Herbs and plantsSpotted hemlock — Socrates’ poison as a medicine?
Sources: 6 · Article: 7 750 characters
Spotted hemlock was once an important, officially recognized medicine, but the information provided does not identify specific diseases it was used to treat.
- It was used in poultices, tinctures, plasters, and extracts, and ointment, juice, and syrup were also made from it.
- It is also mentioned that its preparations may be used in treatment to help people quit smoking tobacco.
What the authors write
Henryk Różański
Spotted hemlock was an important medicine until the turn of the 20th century.
„Squitarola tissentada)– Conium maculatum Linne (the parsley family – Umbelliferae = Apiaceae), also known as spotted hemlock, was an important medicine until the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, and was rarely omitted from major medical publications. In the popular view, hemlock is a poisonous plant to be avoided. However, readers of my pages and enthusiasts of early medicine know that even cyanide and arsenic can be medicinal in the right dose, and that over-the-counter painkillers containing paracetamol are just as deadly at a dose of 6-8 g as an overdose of hemlock.”Squitarola tissentada)– Conium maculatum Linne (rodzina baldaszkowate – Umbelliferae = Apiaceae), zwany także pietrasznikiem plamistym, był do przełomu wieków XIX i XX ważnym lekiem, rzadko pomijanym przez ważniejsze publikacje medyczne. W powszechnej opinii pietrasznik to roślina trująca, której należy się wystrzegać, jednakże Czytelnicy moich stron i miłośnicy dawnej medycyny wiedzą, że nawet cyjanek i arszenik w odpowiedniej dawce może być środkiem leczniczym, a dostępne bez recepty tabletki przeciwbólowe, zawierające paracetamol – są równie zabójcze w dawce 6-8 g, jak przedawkowany pietrasznik.
Henryk Różański
The herb was used in poultices, and tincture, plasters, and extract were also made from it.
„Hemlock herb (2-6 drachmas; 1 drachma is about 3.75 g) was used in poultices with linseed, mallow, or a mash of cooked carrots (3 ounces; 1 ounce is about 30 g). For example, 3 drachmas of hemlock leaves were mixed with 3 ounces of an extract of linseed, mallow, marshmallow, or carrot pulp.”Do okładów (kataplazmy) używano ziele pietrasznika (2-6 drachmy; 1 drachma to ok. 3,75 g) z siemieniem lnianym, malwą lub papką z gotowanej marchwi (3 uncje; 1 uncja to ok. 30 g). Zatem brano, np. 3 drachmy liści pietrasznika i mieszano z 3 uncjami wyciągu z siemienia lnianego, ślazu, prawoślazu lub pulpy marchwiowej.
Henryk Różański
Hemlock ointment, juice from the fresh herb, and hemlock syrup were in use.
„Juice from the fresh hemlock herb, Succus Conii, was also in use, stabilized with 90% ethanol (33%), as was hemlock syrup, Sirupus Conii (Tinctura Conii Fructus 10.0 + 290.0 Sirupi simplicis).
Overdosing on hemlock preparations is dangerous.”W użyciu był również sok ze świeżego ziela pietrasznika – Succus Conii, stabilizowany etanolem 90% (33%) oraz syrop pietrasznikowy – Sirupus Conii (Tinctura Conii Fructus 10,0 + 290,0 Sirupi simplicis).
Przedawkowanie preparatów pietrasznika jest niebezpieczne.
Henryk Różański
Hemlock preparations were identified as a possible treatment to help people quit smoking tobacco.
„In phytotoxicology, hemlock alkaloids are classified as autonomic ganglion poisons, like nicotine, cytisine, lobeline, gelsemine, and sparteine. Hemlock preparations may be used in treatment to help people quit smoking tobacco, as may cytisine.”Alkaloidy pietrasznika w fitotoksykologii zaliczane są do trucizn autonomicznych zwojów nerwowych, podobnie jak nikotyna, cytyzyna, lobelina, gelsemina i sparteina. Preparaty pietrasznika mogą być użyte w kuracjach odwykowych dla palaczy tytoniu, podobnie jak cytyzyna.
Henryk Różański
Coniine, an alkaloid found in spotted hemlock, was used in medicine in the 18th and 19th centuries.
„However, coniine was used in medicine in the 18th and 19th centuries. It dissolves well in water, alcohols, and ether. In the plant, it is dextrorotatory. It forms crystalline salts with acids. When taken orally or injected, it first stimulates and then paralyzes the autonomic ganglia, paralyzes the endings of motor nerves, and inhibits centers in the brain.”Jednakże koniina była stosowna w lecznictwie w XVIII i XIX wieku. Dobrze rozpuszcza się w wodzie, alkoholach i eterze. W roślinie jest prawoskrętna. Z kwasami daje sole krystaliczne. Po podaniu doustnym lub wstrzyknięciu pobudza, a potem poraża zwoje wegetatywne, poraża zakończenia nerwów ruchowych i hamuje ośrodki w mózgu.
Research from PubMed · Europe PMC
We selected 1 studies with the best, positive results. This is a selection, not a full review of all research.
Total number of studies on this topic in PubMed: 3.
Spotted hemlock has been used in traditional medicine, including homeopathy, in connection with cervical cancer.
Aim of the study: Conium maculatum extract is used as a traditional medicine for cervix carcinoma including homeopathy. However, no systematic work has so far been carried out to test its anti-cancer potential against cervix cancer cells in vitro. Thus, in this study, we investigated whether ethanolic extract of conium is capable of inducing cytotoxicity in different normal and cancer cell lines including an elaborate study in HeLa cells.
Results: Conium treatment reduced cell viability and colony formation at 48 h and inhibited cell proliferation, arresting the cell cycle at the sub-G stage. Conium treatment led to increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) at 24 h, increased MMP depolarization, morphological changes, and DNA damage in HeLa cells, along with externalization of phosphatidyl serine at 48 hours. While cytochrome c release and caspase-3 activation led HeLa cells toward apoptosis, down-regulation of Akt and NFkB inhibited cellular proliferation, indicating that the signaling pathway was mediated via the mitochondria-mediated caspase-3-dependent pathway. CD-spectroscopy revealed that Conium interacted with the DNA molecule. Overall, the results validate the anti-cancer potential of Conium and support its use in traditional systems of medicine.
Money for the studycompany together with others · Boiron Laboratories, Lyon, France, University of Grant Commission, New Delhi, India
Do the authors have ties to companies?no — the authors say so
Did a manufacturer help with the study?YES
Type of studylaboratory study (on cells)
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
Perspectives and opinion materials
The content below presents the authors’ opinions, interpretations and hypotheses. It is not treated as equal to scientific studies and systematic reviews.
Orthomolecular Medicine News Service Opinion material
„Pilot study for treating dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) with high-dose omega-3 fatty acids. PharmaNutrition, Available online 18 October 2013. The Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2) Research Group. Lutein + Zeaxanthin and Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Age-Related Macular Degeneration: The Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2) Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2013;309(19):2005-2015. doi:10.1001/jama.2013.4997. Das UN. Folic acid and polyunsaturated fatty acids improve cognitive function and prevent depression, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease--but how and why? Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2008 Jan;78(1):11-9.”Pilot study for treating dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) with high-dose omega-3 fatty acids. PharmaNutrition, Available online 18 October 2013. The Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2) Research Group. Lutein + Zeaxanthin and Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Age-Related Macular Degeneration: The Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2) Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2013;309(19):2005-2015. doi:10.1001/jama.2013.4997. Das UN. Folic acid and polyunsaturated fatty acids improve cognitive function and prevent depression, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease--but how and why? Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2008 Jan;78(1):11-9.
Orthomolecular Medicine News Service Opinion material
„(2011) Diffuse macular edema in niacin-induced maculopathy may resolve with dosage decrease. Retin Cases Brief Rep. 5:227-228. Hoffer A, Saul AW, Foster HD (2015) Niacin: The Real Story. Basic Health Pubs, Inc. ISBN-13: 978-1591202752 8. Smith RG (2012) The Vitamin Cure for Eye Disease. Basic Health Pubs, Inc. SBN-13: 978-1591202929 Nutritional Medicine is Orthomolecular Medicine Orthomolecular medicine uses safe, effective nutritional therapy to fight illness.”(2011) Diffuse macular edema in niacin-induced maculopathy may resolve with dosage decrease. Retin Cases Brief Rep. 5:227-228. Hoffer A, Saul AW, Foster HD (2015) Niacin: The Real Story. Basic Health Pubs, Inc. ISBN-13: 978-1591202752 8. Smith RG (2012) The Vitamin Cure for Eye Disease. Basic Health Pubs, Inc. SBN-13: 978-1591202929 Nutritional Medicine is Orthomolecular Medicine Orthomolecular medicine uses safe, effective nutritional therapy to fight illness.
Orthomolecular Medicine News Service Opinion material
„You have ignored a flotilla of articles, peer reviewed as well, on the benefits of vitamins for a variety of conditions including macular degeneration. I know this field well as I am an ophthalmologist. The only explanation I can think of is that you have been unduly influenced by your pharmaceutical advertisers." "I am a registered nurse and read many articles on health. I feel that your recent article on vitamins was very misleading. Please ask the author to research more thoroughly and write a new article." "Ignorance may be bliss, but when ignorance is reported as if it were a truth in this case it is not bliss but close to a crime.”You have ignored a flotilla of articles, peer reviewed as well, on the benefits of vitamins for a variety of conditions including macular degeneration. I know this field well as I am an ophthalmologist. The only explanation I can think of is that you have been unduly influenced by your pharmaceutical advertisers." "I am a registered nurse and read many articles on health. I feel that your recent article on vitamins was very misleading. Please ask the author to research more thoroughly and write a new article." "Ignorance may be bliss, but when ignorance is reported as if it were a truth in this case it is not bliss but close to a crime.
Pisaczek does not judge who is right. It shows what was written and where to read it. Every sentence above has its source.