Botanical Index No. 806

Poison Hemlock

conium maculatum

Medicinal Actions

Colic, Alterative, Analgesic, Antinicotinic, Antispasmodic, Hypertensive, Hypotensive, Negative Inotropic, Nicotinic, Paralytic, Respiradepressant, Respirastimulant, Sedative, Teratogenic

Primary Conditions Treated

Adenopathy Amenorrhea Arthrosis Asthma Backache Bronchosis Cachexia Cacoethes Cancer breast colon face ganglia gland intestine liver mesentery neck nose pancreas parotid penis scrotum skin spleen sternum stomach testicle uterus viscera Carcinoma Cardosis Chorea Cough Cramp Delirium Depression Dermatosis Dyslactea Dysmenorrhea Eczema Edema Encephalosis Enterosis Epilepsy Erysipelas Heart Hepatosis High Blood Pressure Hyperlactation Icterus Impotence Induration Insomnia Jaundice Laryngosis Leprosy Low Blood Pressure Mania Myosis Neck Nervousness Neuralgia Orchosis Pain Palpitation Pancreatosis Paralysis Parotosis Pertussis Pylorosis Rheumatism Sciatica Scirrhus Sclerosis Scrofula Sore Spasm Splenosis Stye Swelling Syphilis Tetanus Tumor Ulcer Vertigo Wen Anaphrodisiac Aphrodisiac Nervine Poison

General Dosage

Do not use it. Many of the indications are homeopathic. Maximum dose 300 mg; standard dose 100 mg; not to exceed 1500 mg/day.

Safety & Contraindications

Not covered. Classed by the FDA as unsafe containing the poisonous alkaloid coniine and other closely related alkaloids. Can cause contact dermatosis. Ingestion may cause debility, drowsiness, nausea, labored respiration, paralysis, asphyxia, and death. “Following lethal doses, animals rapidly begin to show symptoms; among them: paralysis of the tongue, mydriasis, head pressure, giddiness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and collapse into central paralysis, first the feet and legs, then the buttocks, arms, then paralysis of swallowing and speech. With increasing dyspnea and cyanosis, death ensues through central respiratory paralysis. LD is about 500–1000 mg coniine for man.” I misquoted HHB and said 500 to 100).

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