Hemlock water dropwort

Violent convulsions with trismus, rolling of the eyeballs, and rigid jaw, historically approached only with the specific medicine in drop doses under close medical supervision.

Chorea with restless involuntary jerking movements, a use recorded by nineteenth century eclectic physicians who insisted on minute dilution because of the plant's narrow margin of safety.

Overview. Oenanthe crocata, hemlock water dropwort, is a robust umbellifer of wet ditches, riverbanks, and marshy ground across western Europe and the British Isles. Its tuberous, parsnip-like roots and celery-like foliage have made it one of the most dangerous plants for accidental poisoning in humans and grazing livestock. Nineteenth century eclectic physicians in America prepared a highly diluted specific medicine from the plant for certain nervous disorders, but they were emphatic that only minute drop doses could be used safely, and the plant otherwise has no place in modern herbal practice.

Clinical Notes. This plant essentially has no legitimate role in contemporary practice. The historical eclectic literature describes a specific medicine given in doses of a few drops in several ounces of water for chorea, epilepsy, and convulsive nervous conditions, with explicit warnings that fluid extracts or ordinary tinctures were too unpredictable in strength to use safely.

Action and Therapy. Small doses of oenanthe (5 drops of the specific medicine) may cause violent headache, dizziness, delirium, and other unpleasant symptoms. The fresh plant produces gastro-enteritis and convulsions, often with fatal results. It has been advocated for use in epilepsy, but its exact symptomatology has never been satisfactorily determined. It must be used in fractional doses, never to exceed 1/2 minim. It probably acts best when there is anemia of the brain, and has been suggested in maladies resulting from malnutrition and anemia of the cerebrum and cord.

Therapy. The agent acquired a reputation in the treatment of epilepsy. It has cured a few violent cases and very many cases of petit mal. Fisk reported five cases cured, and other trustworthy investigators have had similar results.