2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Photo: Ivan Mikhaylov / Rusmediabank.ru
Every year, over a hundred people are in serious condition in hospital beds, who, willy-nilly, risked eating unknown plants full of toxic substances. Among them, a considerable part is assigned to children of preschool and primary school age. As a rule, acute poisoning is caused by the action of poisonous alkaloids, glycosides, hydrocyanic and oxalic acids, which are found in abundance in plants. It is almost always accompanied by vomiting, nausea, dizziness, disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, malfunctions of the nervous systems, as well as disturbances in the psycho-emotional background. Often, the use of poisonous plants ends in instant death. What plants don't belong in our gardens and even more so on tables? We'll figure out!
Vech poisonous
Poisonous Vech (Latin Cicuta virosa) belongs to the Umbrella family. It is often called feline parsley, omezhnik, mutton and gorigolovy among the people. Absolutely all parts of the plant are poisonous, but its root is especially dangerous. It contains cicutoxin, a substance that in a matter of seconds provokes vomiting, dizziness and epileptic seizures with the release of foam from the mouth. If a large amount of the root is eaten and there is no help, the likelihood of paralysis and instant death is high. It is worth noting that the poisonous vyehu has a pleasant carrot aroma and rutabagin taste, which misleads people.
Unexpected but true!
By the way, there is an opinion that the great ancient Greek philosopher Socrates committed suicide by drinking a drink made from the root of the poisonous vech. Although some stories put forward a different version, calling the "source" of death of the philosopher - spotted hemlock.
Hemlock spotted
Spotted hemlock (lat. Conium maculatum), like the previous representative of the poisonous flora, belongs to the Umbrella family. In small quantities, it is used in folk medicine as an analgesic, anticonvulsant and sedative. Especially often, an alcoholic tincture of seeds and foliage (1 part of a plant for 10 parts of alcohol) is recommended for an infectious disease whooping cough, epilepsy, frequent headaches and a suffocating cough. The toxicity of the plant is due to the high content of the alkaloids of konyin and methyl konyin. Entering the body in large quantities, they sharply increase blood pressure, accelerate the rhythm and contraction of the heart muscle, and then provoke suffocation, paralysis and respiratory arrest.
Imagine!
It is known that in the days of Ancient Greece, spotted hemlock was used as a death penalty. Rumor has it that with the help of this plant the Athenian military leader and politician Phocion was killed. However, some sources say that Phocion was executed.
Black henbane
Black henbane (Latin Hyosctyamus niger) belongs to the Solanaceae family. It is ubiquitous, but it grows in large volumes only on the territory of Russia and in the Caucasian countries. In the people, black henbane is called fading, rabies and mad grass (which is fully justified). Previously, preparations from the foliage of the plant were included in the pharmacopoeia of the Soviet Union, now they are used only in folk medicine as a remedy for neurological diseases. And all because even in small doses, black henbane is toxic. It promotes motor overexcitation, facial flushing, increased heart rate, severe headache, dry mouth, coma and nervous seizures. The plant is especially dangerous for babies, who often become its hostages. After all, attractive berries beckon to put them in your mouth.
From the history
It is known, though disputed, that renowned English homeopath Hawley Harvey Crippen poisoned his wife, Cora, bleached black out of jealousy and abuse. As historians say, Dr. Crippen's wife blamed her husband for all her failures and often basked in the arms of other men, not hiding this fact. However, lawyer Edward Hall put forward a version that Dr. Crippen killed his wife by accident, exceeding the dose of scopolamine - an alkaloid that was extracted from black henbane.
Other poisonous plants
Also, the red elderberry is referred to the category of poisonous plants. Its unripe berries and other parts of the plant provoke general weakness, dizziness, headaches, discomfort in the abdomen, disturbances in the work of the heart muscle, and if the dosage is exceeded, respiratory arrest. No less dangerous for humans is a fragrant and flowering plant - oleander. It contains a large number of poisonous glycosides that can disrupt the heart rhythm, provoke nausea, vomiting and headaches. Deaths are also known. Datura is endowed with similar properties. In addition to causing heart problems, the plant contributes to disorientation in space and coma.
Be careful! After all, sometimes huge health problems and death are hidden behind a beautiful "shell". If the plant is unfamiliar to you, do not touch or taste it, even if the aroma is inviting. If you nevertheless took a chance, and after a short period you felt nausea and weakness, immediately consult a doctor for the purpose of gastric lavage.
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