Witnessed by: Ayurveda · Unani
Atis root (Aconitum heterophyllum), of the Ranunculaceae family. Erect alpine herb with tuberous paired roots; native range: alpine Himalaya from Kashmir to Kumaon, 2000-4000 m. Globally recognized as ativisha / ativisa in Sanskrit, atis / atees in Hindi, atees in Urdu, and Indian atees, aconite atis in English. The part used is dried root tuber. Small conical greyish-white roots, hard and starchy, with a persistently bitter, slightly acrid taste and little odour.
In this cross-tradition database, we analyze how this substance operates across world medicine systems — tracking its traditional tastes, temperatures, tissue affinities, post-digestive effects, and planetary correspondences across Ayurveda, Unani, and Western herbalism.
ATIS ROOT
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- atis root
- Scientific name
- Aconitum heterophyllum Wall. ex Royle
- Family
- Ranunculaceae
Form
- Part used
- dried root tuber
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- Ayurveda
- bitter · pungent (tikta pradhana, katu)
- Unani
- bitter · acrid
Temperature
- Ayurveda
- heating (ushna, mild)
- Unani
- hot & dry (2nd degree)
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- Unani
- stomach · intestines · liver
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- Ayurveda
- dipana-pachana (kindles and digests), grahi (bowel-binding), jvaraghna (antipyretic), amapachana (clears ama), tridoshahara
- Unani
- mufarrih and muqawwi (tonic and stimulant), habis (astringent-binding), daf-e-bukhar (antipyretic), hazim (digestive), antiperiodic
Cautions
- Contraindications
- no serious contraindication in ordinary dose; very cold, hard constipated states are unsuited to its binding action
- Toxicity
- regarded as non-toxic, unlike other aconites; only crude misidentification with poisonous species poses danger
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