Conium maculatum - Poison Hemlock, Poison Parsley
"CONSTITUENTS: A volatile alkaloid Conine, Conhydrine, Methylcenine, Pseudo Conhydrine.
PREPARATIONS: Extractum Conii, Extract of Conium. Dose: one-half grain. Extractum Conii Fluidum, Fluid Extract of Conium. Dose: two to six minims. Expressed juice of the fresh plant preserved with alcohol. Dose: three minims. Specific Conium. Dose, one to five minims.
Therapy: The anodyne and antispasmodic soothing properties of the agent suggest its use in spasmodic affections and irregular muscular movenients—movements attended by extreme activity of the motor nerves. In paralysis agitans, in chorea and in hysteria, in delirium tremens and acute mania it is thus advised. Its use in trismus, laryngeal spasm, in irregular muscular twitchings and spasmodic wry neck, will be attended with excellent results. In profound spasm, as in convulsions, !ep!ilepsy and tetanus, while of some benefit, it is of no marked value and more potent agents are prescribed. In its administration, hypodermic injections of Hydrobromate of Conine are sometimes much more prompt and satisfactory in their action.
Conium is useful in many kinds of cough and inflammatory diseases of the chest. In whooping cough and in many other spasmodic coughs it is of much service. It is useful in asthma and the difficult breathing of emphysema. It may be used internally or the ointment may be applied over the chest.
It is valuable in laryngitis and in dry irritable bronchial coughs and in phthisis. In all such coughs the vapors inhaled from the fluid extract or juice dropped on the surface of hot water, in a rather close-mouthed vessel, is sometimes of marked benefit. In the pains of chronic hepatitis conium is excellent.
As an application to cancerous surfaces, poultices prepared from the leaves have given relief, and ointments carefully prepared which contain the juice or small quantities of conine, will be found of service. Lotions containing the juice or fluid extract will be found of use in open sores and persistent ulcerations.
In ovarian pain or pain from ulceration of the cervix uteri, or other persistent uterine pain or distress, a vaginal suppository containing a grain of conium may be inserted at night, or twice daily, if the patient be recumbent. Rectal fissures and painful ulcers may be treated with rectal suppositories. Pain from acute pelvic inflammation may be relieved by this method."
(Finley Ellingwood: The American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy, 1915)