What happens when you die from hemlock poisoning?

3 Poison hemlock poisoning causes death by respiratory paralysis via its neurotoxins and the most famous case is the death of Socrates in 399 BC. Severe poisoning may also cause rhabdomyolysis which could lead to acute renal failure.

How do I know if my hemlock is deadly?

Poison-hemlock stems have reddish or purple spots and streaks, are not hairy, and are hollow. Leaves are bright green, fern-like, finely divided, toothed on edges and have a strong musty odor when crushed. Flowers are tiny, white and arranged in small, umbrella-shaped clusters on ends of branched stems.

What is the antidote for poison hemlock?

There is no antidote for poison hemlock exposures and treatment consists of supportive care (e.g. benzodiazepines for seizures, IV fluids, dopamine or norepinephrine for hypotension) and ventilatory support. Did you know? Water hemlock is also known as “poison hemlock”.

Is Poison hemlock good for anything?

Despite serious safety concerns, hemlock leaves, root, and seeds are used to make medicine. It is used for breathing problems including bronchitis, whooping cough, and asthma; and for painful conditions including teething in children, swollen and painful joints, and cramps. Hemlock is also used for anxiety and mania.

Can smelling hemlock kill you?

All parts of this plant contain toxic alkaloids that can be fatal even in small amounts. The alkaloids can affect nerve impulse transmission to your muscles, eventually killing you through respiratory failure. Even touching this plant may cause a skin reaction in some people. To date, there is no antidote.

Is it safe to mow poison hemlock?

People have also fallen ill after mowing poison-hemlock because of breathing in the toxins. Definitely wear gloves when handling this plant and use a dust mask when mowing large stands. You should always wear gloves when handling poison-hemlock plants.

How does poison hemlock spread?

When hemlock flowers, each plant can produce as many as 30,000 seeds. One of the main ways that poison hemlock has been spread is through mowing, Shaver said. The seeds will get caught in mowing equipment or they will get rustled into the air as the plants are mowed over.

What happens if you breathe in poison hemlock?

Death occurs due to respiratory failure. The alkaloids slowly poison the nerve-muscle junctions and cause the failure of the breathing muscles. Even touching this plant may cause a skin reaction known as dermatitis (itchy skin rash) in sensitive people.

What animal eats hemlock?

Red squirrels and mice chew off the scales of the tiny hemlock cones to get at the seeds underneath. Deer will also eat hemlock foliage and twigs as high up as they can reach. Porcupines prefer hemlock and will eat the bark and chew off large twigs.