Can poison hemlock be deadly?
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The bottom line
Poison hemlock is a deadly plant that looks dangerously similar to several edible plants. Modern-day exposures are often the result of plant misidentification. Symptoms of poison hemlock progress rapidly, and any delay in reaching a healthcare facility increases the risk of death.
Prevention tips
If you are interested in foraging wild plants, join an organization with experienced members.
Never eat an unknown plant or berry without verification from a clear field guide or someone with experience.
Poison hemlock is dangerous and can be deadly. Do not manage symptoms at home if they occur.
This really happened
A husband and wife, both 45 years of age, ate “wild celery” picked from a regional park. They felt unwell soon afterward, and paramedics took them to an emergency department. They both complained of nausea, dizziness, blurred vision, and limb weakness.
The man received a dose of activated charcoal, and his symptoms resolved in 8 hours. The woman became very drowsy and stopped breathing approximately 2 hours after eating the plant. She required a ventilator to support her breathing. She came off the ventilator on day 2 of her hospital stay and was sent home on day 3 without any lasting effects.
The hospital tested blood samples from both for the toxins in poison hemlock. Only the husband was positive, even though the wife had more significant symptoms. The authors suggest that it was because her sample was taken later and the active toxins might have been cleared from her body quickly (from Chen et al., 2017).
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What is poison hemlock?
Poison hemlock is not native to North America; it was introduced in the 1800s from across the Atlantic for its ornamental appeal. Today, poison hemlock is found throughout much of the US.
Historically, poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) was used as medicine for muscle spasms and sedation, and was applied to tumors. It is most famously known as the method of death chosen by Socrates in 399 BCE. People rarely eat it on purpose. It is usually mistaken for something edible.
Poison hemlock is a persistent plant that can produce up to 30,000 seeds that can be easily spread by water and animals. The seeds are stable for 3–6 years waiting for the right conditions to sprout and start growing.
What does poison hemlock look like?
The stems are smooth, hollow, and bright green, and have red or purple spots. Macula is the Latin word for “spot.” Left undisturbed, the plant can grow to several feet in height. The leaves are segmented like a fern and described as “lacy.” The plump, fleshy root is long and white to yellow.
Poison hemlock often has a bad smell described as like “mouse urine” or “musty.” The naturally occurring poisons, most notably coniine, are present in all parts of the plant.
What to do if someone eats poison hemlock
If you are worried that you or someone else has eaten poison hemlock, act immediately and go to an emergency department. If someone eats poison hemlock, or if you have questions about the plant, use the webPOISONCONTROL® online tool to get help, or call your poison center at 1-800-222-1222. Whether online or by phone, expert guidance is always free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day.
What plants are poison hemlock mistaken for?
Poison hemlock belongs to the same plant family (Apiaceae) as carrots, parsnips, fennel, and dill. The plants often involved with foraging mistakes are also a part of the Apiaceae family: angelica, cow parsnip, wild parsnip, wild chervil, wild celery, wild carrot, and Queen Anne’s lace. It is difficult to properly identify these plants. At some phases of the life cycle, common characteristics of poison hemlock, such as spotting or bad smell, might not be present.
Concentrations of the poisonous components (primarily coniine) will vary between plants and are affected by growing conditions. Foraging for edible plants can be fun and rewarding. It can also be dangerous. If you are interested in foraging, join an experienced local group or obtain a field guide with clear pictures and descriptions.
What are the symptoms of poison hemlock poisoning?
Initial symptoms can include nausea and vomiting, excessive salivation, sweating, and muscle weakness. As coniine further affects the nervous system, it can cause tremors, seizures, paralysis, and breathing difficulties. Muscle damage and kidney failure can occur in severe cases.
Is poison hemlock deadly?
As its name suggests, poison hemlock can kill. A person poisoned by hemlock usually recovers with hospital treatment. Severe symptoms can develop and progress quickly, so it is not safe to try to treat a poison hemlock exposure at home.
How do you get rid of poison hemlock?
If you find poison hemlock in your yard, remove it quickly to keep it from spreading. Wear gloves and pull up the entire plant, including the root. Spot spraying with 2,4-D (Weed B-gon) or glyphosate (Roundup) is effective. It can also damage nearby desirable plants.