Poisonous Plants and Medicines
Since long time ago, medicines have been told as "poisones to control poison". As I tell in this site even persistently, "medicine" and "poison" are almost the same thing.
In this page, I'll show the examples how extremely poisonous plants are used to treat our diseases, with which the amount is adjusted or the poison is weakened.
Here are some cautions before you read the following text.
1. Do not make drugs from plants without professional knowledge.
2. Do not abuse the information in this site.
Please remember that the following information is to let you know how dangerous plants are if they are misused, and treat them safely.
Aconite
They are too famous as extremely poisonous plants.Distribution
They are distributed widely in the north hemisphere. It is said that there are 300 kinds of them all over the world.
Poisonous Ingredient
Aconitine (Lethal dose: 2 to 5mg), distributed to whole plant, especially in high concentration in the root.
Toxic Symptoms
Aconitine affects the heart to cause arthythmia, and also affects the medulla to cause respiratory paralysis.
The process of the toxic symptoms is as follows: In the early stage, hot flush, red face, palpitation and/or palarysis of the tongue or lips occur, and diarrhea or vomiting follow these symptoms. In the late stage, extended pupils, low temperature, low blood pressure, arthythmia and respiratory may occur to cause the death.
Medicines made from Aconite
"Bu-shi" is prepared from aconite with heating or compressing, and used in Chinese herbal medication. The toxicity of aconitine in aconites are weakened with the heat.
Bu-shi is used as analgesic, cardiotonic, diuretic, and improvement of metabolism, low temperature and low blood pressure.
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Digitalis
Distribution
Originated in Europa and distributed widely in the world.
Poisonous Ingredient
Digitoxin (Half lethal dose: 12mg/kg, gitoxin. Especially distributed in high concentration in leaves.
Toxic Symptoms
Early symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea and so on. Later, visual dificiency, arthythmia may occur, and finally lethal.
Medicines made from Digitalis
Because it affects directly to the cardic muscles and strengthens the systlic power and lowers the heartbeat, digitalis-derived drug is called "cardiotonic", and used for each kind of heart disease, palpitation and heart failure.
Because it tends to be accumulated inside the body, it is dangerous to use it for a long period.
Long time ago, digitalis used to be used for abdominal ulcer, or headache, internally, and for injury, externally in Europe.
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Plum/Apricot
Though it has been told "do not eat unriped plums", how is the fact?Distribution
Distributed from the south-east China to Japan.
Poisonous Ingredients
Cyanide derived from Amygdalin (Lethal dose: 0.06g). Amygdalin exists in the seed of the unriped fruit.
Toxic Symptoms
Amygdalin itself is not poisonous for human, however poisonous cyanide is generated if amygdalin is taken into digestive system with the enzyme called emulsin (it also exists in unriped plums). However, according to some theory, the lethal amount of plums is 300 of them. Do you think you can eat 300 plums at a time?
Toxic symptoms are headache, extended pupils, dyspnea, epilepsy and so on.
Medicines made from Plums/Apricots
In Japan, unriped plums are commonly used to make liqour, though crude unriped plums are poisonous. That is because, amygdalin is decomposed in alcohol and benzaldehyde, which is less poisonous than amygdalin, is generated.
Kyo-nin water, made from apricot seeds, is reported to have antitussive, promotion of digestive system, and anti-tumor effects.
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Poppy
It is needless to explain that it is the material of "opium". However, they are used not only for anything wrong.Distribution
The origin seems to be in the south-east Europe, however they are distributed all over the world. They also are often grown for decorative purpose.
Poisonous Ingredients
Morphine, codeine, noscapine, papaverine and so on. Contained in the unriped seed capsule.
Only limited spieces of poppy (ex. Papaver Somniferum) contain these alkaloids.
Toxic Symptoms
Hallucination, vomiting, respiratory paralysis, abstinence symptoms.
Medicines made from Poppies
Because opium paralyzes the central nervous system, it is often used to control the pain of lethal cancer patients. However, opium is the final choice because of the strong addictivity and toxicity.
We often see poppy seeds for snacks or bread. You don't have to worry, because seeds do not contain any poisonous ingredients.
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Scopolia
DistributionWest part of Japan.
Poisonous Ingredients
Atropine, scopolamine
Toxic Symptoms
In technical expression, the effect is explained as "antagonist of acetylcoline for muscarine receptor", and it means "inhibits the activity of autonomic nervous system, which is important to maintain our life".
This effect causes extended pupils, hallucination, coma or respiratory paralysis, and finally lethal.
Medicines made from Scopolia
The extract obatined from the root of scopolia is used for analgecics or antispasmodics.
If this extract is used with morphine, it strengthens the analgesic effect while weakens the respiratory control effect of morphine. Therefore, it is often used concomitantly with morphine for surgeries.
By the way, there are plants called "belladonna", which contain atropine and scopolamine as well. They were named because of this fact: These plants were used by western women long time ago to show themselves beautiful with dropping the extract into their eyes to open the pupils. How scary!
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