HERBAL MONOGRAPHS EUROPEAN WATER HEMLOCK/297PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS
No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction
with the proper administration of designated therapeutic
3 dosages.
DOSAGE
w* Mode of Administration: Comminuted drug for decoctions
and other preparations for oral application.How Supplied: Commercial pharmaceutical preparations
include juices, tablets and compound preparations.
Preparation: No information is available.Daily Dosage: The average daily dose is 4 to 6 g of the herb.
Homeopathic Dosage: 5 drops, 1 tablet or 10 globules every
30 to 60 minutes (acute) or 1 to 3 times daily (Chronic);
parenterally: 1 to 2 ml sc acute: 3 times daily: chronic once a
day (HAB34).
Storage: The drug must be kept in sealed containers,
protected from light.
LITERATURE
Engel S, Horn K, Phytodermatosen (lurch Dictamnus albus.
Sanicula europaea und Philodendron consanguineum. In: Dermat
j£ Mschr 158(l):22-27. 1972.
Hansel R, Keller K, Rimpler H, Schneider G (Hrsg.), Hagers
Handbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis. 5. Aufl., Bde 4-6
(Drogen), Springer Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1992-
1994.
Hiller K et aL PA 24:178. 1969.
Hiller K et al., PA 22:220-221. 1967.
Madaus G, Lehrbuch der Biologischen Arzneimittel, Bde 1-3,
Nachdruck, Georg Olms Verlag Hildesheim 1979.European Water Hemlock
Cicuta virosa
DESCRIPTION
Medicinal Parts: The medicinal part is the rhizome with
roots.
Flower and Fruit: The flower is a white umbelliferous
blossom with distinct calyx tips. The petals have indented
tips. The style cushion is flat. The fruit is brown-yellow, 2.5
mm by 3 mm, and has dark-brown stripes.Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant grows to a height of 30 to
120 cm. The leaves are 2- to 3-pinnate. The leaflets are
lanceolate and sharply serrate. The whole plant is glabrous.
The rhizome is tuberous, fleshy and hollow. The stem is
erect, round, hollow, glabrous, branched above, and forms
adventitious roots at the nodes.Characteristics: The rhizome has a bad odor and is
extremely poisonous.
Habitat: The plant is indigenous to Europe and Asia.
Other Names: Cowbane
ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY
COMPOUNDS
Polyynes: including cicutoxin (0.07-0.2^ in the fresh
rhizome tuber), isocicutoxin, cicutol, cicudiole. falcarindiol
Furanocoumarins
Alky I phthalides
EFFECTS
No information is available.
INDICATIONS AND USAGE
Homeopathic Uses: The drug is used in homeopathic
dilutions for migraine, painful menstruation, worm infesta-
tion and inflammation of the skin.
PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS
The freshly harvested root stock is extremely poisonous due
to its cicutoxin content. The plant itself is weakly poisonous.
OVERDOSAGE
Two to 3 gm of the root stock are said to be fatal for an
adult. The toxicity of the drug declines through dehydration
and storage. Symptoms of poisoning, following the initial
stupor and nausea, include severe tonic-clonic spasms,
unconsciousness, canosis and extremely widened pupils.
Death occurs through asphyxiation at the peak of a convul-
sive attack or through heart failure.Forced diuresis, hemodialysis and hemoperfusion are initiat-
ed as treatment for poisonings. Gastric lavage should only be
carried out under anesthetic because of the danger of
convulsion. Benzodiazepine or barbiturates are used to
lessen the effects of the spasms.
DOSAGE
Mode of Administration: The drug is used topically and
internally as a dilution of the mother tincture.
LITERATURE
Bilia AR, Ctalano S, Fontana C, Morelli I, Palme E. A new
saponin from Potentilla tormentilla. In: PM 58(7)23. 1992.
Strauss U, Wittstock U, Schubert R, Teuscher E, Jung S, Mix
E, Cicutoxin from Cicuta virosa—a new and potent potassium
channel blocker in T lymphocytes. Biochem Biophys Res
Commun, 219:332-6. 1996.
Wittstock U, Hadacek F, Wurz G, Teuscher E, Greger H.
Polyacetylenes from water hemlock, Cicura virosa. In: PM
61(5):439-445. 1995.
Wittstock U, Lichtnow KH, Teuscher E, Effects of cicutoxin
and related polyacetylenes from cicuta virosa on neuronal action