The poisonous milestone is a medicinal plant, but a poisonous one

The poisonous milestone, also known as cicuta, is a perennial herbaceous plant that belongs to the umbrella family. Branched stems of cicadas can reach 150 centimeters in height. The medicinal plant has a large poisonous rhizome, the numerous branches of which have a thickness of half a centimeter, and white small flowers. A hollow rhizome is a "diagnostic" sign of cicuta.

The poisonous milestones blossom from June to August, and the fruits, which are round dark brown seedlings, finally ripen by September. Reproduction of the plant occurs with the help of seeds. The main areas of cicuta growth are terrains with a sufficient amount of water, in particular, peat, grass and shrub marshes, shores of lakes, wet meadows and alders. Almost all areas of the European part of Russia, the Caucasus, the Far East and Siberia are the main places for the spread of the poisonous milestone. It is also often found in the countries of Central Asia.

Milk poisonous - the plant is very dangerous, so when you use it you need special attention. A major threat to health is the rhizome of cicuta, 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 painless withdrawal to another world. From the rhizome of the plant, which has a spicy smell and sweet taste, a very dangerous resinous juice appears in the incision, which causes fatal poisoning in 50% of cases.

Medicinal plants are poisonous in medicine, especially in epilepsy, dizziness and convulsions. Traditional medicine uses cicuta as a soothing, anticonvulsant and expectorant in the form of infusions. Ointments made from it are used for back pain and arthritis. During the preparation of this plant, in no case can you taste it and involve children in the process, it is important to carefully observe the precautionary measures. The finished medicinal raw material obtained from the landfill, after collection and drying, is stored in drawers separately from other herbs.

Since the grass poisonous milestone is a plant that is life-threatening if used improperly, it must be applied very carefully and under the supervision of the doctor. Poisoning with tsikuta is accompanied by headaches, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. There is also a disturbance of balance and a feeling of cold. The rhizome of the plant is particularly poisonous in the spring, but at other times of the year the degree of danger remains very high. Cicutoxin, which is contained in a powerful rhizome of the cicuta, does not collapse under the influence of such factors as high temperature and long-term storage. Often in the early spring, this plant becomes the cause of poisoning of many animals that are not very well versed in the grass eaten.