MOUNT CARROT (cicuta conium maculatum)

	M
	MOUNT CARROT
	*cicuta conium maculatum*

Name
MOUNT CARROT

Scientific Name
cicuta conium maculatum

MOUNT CARROT

Other Names:

Baroque, Julivertosa, Lobuno Parsley, Mount Perejilón, Carrot

Cicuta is very extended, and agrees to know how to distinguish it of other plants of its same botanical family - the Umbelíferas - to whom is resembled: the Angelica, the parsley, the celery, and even the wild carrot. There is a series of details that can help to identify it:

The stem of cicuta has in its inferior part spots of reddish color or purple.

The leaves are great and shining and very are divided.

The flowers are white and are grouped in umbelas unequal of 10 to 20 radios.

The fruit is made oval, of about 3 millimeters, greenish brown color and it is furrowed by creases.

All the plant dismisses a disagreeable scent tinkles.

Habitat: one grows up spontaneously in all Europe and America. It abounds in fresh and humid places, the borders of the rivers and the edges of the ways.

Description: it plants herbaceous that reaches from 30 to 150 cms. of height, the family of the Umbelíferas. Its stem hollow and is finely fluted.

Used parts: the fruits.

Properties and indications: all the parts of the plant, and in special the fruits, contain several alkaloids (coniína, coniceína, conhidrina and pseudoconhidrina), in addition to an essential oil and glucósidos flavónicos and cumarínicos. Coniína is the more important active principle of cicuta, that it is present in a proportion of 2% in the fruits, and a 0.5% in the leaves. So much by oral route as through the skin is absorbed, by which it penetrates with facility. The alkaloids are vegetal substances of alkaline reaction. Their molecules are complex, and are formed by carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen. Their farmacológicos effects very are marked, and with small doses already poisonous effects take place. To therapeutic doses, coniína and the remaining alkaloids of cicuta provide a noticeable sedative, analgesic action and the anesthetic premises. Cicuta has been used successfully to calm:

Dolores intratables, like the produced ones by the cancer.

Dolores persistent, like the produced ones by the neuralgias.

In our days, although we arrange of other analgesic powerful and safe ones, also can be used, but always under facultative control, and respecting faithfully the metering, to avoid poisonous effects.

Use: in dust: the dry fruits of cicuta are crushed in dust form, that dissolves in water; the maximum tolerance dose for adults is de1 daily gram of fruits, distributed in 4 takings of 0.25 grams each one.

For external use, it is used in pomada that is prepared with 1 gram of fruits crushed by each 9 of greasy dissolvent. It is used as the anesthetic premises in case of neuralgias and intense pains. Téngase always property in possession that coniína is absorbed by the skin.

Poisoning by cicuta: coniína is similar, in its chemical structure and its effects, to another alkaloid: the nicotine, that is in the tobacco. Both alkaloids act on the vegetative nervous system, exciting it first and depressing it later. Of average to two hours after to have ingested a toxic dose of coniína, one takes place ardor in the mouth, difficulty to swallow, nauseas, expansion of the pupils and weakness in the legs. If the dose is greater it produces muscular paralysis (as the produced one by cures) and death by respiratory shutdown and asphyxia. In spite of everything, the conscience is not lost, and the mental lucidity stays until the last moment. For that reason the Greeks chose this method to clear the life of the condemned to the capital punishment.

Treatment of the poisoning: as soon as the possibility is suspected of having ingested cicuta, it is due to cause the vomit, and if possible, to come quickly to a stomach washing. To administer laxative and vegetal coal. To practice the artificial respiration boca.a.boca, if the intoxicated one has difficulty to breathe. It is necessary to come to the urgent transfer from the intoxicated one to a hospitable center.

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