BACK TO POISONS


 


Scientific noun: Anemone nemorosa L.
 
Common noun: : Wood anemone
 
Family: Buttercup family - Ranunculaceae
 
Habitat: In damp woods.

 

Active principles:

  • Ranunculine, which is innocuous, that becomes protoanemonine when it enters in contact with the enzyme ranunculasa, that is very poisonous. The protoanemonine, in turn, once dried or boiled , breaks down in anemonin or anemonic acid , being these two elements non poisonous.

 

 
Active parts: Fruits and rhizomes
 

Uses :

. Medicinal:

- Being a rubefacient it -produces redness with heat in the application area - it has been used in external use to reduce the rheumatic and gouty pains.
- Mashing the leaves a juice is obtained that has been traditionally used , by means of inhalation, to combat the headache.
- Mastication of the tender roots was used to eliminate the ulcers and illnesses of the mouth.

Given the toxicity of their components its use is dissuaded in home-made preparations.

 

Toxicity : Very high. In external use, the use of the plant in many cases, produces big cutaneous lesions, characterised not only by the appearance of bladders but , what is worse by ulceration or even gangrene. In internal use it is very toxic, acting as a narcotic and being able to cause muscular paralysis and heart failure.

All the same , the ingestion of the plant causes in animals serious consequences that can take to the death because of cardiac arrest, but that, in inferior dose, it is manifested in gastric , breathing and hematic disorders.

Symptoms: hypertension, cramps, tremors, coldness in the members, breathing difficulties, shortage of breath and death.

Treatment: Expel the poison from the stomach, artificial respiration, breathing stimulants.

Cultivation tips