Its native range is widespread, but mainly in European mountains, such as the Alps and the Carpathians, and the northern parts of Asia.

Like all Aconitum species, it has great variability, due to isolation and hybridisation.

The name anthora or "against thora" stems from the historic reputation that the plant's tuberous root was a good antidote to poisons from 'thora'[1] or Doronicum pardalianches, a plant that is extremely toxic to livestock and humans, with even small doses being potentially deadly.

The root contains a large amount of volatile salt and essential oil, while the foliage and stems contain diterpenoid alkaloids.

[citation needed] Internally, it has been used for weak pulse, vegetable poisons (shoot), feverish colds, pneumonia, croup, heart conditions, and cardiac arrest.