The hemlock herb is one of the few medicinal plants with high toxicity. Despite this, from ancient times it has been used by healers and healers in the treatment of a number of diseases. Today we will talk about this plant, its medicinal properties and contraindications.
In ancient Greece, this poisonous plant was used to poison criminals who were sentenced to death by court. There is a version that such a poison was poisoned public figure, philosopher Socrates. Nowadays, the hemlock herb (photo you can see below) is practically not used in official medicine. Its use was discontinued in 1990 due to the danger of the method and officially recorded cases of poisoning in the treatment of patients.
But after 2000, the hemlock herb became the basis of drugs for the treatment of malignant tumors. These medicines were patented by Russian specialists - N. Aleutsky and N. Nazarenko. They managed to develop a methodology for the treatment of neoplasms using hemlock extract.
Hemlock grass: description, photo of grass
This plant, belonging to the Umbrella family, goes through a two-year life cycle. In the first year, it looks very much like parsley: the same carved leaves collected in a basal bunch, the same root - curved, without large processes. It is during this period that a lot of hemlock poisoning is recorded: it is mistakenly torn off and used as a seasoning for salads.
For large cattle, in particular cows, the hemlock grass will not bring significant harm. The lethal dose for these animals is contained in four kilograms of greenery. But hemlock, fortunately, does not grow in mass plantings, it usually grows in single instances. But grass is dangerous for poultry: for ducks and chickens, a “portion” weighing about 70 grams is fatal.
In the second year of life, the hemlock grass is transformed. It grows to a height of 80 cm, and sometimes reaches a meter. Almost bare tubular stem branched, has characteristic nodes. Unfortunately, it is the stem that attracts children. They make whistles from it. Such games, unfortunately, lead to poisoning, often severe.
Longitudinal grooves are clearly visible on the greenish with a blue bloom on the stem. Large leaves are rarely located on the stem on long stalks. They are naked, have a characteristic feathery edging. A distinctive feature of hemlock grass is the scattering of spots on the stem and leaves. For this plant is called speckled.
In May, the hemlock begins to bloom. White umbrellas appear on it, which remain until the end of September, and sometimes until the first days of October. During this period, the plant emits a rather unpleasant odor. If you hold any part of it in your hands, the smell is felt during the growing season. At the end of the flowering cycle, seeds appear that are in boxes, easily showered from the bushes.
Spread
The plant is widespread in Algeria, North Africa, Tunisia, Morocco, Turkey, Europe, China. On the territory of our country it is found in Siberia and the Caucasus. The grass is resistant to any temperature conditions, equally easily tolerates cold, heat, drought, and high humidity.
Plant composition
The healing properties of the hemlock herb are determined by the presence of alkaloids in its composition. The most toxic is horse meat. In addition to it, it includes:
- conicein;
- methylconiine;
- conhydrin.
Most alkaloids are found in the fruits of the plant. In the flowers and leaves there are about the same amount. Interestingly, growing in different parts of the planet, hemlock can have a different composition. For example, plants grown in Scotland are almost completely devoid of the alkaloids complex, which are characteristic of crops that grow in Russia.
On the body hemlock has the following effects:
- anti-inflammatory;
- painkiller;
- antispasmodic;
- hypotensive;
- anticonvulsant;
- antitumor;
- soothing;
- immunostimulating.
Dried hemlock preserves the healing properties for three years. After collection, it must immediately be dried - the effect of high temperatures eliminates a small part of the poisons, but it is impossible to completely get rid of them. Raw materials are used for the manufacture of infusions, decoctions, and tinctures. The beneficial properties of hemlock are maximally revealed in its inflorescences and leaves.
Indications for use
In folk medicine, the use of hemlock herb is widespread. What are drugs based on it used for? Healers recommend the use of healing hemlock in the following diseases and pathological conditions:
- migraine;
- epilepsy;
- hypertension;
- intestinal ulcer;
- constipation;
- tuberculosis;
- hearing loss
- syphilis;
- night involuntary ejaculation;
- urinary retention;
- obsessive cough;
- menstrual irregularities.
The use of hemlock
The hemlock herb is very toxic, therefore its use in official medicine is limited. Until now, scientists continue to study the healing properties of plants for cancer, but official statistics on the effectiveness of therapy do not yet exist.
The use of hemlock herb for cancer by traditional healers is recommended in the form of alcohol tinctures. In addition, the plant is included in fees for the prevention of the disease.
Anesthetic tincture
For its manufacture using a mixture of leaves and seeds. In addition to the analgesic effect, tincture has a sedative, anticonvulsant and anti-inflammatory property.
Mix in equal parts dry leaves and hemlock seeds. Pour two parts of the mixture with four parts of medical alcohol. Put in a dark place for fifteen days to insist. Shake the bottle daily. Then strain the composition. Take tincture of 1-2 drops per spoon (tablespoon) of water no more than three times a day.
Cancer Tincture
In some countries of the world (Austria, Germany, Spain, France, Portugal, Mexico) hemlocks are used in traditional medicine in the treatment of cancer. The poisonous plant is a natural analogue of chemotherapy, but with a milder and selective effect. Koniin negatively affects cancer cells. In this case, the body does not self-destruct, but gradually gets used to the action of the poison. Healthy cells do not die, they adapt, and cancer cells are suppressed in the affected foci that are not capable of repairing.
You need to know that the tincture of the hemlock herb does not give a 100% guarantee of healing from cancer. It acts in complex treatment and gives a result only with timely and correct use.
Who is recommended tincture?
It is recommended to take tincture from a hemlock for people who have undergone surgery to remove malignant neoplasms in order to prevent the appearance of metastases. Many well-known herbalists recommend drinking a tincture course as a prophylactic.
Cooking tincture
Only apical inflorescences with young leaves should be collected. Going to the collection of raw materials, it is necessary to bring medical alcohol with you in a bank. The collected raw materials are immediately crushed and placed in a jar with alcohol in a ratio of two parts of grass and one part of alcohol. For example, two glasses of freshly packed raw materials are poured into a glass of alcohol. Use only sharp scissors to grind a hemlock. Do this quickly so that volatiles do not evaporate during processing. When collecting and grinding raw materials, use gloves. Do not forget that hemlock is a poisonous plant.
After collecting the necessary amount of raw materials, put the jar in a dark and inaccessible place for children where it will be insisted for three weeks. Shake the tincture daily two to three times. After three weeks, the tincture must be thoroughly filtered through several layers of gauze. The composition is poured into a jar or a bottle of dark glass. Store in a cool, dark place at room temperature.
Rules for receiving tinctures
A tincture regimen has been developed, the effectiveness of which has been proven by doctors and healers. The application scheme is as follows:
- The first day - in the morning on an empty stomach one drop diluted in a spoon (table water).
- The second day - two drops.
- The third day - three drops.
All subsequent days, the dose of tincture is increased by one drop. The course is conducted up to 40 drops. After bringing the drug to forty drops, the countdown begins. On day 41, you need to take 39 drops and then, in decreasing order, to one drop.
Patients who have undergone cancer surgery need to drink two courses of tincture. If the patient’s body is too weak, the first course is carried out to twenty drops, and then begin to decrease their number. The second course is carried out completely.
Analgesic poultices
Judging by the description of the hemlock herb in Bulgarian folk medicine, it is successfully used for external use. On its basis, poultices are prepared that are used to reduce pain during rheumatism and gout, external tumors.
Pour boiled water over the collected hemlock leaves and immediately wrap them with gauze. Apply healing poultices to affected joints.
Contraindications
- The main alkalioid coniin, even in very small doses, causes a sharp increase in blood pressure.
- If the dosage is exceeded, respiratory depression is observed until it stops completely.
- Means based on a hemlock are contraindicated in children, people with individual intolerance, allergic reactions.
- Do not take hemlock drugs in patients with digestive and respiratory problems.
Signs of intoxication
Evidence of hemlock intoxication are:
- nausea;
- profuse salivation;
- dizziness;
- difficulty swallowing;
- pallor of the skin;
- headache;
- cramps
- burning in the mouth and throat.
Paralysis, which from the lower extremities goes back to the upper body, is a symptom of acute intoxication. If one of these symptoms appears, the patient must call an ambulance team or deliver him to the nearest hospital.