Dorothy FarrarSpotted hemlock
The spotted hemlock is known by a variety of other names. These include mugwort, buttercup, poundweed, bird death, poison umbel, and poisonweed. As the name suggests, the plant is poisonous and is therefore only used in finished preparations and in the field of homeopathy.
Definition and Occurrence
The botanical name of the spotted hemlock is Conium maculatum. It comes from the umbelliferae family, also known as Apiaceae. The toxicity of the plant was already known in ancient times, which is why hemlock was also used in the execution of convicts. The philosopher Socrates, among others, fell victim to him. Along with water squill and dog parsley, spotted hemlock is one of the most dangerous umbelliferous species.
The plant is biennial and herbaceous. Their usual growth height is between 80 centimeters and two meters. A typical feature of hemlock is the strong smell of mouse urine. The roots of the herb are whitish in color and spindle-shaped. The stems are hollow and bare. In addition, the stem is ribbed lengthwise and covered with blue hoarfrost. Lower parts are mottled red, while the leaves are multipinnate.
The petals of the spotted hemlock are obcordate and white. The fruits are egg-shaped and up to 3.5 millimeters long. The flowering period of the spotted hemlock is between June and September and the chromosome number is 2n = 22. The hemlock is found in Europe, North Africa and Asia. The distribution area is limited by Algeria, Northern Ways, Altai, the Canary Islands, Iran, Ethiopia and Finland.
The plant prefers loamy soil and is used as a nitrogen indicator. Spotted hemlock is naturalized in New Zealand and North and South America. In many places, however, the herb has been eliminated from open land because it is also poisonous to livestock and responsible for numerous deaths. The spotted hemlock is one of the most poisonous plant species in Europe.
Ingredients, effect and dosage
In addition to the alkaloid coniine, which is lethal to humans under one gram, hemlock contains conhydrin, conicein, methylconiine and conhydrin. These are alkaloids. The unripe fruits in particular are poisonous and have a corresponding effect on the nervous system . Symptoms of poisoning are muscle cramps , nausea and respiratory paralysis. In severe cases, the ability to swallow and speak can be lost.
Other signs of poisoning include numbness, paralysis of the tongue, and a burning sensation in the mouth. The poisoning can lead to death, which occurs due to respiratory paralysis while fully conscious. The dangerous thing about the spotted hemlock is the high risk of confusion with other plants. These include, for example, the sheep gift or the parsley , which look similar to the hemlock. A clear distinguishing feature is the strong smell. In addition, the reddish spots indicate the spotted hemlock. When dried, the plant becomes less toxic and the level of toxicity decreases with the length of drying.
The lethal dose in horses is around 5 kilograms, in dogs 50 milligrams per body weight are enough to lead to death. If the spotted hemlock is eaten by the parent animals, bone malformations can still be detected in the offspring. Songbirds, on the other hand, are unaffected and can consume the herb or fruit with ease.
For the above reasons, the spotted hemlock should only be used in homeopathic doses or in mixed ready-to-use preparations. In addition, a doctor should be consulted before use. Even in ancient times, hemlock was not only used as a poison. It was also used as a medicinal herb. However, internal use is not recommended, even in small doses. Externally, the spotted hemlock is used, for example, in ointments.
What does the spotted hemlock help against?
- bladder problems
importance to health
The spotted hemlock is found in homeopathic preparations from D4. The plant is often used in potencies between D6 and D12. It is used against whooping cough, spasms in the digestive tract, epilepsy and bladder problems. It is also said to work against asthma. In addition, pain- relieving and anti-inflammatory properties are attributed to hemlock .
In the past, the plant was also used as a weaning agent. Used homeopathically, the spotted hemlock helps against coughing and dizziness. It is also used for hardening of the glands and visual disturbances. Other areas of application are night sweats and sensitivity to light as well as muscle weakness and lymph node swelling. In addition, the spotted hemlock is used for fibroids, swollen breasts and prostate problems.
Even poor memory is said to be treatable with the hemlock. Nevertheless, self-medication with the spotted hemlock is not recommended. Due to the high risk of poisoning, hemlock should never be used on your own or even in your own mixtures. In homeopathy, too, there are alternatives to spotted hemlock.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.