Observed Effects of Wolfsbane

Wolfsbane is one name for Aconitum napellus, a poisonous plant long used to kill predator animals in both Europe and India.

Real World Effects
Aconitum napellus and all its derivatives are real poisons. Ingesting and, in some cases, touching the leaves or flower can be deadly to humans.

As little as a tablespoon of the primary chemical in wolfsbane is enough to cause symptoms.


 * Example
 * If Victoria Argent had vaporized real wolfsbane in Raving, she would've likely died within a matter of minutes or hours depending on the dosage.
 * Anyone ingesting the punch in Party Guessed would've likely died.

See Aconitum for more "real world" information about the effects of wolfsbane.

Fictional Effects
Wolfsbane has, as a fictional construct, a number of important properties within the mythology of MTV's Teen Wolf.

Teen Wolf Executive Producer Jeff Davis says he thinks of the plant like the show's Kryptonite, different varieties have different properties and effects on werewolves and humans.

Observed Physiological Effects on Werewolves
The flower and its derivatives are poisonous to werewolves.


 * Examples
 * Scott suffered an asthma attack when Stiles secreted some of the plant in his backpack.
 * Derek comes close to death after he is shot with a wolfsbane-laced bullet.
 * Scott is incapacitated and unable to heal after Victoria Argent created a vapor of wolfsbane in a cannabis vaporizer.
 * Derek is rendered unconscious by a wolfsbane powder blown at him by Lydia.

The flower and its derivatives seem to force werewolves into their wolf form.


 * Examples
 * A spiral of wolfsbane studded rope, woven around her grave, seemed to hold Laura Hale in her full werewolf form after death.
 * Derek’s wolfsbane bullet wound caused uncontrollable shifts from human to werewolf form at one point causing his claws to sink into the back of Jackson’s neck.
 * The presence of wolfsbane plant and vaporized wolfsbane caused Scott to transform.

Healing Properties
On a few occasions wolfsbane flowers or powder has been used to heal.
 * Examples
 * Wolfsbane laced gunpowder, once burned and applied to the wound, reversed the poisonous effects of a wolfsbane laced bullet.
 * Wolfsbane plants were growing in and around Peter Hale's grave before and during his resurrection.
 * Wolfsbane plants are apparently used to heal wounds inflicted by an Alpha "on the inside" after external wounds have healed completely.

Observed Physiological Effects on Humans
The flower and its derivatives are poisonous to humans but not as poisonous as in the real world.


 * Examples
 * Scratches on the back of Jackson’s neck become infected. Dr. Conrad Fenris states he has Aconite Poisoning but prescribes only antibiotics to treat the infection.
 * Victoria Argent is able to spend several minutes in a room filling with wolfsbane vapors but suffers no obvious ill effects.
 * At Lydia's birthday party, guests who drink the wolfsbane-spiked punch have vivid hallucinations.

Wolfsbane Glow
The presence of wolfsbane creates a purple glow around objects and within wounds caused by wolfbane infused weapons or objects.


 * Examples
 * The Spiral around Laura Hale’s grave glows faintly when the wolfsbane studded rope is removed.
 * Derek’s wound glows after he is shot with a wolfsbane tipped bullet.
 * The scratches, inflicted by Derek, on the back of Jackson’s neck glow when the Alpha Werewolf examines them.