Foxgloves
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poppypiesdad
- Posts: 1379
- Joined: Sat Dec 29, 2012 9:48 pm
- Location: Area 11
Re: Foxgloves
And a little knowledge can be fatal.
J
J
Be Prepared.
Plan like its the last loaf on the shop shelves.
Plan like its the last beer in the fridge.
Plan like its the last loaf on the shop shelves.
Plan like its the last beer in the fridge.
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badgersden
- Posts: 129
- Joined: Mon Dec 10, 2012 11:13 am
Re: Foxgloves
Imagination is more important than knowledge.
Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein
Re: Foxgloves
The Latin name is the clue; Digitalis Purpurea. The active ingredient in the foxglove, the one that is synthesised by the pharma companies, is digitalis, and it's used to make the drugs digitalis and digitoxin, both used to regulate the heartbeat.
Now, having said that, I'm going to say this:
Under NO circumstances should you attempt to do this yourself.
I'm a very experienced practitioner. I've used herbs and various derivatives of for in excess of 25yrs. I would not attempt to process foxgloves (or any of the other 'heart drug' plants) for use AS a heart drug. It's just too damned dangerous; you have no way of telling how strong, or not, the drug is. Nor do you have any way of monitoring the effect on the heart. It takes specific training and a LOT of practice to identify things like irregular heart beat.
Leave this one alone. It's not safe, and you'll end up killing someone.
Now, having said that, I'm going to say this:
Under NO circumstances should you attempt to do this yourself.
I'm a very experienced practitioner. I've used herbs and various derivatives of for in excess of 25yrs. I would not attempt to process foxgloves (or any of the other 'heart drug' plants) for use AS a heart drug. It's just too damned dangerous; you have no way of telling how strong, or not, the drug is. Nor do you have any way of monitoring the effect on the heart. It takes specific training and a LOT of practice to identify things like irregular heart beat.
Leave this one alone. It's not safe, and you'll end up killing someone.
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ForgeCorvus
- Posts: 3067
- Joined: Fri Feb 08, 2013 11:32 pm
Re: Foxgloves
On a related note.
I remember seeing some tv drama (Casualty ?) in which a guy with heart problems kept apparently ODing on his medication..... Turns out his care-giver was giving him a tea made of a herb that she'd gathered herself but had misidentified the plant, it was young foxglove not what she thought it was (Comfrey I think....... it was a few years back).
Theres a reason why a lot of the old herbalists planted their own gardens and its not to save the walk, you know exactly what you're picking because you put it there.
I remember seeing some tv drama (Casualty ?) in which a guy with heart problems kept apparently ODing on his medication..... Turns out his care-giver was giving him a tea made of a herb that she'd gathered herself but had misidentified the plant, it was young foxglove not what she thought it was (Comfrey I think....... it was a few years back).
Theres a reason why a lot of the old herbalists planted their own gardens and its not to save the walk, you know exactly what you're picking because you put it there.
jennyjj01 wrote:"I'm not in the least bit worried because I'm prepared: Are you?"
"All Things Strive" Gd Tak 'GarLondonpreppy wrote: At its core all prepping is, is making sure you're not down to your last sheet of loo roll when you really need a poo.
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buttystella
Re: Foxgloves
it would seem that the poison in the foxglove could make the heart unstable, any of you herbalists know what other problems it would cause? Such a beautiful plant one that i introduced into my garden many years ago.
Re: Foxgloves
They are very beautiful - but deadly too!
You'll find a list of symptoms and further information on poisoning here - http://www.personalhealthzone.com/herba ... fects.html
From the link
The non-fatal self-poisoning of a 36-year-old female patient, who ingested a concoction of foxglove (Digitalis Purpurea), is presented. On the admission, initial symptoms were nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, and cardiovascular shock with sinus bradycardia.
- J Forensic Sci 2000 Sep;45(5):1154-8 -- A non-fatal case of intoxication with foxglove, documented by means of liquid chromatography-electrospray-mass spectrometry. -- Lacassie E, Marquet P, Martin-Dupont S, Gaulier JM, Lachatre G.
Symptoms of poisoning include upset stomach, throwing up, problems with eyesight, and skipped heartbeats.
I know where to find it growing wild here, but, despite its beauty, I wouldn't have it in my garden. I wouldn't use it, and I've got kids. There's a few others on that list too, simply because of their extreme toxicity. I do have some herbs that are poisonous if used incorrectly, but nothing as nasty as foxglove or some of the aconites and a few others I can think of. It's just not worth the risk, not least because we're not staying in this house forever, and I wouldn't want it to escape and me not know, leaving it behind for the next tenant, who might not know about it.
You'll find a list of symptoms and further information on poisoning here - http://www.personalhealthzone.com/herba ... fects.html
From the link
The non-fatal self-poisoning of a 36-year-old female patient, who ingested a concoction of foxglove (Digitalis Purpurea), is presented. On the admission, initial symptoms were nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, and cardiovascular shock with sinus bradycardia.
- J Forensic Sci 2000 Sep;45(5):1154-8 -- A non-fatal case of intoxication with foxglove, documented by means of liquid chromatography-electrospray-mass spectrometry. -- Lacassie E, Marquet P, Martin-Dupont S, Gaulier JM, Lachatre G.
Symptoms of poisoning include upset stomach, throwing up, problems with eyesight, and skipped heartbeats.
I know where to find it growing wild here, but, despite its beauty, I wouldn't have it in my garden. I wouldn't use it, and I've got kids. There's a few others on that list too, simply because of their extreme toxicity. I do have some herbs that are poisonous if used incorrectly, but nothing as nasty as foxglove or some of the aconites and a few others I can think of. It's just not worth the risk, not least because we're not staying in this house forever, and I wouldn't want it to escape and me not know, leaving it behind for the next tenant, who might not know about it.
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Trojanhorse
- Posts: 288
- Joined: Sun Nov 28, 2010 12:34 pm
Re: Foxgloves
buttystella wrote:Foxgloves are poisonous but i believe small doses could be used for cardiac problems in a bad situation. Much research would be required before embarking on its use but well worth it if nothing else available. Knowledge is power!
This has to be some of the worst advice I have seen on this forum!
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poppypiesdad
- Posts: 1379
- Joined: Sat Dec 29, 2012 9:48 pm
- Location: Area 11
Re: Foxgloves
Being alive is more important than dead . Fact , GODbadgersden wrote:Imagination is more important than knowledge.
Albert Einstein
Be Prepared.
Plan like its the last loaf on the shop shelves.
Plan like its the last beer in the fridge.
Plan like its the last loaf on the shop shelves.
Plan like its the last beer in the fridge.
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poppypiesdad
- Posts: 1379
- Joined: Sat Dec 29, 2012 9:48 pm
- Location: Area 11
Re: Foxgloves
Trojanhorse wrote:buttystella wrote:Foxgloves are poisonous but i believe small doses could be used for cardiac problems in a bad situation. Much research would be required before embarking on its use but well worth it if nothing else available. Knowledge is power!
This has to be some of the worst advice I have seen on this forum!
No wait about there will be more shortly , there always is.
Be Prepared.
Plan like its the last loaf on the shop shelves.
Plan like its the last beer in the fridge.
Plan like its the last loaf on the shop shelves.
Plan like its the last beer in the fridge.