There have been cases of intoxication with children who held wolfsbane bouquets in their hands for some time. Prolonged contact with the plant may be dangerous. In some gardens, the wolfsbane plant is grown as an ornament. However, when the plant reaches maturity, it becomes highly poisonous. WARNING! Young wolfsbane (when it is starting to grow) contains lower amounts of toxic substances. Wolfsbane is one of those plants that heal but also kill. The active elements of wolfsbane are potent substances that, when correctly used, produce beneficial medicinal effects. It has also been used as a substitute for morphine to cure drug addiction. The wolfsbane plant is used internally and externally to ease chronic neuralgic pains, especially those of the trigeminal nerve, which affects the face and the sciatic nerve. In the case of exposure through the skin and membranes, flush with water and seek supportive medical care as soon as possible.Identifying wolfsbane, one of the most poisonous plants, is essential! In the case of accidental ingestion, activated charcoal given within one hour may slow the poison, but the patient must receive supportive care in the hospital as soon as possible. Symptoms appear within an hour of exposure and death follows within 6 hours. Some symptoms of wolfsbane poisoning include vomiting, sweating, frothing at the mouth, confusion, dizziness, numbness, and tingling about the face, mouth, and limbs, a burning sensation in the abdomen. Once harvested, store it in a tightly sealed jar on a high shelf, once again, clearly labeled. It should be clearly labeled and planted in a part of the garden inaccessible to children, pets, and livestock. It can be absorbed through the skin as well, causing numbness, tingling, and dermatitis, so use gloves when handling wolfsbane. Wolfsbane is a baneful herb and ingesting even a small amount can kill you. Magickal Correspondences for WolfsbaneĮlement(s): Fire or Aether (also called Spirit or Akasha) Wolfsbane has traditionally been used to protect homes from werewolves and can be used to prevent shapeshifting.īundles of wolfsbane could be placed around barns and pastures to protect livestock from predators (taking care that the livestock have no access to it, lest they be killed themselves).īecause of its baneful nature, it could be used in sympathetic magic to bring harm to another by creating “elf bolts” of sharpened flint dipped in wolfsbane juice and piercing a poppet for the victim with them. It is extremely toxic and should not be used for healing by the lay herbalist. Wolfsbane has been used historically as a treatment for lycanthropy (werewolf-ism) and as an antidote to other poisons. Wolfsbane does not tend to suffer damage from wildlife, but aphids like it.īees enjoy wolfbane. Wolfsbane likes a moist, shady or partly shaded spot with rich soil full of organic material in a spot that will not be bothered by children or pets. It is much easier to propagate by division, which is possible after a few years of growth due to its clumping habit. You should be aware that its toxic compounds are also contained in its seeds, so use gloves when handling the seeds and disposing of water it has been soaked in. Alternatively, you could try soaking and freezing the seeds in a wet paper towel for a few weeks before soaking them for several days in cold water and then planting. You could try planting it in the fall so that the seeds experience the winter freeze and thaw if you live in an area that experiences a good hard freeze in the winter with plenty of snow. Wolfsbane germinates in response to snowmelt, so it can be somewhat difficult for the backyard gardener to get it going. In Greek myth, Medea attempted to poison Theseus by putting wolfsbane in his wine. I have seen it reported that it was used to poison arrows when hunting wolves by the ancient Greeks and that it was used to poison meat left out by farmers. Wolfsbane gets its name from the fact that it was once used to kills wolves. The bright green leaves are palmately shaped and deeply lobed and toothed.Ī member of the aconite family, wolfsbane is highly toxic. It grows to about 3 feet tall, spreads out in clumps and produces lovely spikes of ivory, green or bright yellow pitcher-shaped flowers from spring to midsummer. Wolfsbane is perennial Alpine woodland wildflower and a member of the deadly aconite family.
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