Herb-induced aconitine poisoning presenting as tetraplegia.

Both "chuanwu", the main root of Aconitum carmichaelii, and "caowu", the dried root of Aconitum kusnezoffii or other members of the Aconitum genus, have long been used in Oriental materia medica to treat rheumatism, arthritis, bruises, fractures and cardiac complaints. These herbs contain the highly toxic diterpene alkaloids aconitine, mesaconitine and hypaconitine. A case of aconitine poisoning due to chuanwu and caowu that is described presented as profound tetraplegia.