A deciduous perennial that grows to 1.0 meter high by 0.5 meters wide and prefers many types of soil. These are handsome plants, the tall, erect stem being crowned by racemes of large and eye-catching blue, purple, white, yellow or pink zygomorphic flowers with numerous stamens. They are distinguished by having one of the five petaloid sepals (the posterior one), called the galea, in the form of a cylindrical helmet; hence the English name monkshood. There are 2 - 10 petals, in the form of nectaries. The two upper petals are large. They are placed under the hood of the calyx and are supported on long stalks. Aconitum ferox supply the Indian (Nepal) poison called bikh, bish, or nabee. It contains large quantities of the alkaloid pseudaconitine, which is a deadly poison. Aconitum palmatum yields another of the bikh poisons. Himalayan monkshood is used in many ways. Very small doses are given to people that lack motivation or suffer from permanent fatigue. The dried leaves of Himalayan monkshood are burned as incense, the seeds are sometimes used in rituals, and the entire plant is considered to be an agent of protection. A tea (prepared from the flowers and/or leaves) is used to enter a trance and to have visions. Five to ten minutes after drinking it, the feeling of flying is said to come upon the user. Aconite was often used as an ingredient in the psychoactive drugs prepared by the descendants of Hecate (the Greek goddess of sorcery and witchcraft) It was also used in European witchcraft ointments. Although Aconite does not seem to have genuine psychoactive properties, it can have marked physiological effects (such as reducing the rate of the heartbeat) and may thus have contributed to the overall effects of such ointments.