PDR for Herbal Medicines

HERBAL MONOGRAPHS HEMLOCK/387

Parsley, Water Parsley, Winter Fern, Herb Bennet, Spotted

Corobane, Musquash Root, Beaver Poison, Kex, Kecksies

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

^ Piperidin alkaloids: main alkaloid coniine, including, among

others, N-methyl coniine, gamma-coniceine

The piperidin alkaloids are volatile and are likely to be

present in toxicologically harmful quantities only in the

freshly harvested plant, particularly in its berries, and in the

freshly dried plant.

Polyynes: including falcarinol, falcarindiol

Furanocoumarins: including bergaptene, xanthotoxin

EFFECTS
The plant is poisonous. The effects of the drug are caused by
coniine in particular. Toxic doses given to mice, rats, guinea
pigs and cats provoked the autonomous ganglion, clonic and
tonal contractions of individual limbs, cramps and eventual-
ly, paralysis. Small doses given to mice led to blood pressure
reduction in the short term. Higher doses resulted in a rise in
blood pressure. Smaller doses stimulated respiration in cats,
jg| while higher doses impeded or slowed down the initial
stimulus. In isolated guinea pig ileum, coniine brought on
contractions. In isolated perfused rabbit hearts, coniine was
negatively inotropic while a stable heart beat was main-
tained. With anesthetized cats, a suppression of the muscle
contraction reflex took place. Feeding or injecting lethal
doses of coniine into cows, horses, pigs, sheep and hamsters
was initially stimulating, producing twitching of the eyes and
ears, which was followed by muscular debility, collapse,
limpness and deam through paralysis. Coniine absorbed
through the skin and mucous membranes is stimulating at
first, then causes gradual paralysis of the spinal cord and
blockage of the medulla oblongata. Nicotine-like receptors
are at first activated, then paralyzed.
INDICATIONS AND USAGE
Unproven Uses : Use is inadvisable due to the uncontrollable
amounts of coniine. Formerly, in folk medicine, the drug was
used internally for neuralgia, rheumatism of the muscles and
joints, stiffness of the neck, tetanic and epileptic cramps,
bronchial spasms and pylori spasms. Externally, the drug
W was used as an ointment for coughs, asthma, sciatica,
backache and neuralgia.

Homeopathic Uses: Swollen glands, pareses, calcification of

cerebral vessels and depressive moods are considered to be

indications for use in homeopathy.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

General: The drug is severely poisonous and use is not

advised.

Pregnancy: The drug has a teratogenic effect with chronic

intake.

OVERDOSAGE

Symptoms of poisoning following intake of toxic quantities

(corresponding to 150 mg coniine, approximately 10 g of the

freshly dried berries, approximately 30 g of the freshly dried

leaves) include burning of the mouth, scratchy throat,

salivation, rolling of the eyes, visual disorders and weakness

in the legs. Lethal dosages (corresponding to approximately

500 mg coniine) cause glossoplegia, mydriasis, pressure in

the head, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of

orientation, rising central paralysis, dyspepsia and cyanosis.

Death ultimately results through central asphyxiation, in the

cases of very high dosages, and also through curare-like

paralysis of the breathing musculature.

Following stomach and intestinal emptying (gastric lavage,

sodium sulfate) and the administration of activated charcoal,

plasma volume expanders and sodium bicarbonate infusions

should be given in case of shock or to restore acidosis

balance. If necessary, intubation and respiration should be

carried out.

DOSAGE

Mode of Administration: Hemlock is obsolete and strongly

advised against as an internal drug because of the danger of

poisoning. Homeopathic dilutions and ointments containing

hemlock are used externally.

How Supplied: Liquid rubs, ointments.

Daily Dosage: Use is discouraged, but the maximum single

dose mentioned for internal use is 0.3 g, not to exceed 1.5 g,

per day. The standard single dose is 0.1 g.

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; ointment 1 to 2 times daily (HAB34).

Storage: Hemlock should be stored above caustic lime, well

dried, in closed containers and kept for no more than one

year.

LITERATURE

Cromwell BT, Biochem J 64:259-266. 1956.

Kreitmair H, PA 3:565-566. 1948.

Madaus S, Schindler H, Arch Pharm 276:280-290. 1938.

Roberts MF, (1975) Phytochemistry 14:2395.

Roberts MF, (1980) Planta Med 39:216.

Seeger R, Neumann HG, DAZ-Giftlexikon Coniin. In: DAZ

131(13):720. 1991.