What is cicuta? This is a dangerous poisonous plant. Cicuta: photo, description

This extremely poisonous plant has many names: tsikuta, vyakha, cat's parsley, omegnik, omeg, water wheat, water hemlock, dog angelica, dusk, Gorigolov and louse pig.

In this article, a plant more commonly known as cicuta will be presented. Photo, description, poisonous properties, places of growth - about all this you will read here.

There have been cases when people who do not know about the poisonous properties of this plant have been poisoned by it. By mistake this plant can be taken for edible wildcats, from which one can eat roots. It should be kept away from him. Cicuta can be confused with Angelica.

Only 200 grams of rhizome are enough to kill a cow to death, and from 50 to 100 grams of this plant can kill a sheep.

According to one of the legends Socrates was poisoned by the poison of this particular plant. But it is now believed that a more likely version is the death of a philosopher after taking a drink based on a patchy bald head.

Milestone poisonous: a description of the total

The poisonous milestone is a very dangerous poisonous plant.

Cicuta smells like celery or carrots (and the smell is deceptive), and has a thick root. Usually it blooms in July-August.

Milk poisonous is easy to distinguish from similar plants on a thick rhizome. Its root is divided into separate chambers by partitions. It is quite easily pulled from the ground. The root is the taste, which is the most poisonous part of the plant, sweet. It reminds of a radish or a rutabaga. The greatest concentration of poison in Cicuta occurs in the spring.

Botanical description

Cicuta (photo below) is a herbaceous perennial plant growing to 1-1.2 meters in height with its characteristic vertical fleshy white rhizome with numerous thin roots. A longitudinal incision in the rhizome reveals a series of cavities of transverse, liquid-filled, yellowish color. The latter is a distinctive feature of the milestone.

The smooth and branched stalk inside is hollow.

Sharpened upper large leaves twice, and lower ones - thrice pinnate and dissected, with pointed leaves.

White small flowers are collected in double (complex) umbrellas with about 10-15 rays. An important difference from his spotted hemlock is the lack of wrappings, but they are available with 8-12 leaves for each umbrella.

Cicuta is a plant with small fruits. They consist of 2 hemispherical brown achenes. Each of them has 5 longitudinal wide edges on the outer side, and their inner sides face each other. They have a lighter color, with a dark broad stripe in the middle. Reproduction of the plant takes place by seeds.

Distribution, places of growth

Cicuta is a plant that likes swampy wet places. It can be located right in the pond (near the shore), it also occurs in swamps. On dry meadows, the poisonous milestone does not grow.

The geographic distribution area is wide: Eastern Europe, northern parts of Asia, Western Europe and North America. In Russia it is widespread almost everywhere.

This plant in the spring develops faster than others, so stands out by its size on the general background, attracting large-bred animals.

Chemical composition of the plant, application

Cicuta is a plant that contains the following substances: cicutotoxin (the most poisonous origin in the root resin), capable of paralyzing breathing; Cicutene; Essential oils, etc.

All parts of the plant are very dangerous, but its rhizome is especially poisonous.

In Russia in folk medicine, rhizomes and roots of tsikuta were used in the form of ointments and tinctures externally. They were used for rheumatism, skin diseases, gout. Also, the plant was important in homeopathy.

Seeds and root of the cicuta contain cichut oil, or cicutol. Cicutoxin and other toxic substances of the plant are not destroyed either under the influence of high temperatures, nor during long-term storage. Even dried up tsikuta contains a dangerous poison.

The plant is used and now in medicine. Of the leaves, stems, roots and flowers of the milestone are produced quite effective medications used in the treatment of various diseases. In small doses, substances from the rhizome and roots act calmingly, inhibiting the nervous system and motor activity. They lower the pressure and have a diuretic effect.

Symptoms of poisoning

Cicuta is a terrible plant. Literally a couple of minutes after the poison enters the body, there is nausea, vomiting and colic in the abdomen, followed by dizziness, gait becomes insecure and even foam appears from the mouth. In this case, the pupils dilate, there are convulsions and epileptiform seizures, which can result in paralysis and death.

To prevent the most terrible, it is necessary for the victim to quickly and correctly provide first aid.

In conclusion about the actions of poisoning

The most important thing is the prompt rinsing of the stomach affected by a solution with activated carbon and tannin.

Then it should be urgently transported to a medical institution, where they must conduct infusion therapy, hemosorption (blood purification). It is worth noting that the curative measures are hindered due to the fact that the victim's teeth are strongly compressed.

Everyone should remember that the cicuta is a very dangerous plant! And in order to avoid poisoning, you must remember the following:

• Do not eat the roots and leaves of suspicious inedible plants.
• Wash hands after contact with a suspicious flora.
• If there is no knowledge and experience, stay away from plants of the Umbelliferae family.

It must be remembered that it is not recommended to apply medications from the poison of the milestone yourself, without sufficient knowledge and experience!