Conium, HemlockCicutaKhardmana, Shuk |
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Dioscorides Materia Medica, Ruellio, 1549
Atlas der officinellen pflanzen (2), Felix, 1899Botanical name:
Conium maculatum
Parts used:
Herb; Seed
Temperature & Taste:
Very Cold, dry. Bitter. Toxic.
“Cold and Dry from the Third to the Fourth degree”. (Avicenna)
Classification:
2B ATTENUATERS
2R. NARCOTICS & HYPNOTICS
4k. ARTHRITIC
TCM:
T. External Medicines
Uses:
1. Clears Heat, Settles Wind, Calms the Mind, Stops Spams:
–Cramps, Spasms, Chorea
-acute Mania, Hysteria
-Delirium, Epilepsy
2. Clears Heat, Resists Poison:
-Tetanus, Rabies, Syphilis
–poisoning from Nux vomica and Strychnine (they are antagaonists to one another)
3. Clears Heat, Resolves Masses, Eases Pain
-Inflammation, Swellings, Inflammations, both internally and externally
-Cancer; especially of the Breast, Uterus, Stomach and Gastrointestinal tract. Many regarded it as specific for the pain of Cancer (int. & ext.)
–‘relieves the pain of Cancers and Ulcers. In this it is of specific value’. (Ellingwood)
–‘In the pains of chronic Hepatitis, Conium is excellent’ (Ellingwood).
4. Clears Heat, Stops Cough and Wheezing:
-Asthma, Whooping Cough
-Cough with Heat and Inflammation
-difficulty breathing due to chronic Lung disease, Emphysema etc.
5. Clears Heat, Stops Bleeding:
-the seed are used for various types of Bleeding
-stops excessive flow of Menstruation (Avicenna)
6. Externally:
-chiefly used externally in Plasters for swelling, inflammation and tumors of the Spleen and other parts;
-Tumors, Cancers, to resolve the mass and ease the pain.
-plaster stops excessive growth of the Breasts (Avicenna)
-“Its plaster prevents Testicular enlargement”. (Avicenna)
-“Local application on (external) seminal organs controls (excessive) nocturnal Emissions”. (Avicenna)
-extract of the seeds soothes Erysipelas and Herpetic eruptions (Avicenna)
–roasted root was cut and applied warm to the pain of Gout and Arthritis, and plasters, ointments and poultices have been applied to various poisonous and inflammatory conditions
-A single grain was added to vaginal or anal suppositories for Ovarian Pain, Ulcers or erosion of the Uterus, ulcers of the Rectum, Rectal Fissures etc
-local application of the herb over the perineum stops Nocturnal Emission
Preparation:
An extract was prepared by steaming the fresh plant with Vinegar, expressing the juice, then evaporating to an extract. This was accounted less nauseous, better tolerated by the Stomach while possessing a strong effect of opening obstructions and resolving masses.
Correctives:
1. Wormwood, Black Pepper, Castoreum (Unani)
2. ‘Hemlock seeds are fatal but its harmful effects are rectified with pure wine’ (Avicenna)
Substitutes:
Henbane (Unani)
Dose:
Powdered leaf or seed: 125–250mg (maximum dose 300mg; maximum daily dose 2 grams. Storck, who widely promoted the use of Conium in Cancer treatment, recommended beginning with a few grains of the powdered leaf, cautiously increasing to half dram, but stated that he had given up to nearly 4 drams.
Fluid extract of the Leaves (1:1): 2–5 drops, up to 10 drops.
Solid (dry) Extract: 2–5, or 6 grains.
Used topically in poultices, plasters and fomentations.
Main Combinations:
1. Scrofula, Hemlock with Foxglove
2. Stomach hardening or masses, Hemlock with Galbanum, Bull bile (Sobernheim, 1840)
3. Constipation with hardening of the abdominal organs, Hemlock with Dandelion, Gum Ammoniac (Brera)
4. Cirrhosis (hardening) of the Liver, Hemlock with Henbane, Rhubarb, Licorice (Mercuric chloride was added to strengthen). (Sobernheim, 1840)
5. Facial Neuralgia and Fibroid Tumors, Extract of Hemlock, Guaiacum resin, Asafetida (1 dram each), extract of Aconite (½ dram), Mercury chloride (15 grains). Form pills of 2 grains each, and dust with Cinnamon powder. Dose: 5–10 pills 3 times daily. (Sobernheim, 1840)
6. Internally for Cancer, Hemlock has been combined with Belladonna and Mercurius dulcis, formed into pills with Syrup of Orange.
7. Cataplasm for Cancer, powdered Hemlock (1 dram), Carrot juice thickened (½ pound), Tincture of Opium with Saffron (1 ½ drams). (Sobernheim, 1840)
8. To Induce Abortion: Hemlock was combined with Pennyroyal and Rue. This was well known in parts of England.
Major Formulas:
Powder for Severe Sore Throat
Pills for Apoplexy (Arnold de Villa Nova)
1. Sedative Potion:
i. Extract of Hemlock (½ oz.), Water of Linden flowers (6 oz), Sydenhams Laudanum (30 drops), Syrup of Raspberries (1 oz.).
ii. Extract of Hemlock (1 scruple), Cinnamon Water, Syrup of Orange peel (½ oz. each) (Pharmacopoeia extemporanea, Augustin, 1822)
iii. Extract of Hemlock (½ dram), Syrup of Poppies (1 oz.), Water (7 ounces). Mix. Dose: 1 spoonful, 3–4 times daily.
2. Deobstruent Ointment:
i. Hemlock, Celery leaf, Dwarf Elder, Parsley, Savin (1 pound each), Caper root-bark, Yellow Iris root, Bryony (½ pound each), Olive oil (6 lbs.). Digest 4 days, then boil to the consumption of the humidity and express. Melt in the oil Yellow Wax (1 ½ pound), and add when nearly cold, powdered Gum Ammoniac, powdered Long Birthwort root (2 oz. each). Mix.
Cautions:
“Hemlock seeds are Fatal but its harmful eITects are rectified with pure Wine” (Avicenna)
1. Highly toxic. Avoid overdose. If used internally begin with smaller doses increasing as needed.
2. Not used in Pregnancy, the very young or elderly.
Toxicity
1. Highly toxic. It is only suitable for external use today, with the possible exception of Cancer treatment.
2. Symptoms of toxicity include nausea, vomiting, trembling, convulsions, slow and weak pulse later becoming rapid, increased respiration, salivation, urination leading to coma and death
3. Toxic principles are absorbed through the skin.
4. Individual susceptibility to coniine (the principle toxic compound) toxicity varies greatly. Some people show symptoms after 3mg while others can tolerate 150mg will no ill effects. Approximately 6 grams of the herb can be fatal.
5. Congenital skeletal malformation and cleft palate in newborn pigs has been demonstrated after maternal ingestion of Hemlock Other congenital deformities have been recorded in other animals following maternal consumption.
–Mild-to-severe poisoning due to Conium maculatum as toxic herb: A case series.
–Conium maculatum intoxication: Literature review and case report on hemlock poisoning.
Antidote:
1. Begin with Emetics
1. Wine or Brandy
2. Gentian (2 drams) in wine (De venenis, Petrus, 1487)
3. a large dose of Vinegar
4. Frankincense (Pliny)
5. Mithridate (2 drams)
6. Theriac (2 drams) with decoction of Dittany. (De venenis, Petrus, 1487)
7. Rue, Dittany, Bay leaf, Carrot, Gentian, Pepper, Cardamom, Nettle seed, Wormoow, Castor. either as a decoction or as a powder taken with wine. (De venenis, Ramesey, 1663)
8. Coffee, Mustard
9. Nux vomica or Strychnine (physiological antidote, or antagonist)
10. Modern: Gastric lavage; Emesis; activated charcoal. Artificial respiration and barbituates if required.
Main Preparations used:
Tincture, Compound Tincture, Distilled Water, Extract, Pills, Oil, Ointment, Plaster
1. Tincture of Hemlock:
i. Freshly expressed juice of Hemlock, Rectified Spirit (equal parts). Digest without heat for several days, then filter.
2. Compound Tincture of Hemlock:
i. Dried Hemlock leaf (2 oz.), Lesser Cardamon, bruised (½ ounce), Proof Spirit (16 oz.). Digest 7 days, then filter. (Edinborough)
3. Distilled Water:
i. Fresh Hemlock herb (1 part), Water (4 parts). Distil. (Pharmacopoeia Herbipolitania, 1796)
4. Extract of Hemlock:
i. fresh hemlock (1 pound); bruise in a stone mortar, sprinkled with a little water. Then express, evaporate the juice without separating the sediment to the proper consistency.
5. Pills of Hemlock:
i. Extract of Hemlock (any quantity), powdered Hemlock (sufficient). Make into 2-grain pills.
ii. ‘For pills of the herb take of its inspissated juice half- an-ounce, and of the finely powdered plant enough when mixed together to make from forty to sixty pills. Then for curing cancer, severe scrofula, or syphilitic sores, give from one to twenty of these pills in twenty- four hours {Pharmacopeia Chirurgica, 1794).’ (Taken from Herbal Simples, Fernie, 1897)
ii. Extract of Hemlock (4 drams), Rhubarb (2 drams). Make eighty pills. (Nouveau Formulaire Medicale et Pharmaceutique, 1820)
6. Hemlock Oil:
i. Fresh Hemlock herb (1 part), Olive oil (2 parts); digest for 2 days in a water bath, then repeat the maceration when cold. (Pharmacopoeia Sardoa, 1773) Usually, it was recommended to gently boil at the end to evaporate excess humidity.
7. Hemlock Ointment:
i. Hemlock juice (1 part), Lard (4 parts). Boil slowly to the consumption of the humidity. Applied to Carcinomatous, scrofulous and phagedenic Ulcers. (Pharmacopoeia medici practici universalis, Bruxelles, 1817)
8. Hemlock Plaster (for all hard swellings and tumors):
i. Yellow Wax (2 parts), Resin, Olive oil (1 part each). Melt together, and add when half cold: Powdered Hemlock (2 parts). Mix.
ii. Juice of Hemlock (1 pound), Powdered Hemlock (½ pound). Evaporate slowly to the consistence of a paste, then add the melted mixture of: Yellow Wax (10 oz.), Venice Turpentine (4 oz.), Olive oil (½ pound). Mix. (Pharmacia rationalis, 1806)
9. Compound Plaster of Hemlock:
i. Vinegar (16 oz.), Gum Ammoniac (8 oz.). Mix then in a stone mortar; then strain through linen, then add: Mass of Hemlock Pills (ie. extract and powdered herb mixed), evaporate slowly to a plaster. (Dispensatorium Fuldense, 1791)
ii. Expressed juice of Hemlock (4 oz.), Gum Ammoniac (8 oz). With sufficient Vinegar of Squill dissolve them to form a plaster.
iii. Yellow Wax (2 pounds), Olive oil (1 pound). Melt together, strain, and add: Extract of Hemlock (6 oz.), Gum Ammoniac, Powdered Hemlock (8 oz. each). Mix. (Pharmacopoeia Rossica, 1803)
- Extra Info
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Research
–Pharmacology and toxicology of Conium maculatum-A review
–PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIONS OF HEMLOCK (CONIUM MACULATUM) ALKALOIDS
–Conium maculatum: A review
ANTIFUNGAL
–Antifungal compounds from induced Conium maculatum L. plants
ANTI-INFLAMMATORY
–Screening of Alkaloidal Fraction of Conium maculatum L. Aerial Parts for Analgesic and Antiinflammatory Activity.
ANALGESIC
–Screening of Alkaloidal Fraction of Conium maculatum L. Aerial Parts for Analgesic and Antiinflammatory Activity.
EFFECT ON NICOTINIC RECEPTORS
–The effect of coniine on presynaptic nicotinic receptors.
CANCER
–Anticancer potential of Conium maculatum extract against cancer cells in vitro: Drug-DNA interaction and its ability to induce apoptosis through ROS generation.