Toxic herbs: how to recognize them and how to act in case of ingestion

During the summer, it can happen that you accidentally come across toxic herbs. Let's find out what are the rules to avoid taking risks and how to act in case of accidental ingestion.

Going around the woods in search of medicinal herbs or to be consumed once at home, during the summer, is one of the most popular hobbies. Unfortunately, however, if you are not an expert in the field, you run very high risks.
Among the herbs that we usually look for, it can in fact happen to find similar but highly toxic ones. And, at the same time, it can happen that among the right herbs there are fragments of others that are poisonous and carried by the wind.
It is therefore clear that simply looking for herbs to use for personal use is not enough. In order not to take risks, there are some important rules to follow. Rules that if developed correctly can save lives. Let's find out, therefore, which are the most important and how to act in case of danger.

How to avoid accidental consumption of toxic and poisonous herbs

The first rule, when choosing to go and collect herbs, is never to do it alone or relying on a book but to always bring an expert with you.
In some cases, in fact, recognizing a toxic herb can be extremely difficult.

Once collected, it is advisable to check them carefully in order to eliminate any possible foreign presence. An example is that of the colchicum leaves which are often found among those of the dandelion, making their ingestion dangerous for health.

But that's not all because there are other highly toxic plants such as broom or borage (often mistaken for mandrake ) which if consumed can be harmful and lead to increasingly serious symptoms, some of which are even capable of leading to hospitalization in hospital and, in the most extreme cases, even to death. It is therefore essential to be cautious before acting. And, when in doubt, it's best to avoid consuming plants you're not sure about. All for the benefit of your health.

How to act if you take toxic herbs

If, despite the precautions and advice given above, you find yourself accidentally consuming toxic herbs, it is very important to immediately recognize the symptoms.
Acting in time can in fact literally save lives. Although the symptoms vary from one herb to another, the most common are vomiting, intestinal pain , dry mouth, shortness of breath, fainting, tachycardia, diarrhea, hallucinations.

When the first symptoms appear, especially if they follow the ingestion of freshly picked and eaten herbs, it is therefore essential to go to the emergency room immediately, taking the freshly consumed herb with you. In this way the doctor will be able to immediately understand what he is dealing with and proceed in the best possible way to implement all possible life-saving treatments.
In the absence of a hospital, poison control centers can also be a point of reference to turn to. What matters is to act promptly and for the sole purpose of saving one's life.

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