One of the most mysterious plants - Siberian hogweed, grows in the middle lane. Its name suggests that the leaves of this plant served as a seasoning for soups and second courses. Despite this use, official medicine believes that hogweed is poisonous. Why is he so dangerous?
Recent studies have proven that hogweed contains substances that cause skin lesions in people who had the imprudence to touch it. But there is also a positive side. First things first.
Siberian hogweed: harm
The harm caused to a person by this plant lies in the characteristics of the growth of hogweed. It has a powerful stem, wide leaves, umbrella inflorescences. In addition, it grows very quickly. According to eyewitnesses, where one cow parsnip grew, dozens will appear in a year, and hundreds next year. These giants crowd out all the local flora. In this regard, the composition of the soil changes, and it becomes impossible to overcome the weed. In this case, resort to chemical treatment of the site. That is why the Siberian cow parsnip, the photo of which is presented above, is dangerous foragricultural holdings and ordinary summer residents.
Another feature that people suffer from is the content of essential oils in hogweed leaves. A substance called furanocoumarin causes photochemical skin burns. Poisonous juice, getting on the skin, causes a small lesion, and exposure to sunlight intensifies the process, and the person gets an extensive burn. But not all species are so dangerous. The most terrible is Sosnovsky's hogweed, it is he who contains a huge amount of furanocoumarins, and his sharp intoxicating aroma can cause allergies. The most common species is Siberian, less dangerous. It is harvested for livestock feed and used for medicinal purposes. However, coumarins are also contained in it, however, in smaller quantities, therefore, it poses much less danger to humans.
Siberian hogweed: benefits
As you know, in all natural diversity there are positive aspects. Hogweed is a wonderful honey plant. Its inflorescences attract bees, and the collected honey tastes and smells good.
Growing in the wild, and not in summer cottages, this plant can benefit many birds. Its umbrellas contain thousands of seeds, and for birds this is food in winter. Tits, finches, woodpeckers find wintering beetles living in hogweed stems.
As mentioned above, the Siberian subspecies is suitable for human consumption. Its leaves and roots are pickled or dried, then used as a condiment.
Folk usemedicine
Invaluable Siberian hogweed in medical collections. Plant tissues are rich in vitamins C, P, essential oils, folic acid, amino acids and proteins. All parts are used: roots, leaves, seeds and stem.
The root is dug up after flowering. Its decoction helps to overcome bronchial asthma, treat the liver. Leaf tincture relieves multiple sclerosis. The brewed seeds and roots are used for stomach cramps, gallbladder disorders, and as a sedative.
