Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum)

mistaken for similar-looking kitchen herbs, such as parsley or chervil.

Medieval witches are said to have used poison hemlock for their purposes, especially for preparing their flying ointment. This is probably due to the fact that it has a paralyzing effect on the skin which might evoke the sensation of "flying". Hemlock was also a common sight in European monastery gardens where it was grown for use as a as a local anesthetic. It can still be found growing as a wild plant around those spots.

The main active ingredient of conium maculatum, coniine, was isolated in 1831 and was the first alcaloid to be synthetically recreated in 1886. Coniine is a clear, oily liquid with a burning hot taste and smell of mouse urine. It is readily absorbed by the skin and the mucous membranes and causes increased excitability, followed by an ascending paralysis of the spinal cord. Its effect is similar to curare or nicotine - centrally and peripherally paralyzing, with a distinct impact on the release of adrenalin. Since it is very hard to dose, in today's medicine hemlock is only used in homeopathic preparations to combat tumors.

Caution: The whole hemlock plant is very poisonous and is particularly dangerous for children!

One package contains 100 conium maculatum seeds