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Common Name/s: |
Other Name/s: |
Botanical name/s: |
False Hellebore,
European Hellebore |
Yellow Pheasant's Eye,
White Hellebore |
Adonis vernalis,
Adonis autumnalia |
General description and domicile:
False Hellebore, better known as Yellow Pheasant's Eye, is one of the oldest
known poisons used by the Gauls to poison their arrows, swords and spears in the
war against the Romans.
It is an annual that flowers in June (pretty red bell-shaped). The leaves are
smooth on top and hairy underneath and the entire plant is about one foot tall.
False Hellebore is native to Europe, Parts of Asia and North Africa where it
grows on the slopes of mountains in moist ground.
False Hellebore poisoning is more unpleasant than most. Initially it acts as a
violent irritant to the gastrointestinal tract causing extreme vomiting and
cathartic diarrhea accompanied by debilitating abdominal pain. In fact the
vomiting is so severe and so immediate that there are claims that accidental
poisoning is not possible (I would not try this theory out). Delirium and
convulsions follow before coma and death.
Remedy Profile
False Hellebore contains Cardiac Glycosides that have a similar effect to
digitalis and has been investigated in laboratory tests but to date there is
little to suggest that it is an alternative.
Considering the extremely poisonous nature of this plant it is
not recommended for any use - not even as a decorative garden plant.
How to choose the right remedy/Herb:
In many cases there are several herbal remedies to choose from. This can be
very confusing. Our
Choose the Herbal Remedy page explains how to refine your
choice
Part used:
Herb
Remedy preparation:
Don't even try it - regardless of the condition you are trying to treat
there are better herbs that do not kill patients. For other herbs a good place
to start is our Symptoms Directory
Properties:
Poisonous
Constituents:
Cardiac Glycosides: In most countries the
herbs that contain cardiac glycosides are controlled and scheduled for use by
medical practitioners only.
Cardiac Glycosides stimulate systolic contraction of the
heart. Cardiac Glycosides are mostly prescribed for this reason to patients to
shorten the length of the systolic contraction of the heart so that the heart
muscles has more time to rest between contractions.
All cardiac glycosides are recorded as having a low
therapeutic index. This means that the amount of the substance needed to have a
positive therapeutic impact is very close to a toxic and fatal dose.
Mild overdose can result in nausea, diarrhea, vomiting,
headaches, vision impairment and drowsiness. Substantial overdose will cause
cardiac failure and death.
* Statements made
have not been evaluated by American Food and Drug Authority or similar board
or authority of any other country.
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