Poisonous weh, also known as hemlock, is a perennial herb that belongs to the Umbelliferae family. The branched stalk of hemlock can reach 150 centimeters in height. The medicinal plant has a large poisonous rhizome, the numerous branches of which are half a centimeter thick, and small white flowers. The hollow rhizome is a "diagnostic" sign of hemlock.
Veh poisonous blooms from June to August, and the fruits, which are rounded dark brown two-seeded seeds, finally ripen by September. Reproduction of the plant occurs with the help of seeds. The main habitats of hemlock are areas with a sufficient amount of water, in particular, peat, grass and shrub bogs, lake shores, damp meadows and alder forests. Almost all areas of the European part of Russia, the Caucasus, the Far East and Siberia are the main places of distribution of poisonous milestone. It is also oftencan be found in the countries of Central Asia.
Poisonous milestone - the plant is very dangerous, so when using it, special care is needed. A great threat to he alth is the rhizome of hemlock, which contains up to two percent of a dangerous substance - cicutoxin. There is a legend about this plant, according to which the great thinker Socrates drank a drink made from a poisonous milestone and died suddenly. This type of execution in those days was the most humane way of a painless departure to another world. From the rhizome of the plant, which has a spicy smell and sweet taste, a very dangerous resinous juice oozes when cut, which causes fatal poisoning in 50% of cases.
Medicinal plant milestone poisonous is used in medicine, especially for epilepsy, dizziness and convulsions. Traditional medicine uses hemlock as a sedative, anticonvulsant and expectorant in the form of infusions. Ointments made from it are used for back pain and arthritis. During the harvesting of this plant, in no case should you taste it and involve children in the process, it is important to carefully observe the precautions. The finished medicinal raw material obtained from the milestone, after collection and drying, is stored in boxes separately from other herbs.
Because milestone herb poisonous is a plant dangerous to life if used improperly, it must be used very carefully and under the supervision of a physician. Poisoning with hemlock is accompanied by headaches,nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. There is also an imbalance and a feeling of cold. The rhizome of the plant is especially poisonous in the spring, but at other times of the year the degree of danger remains very high. Cicutoxin, which is contained in the powerful hemlock rhizome, is not destroyed by factors such as high temperature and long-term storage. Often in early spring, this plant becomes the cause of poisoning of many animals that are not very well versed in the grass they eat.
