ô đầu
Definition
- Noun:
- Monkshood / Wolfsbane: A highly poisonous perennial plant of the genus Aconitum, known for its distinctive hood-shaped flowers. It is used in traditional medicine in very small, processed doses but is extremely toxic in its raw form.
- Aconite: The common name for the plant or the toxic alkaloid derived from it.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Ô đầu là một loại thảo dược độc cần được bào chế cẩn thận. (Monkshood is a poisonous herb that must be processed carefully.)
- Rễ cây ô đầu chứa chất độc mạnh. (The root of the aconite plant contains a potent toxin.)
Advanced Usage
- In traditional Vietnamese medicine (Thuốc Nam/Thuốc Bắc), "ô đầu" often refers to the processed, less toxic form of the aconite root, used for its warming properties to treat conditions like rheumatism and severe pain.
- Vị thuốc này có chứa ô đầu đã qua chế biến. (This medicinal ingredient contains processed aconite.)
Variants and Related Words
- Phụ tử (noun): Often refers to a specific processed lateral root of the plant, considered less toxic than the main root (ô đầu). In some contexts, "ô đầu" and "phụ tử" are distinguished by the part of the plant used.
- Aconitum carmichaelii (noun): The scientific name for a common species of aconite.
Synonyms
- Monkshood
- Wolfsbane
- Aconite
- (scientific genus name)
Notes on Toxicity
- Warning: in its raw, unprocessed state is lethally poisonous. It affects the nervous system and heart. The term is strongly associated with danger and toxicity in both botanical and colloquial contexts.
- Ăn phải ô đầu sống có thể gây chết người. (Ingesting raw aconite can be fatal.)