21 days in a cool place; not in the sun | Everything that remained after the preparation of the extract was well hidden (buried); the extract was used for approximately 2 years. | Adults: 5 to 6 drops Young children: 2 drops The extract was placed on sugar or mixed into water before ingestion | MED: fever, pain (toothache), inflammation |
H (woman, 82 years old) | Half a bottle of sliced roots | Washed and sliced roots; thicker roots are older and therefore stronger | Homemade fruit brandy usually made from rowan berries (Sorbus aucuparia); strong spirits make the final extract more effective | −0.1 L; it is good that the fruit brandy is at least 1 cm above the sliced roots - A bottle | It is good to leave the extract standing for approximately one month | The extract could be used for 50 years or more. | Adults: 3 to 4 drops Children older than 3 years: 1 drop The extract was placed on sugar or mixed into water before ingestion; milk was consumed with the extract to prevent poisoning Cattle: 10 to 15 drops were placed on bread | MED: pneumonia, influenza, cold, Spanish disease (shaking, fever, nausea, and sore feet) VET: for increased strength in horses |
D (woman, 77 years old) | 2 small sliced roots | Washed and sliced roots | The best spirit is cveta, but homemade fruit brandy was mostly used | - 0.1 L - A bottle | It is good to leave the extract standing for a short amount of time | Adults: 3 drops Children: 1 drop Horses: 1 drop | MED: pneumonia, pain VET: for increased strength in horses |