Just about everyone has heard of strychnine. It’s what I would call one of the “Classical Poisons”, in the same company as arsenic, cyanide, aconitine (Wolfsbane), coniine (Hemlock), and a few others. But if I had to choose a word to describe strychnine, I would call it “romantic.” I’m sure you’re scratching your head on … Continue reading
Mexican prickly poppy, Argemone mexicana, is, oddly enough, prickly. It is native to Mexico and parts of the American Southwest, but has also found homes throughout the world, particularly India. I’ll get straight to the point: it’s a weed. I’ve seen them in New Mexico, and it seems to thrive in dry, barren soil in ditches and … Continue reading
So the vile and young King Joffrey Baratheon finally met his demise. And for most fans of the exceedingly popular HBO series “Game of Thrones” it was a joyous event. I think he’s just misunderstood . . . the poor lad. So how did he die? By poison of course, probably in his wine or food. … Continue reading
In the toxicology world, and especially when poisons are involved, Spanish born Mathieu Joseph Bonaventure Orfila is the man. He is essentially the Godfather of toxicology, and its medicolegal component, and started us on the path towards detecting poisons in biological specimens. And in the early 1800’s he wrote several important books on identifying and treating … Continue reading
I find it cool when a poison has a literal killer history, yet finds use in hospitals around the world as a valuable medicine. That’s the story of physostigmine, an alkaloid found in Physostigma venenosum, the Calabar bean, and where we will start this tale. The Calabar bean is no doubt named for the area in which it was … Continue reading
Is it possible to have a poison that’s not a poison unless there is another poison around? Ya sure, ya betcha. Enter Coprinopsis atramentaria, otherwise known as the ink, or inky, cap mushroom. The ink cap mushroom is found primarily in the northern hemisphere, and grows in fields during the spring and fall. It gets its name, ink … Continue reading
Mushrooms can kill. Make no mistake about that, and do not allow others to tell you otherwise. Even those that are experienced and wise can make a mistake that alters their life, and the lives around them, forever. Such is the case of Nicholas Evans, author of the bestseller “Horse Whisperer.” While visiting family in … Continue reading
Welcome to Mushroom Week on Nature’s Poisons, where I’ll highlight two poisonous mushrooms, one that severely sickens and one that can kill. Check back on Tuesday and Thursday for the history, chemistry and science of these two fungi. I plan on covering more poisonous mushrooms over time, so be patient, but if there’s one you’re … Continue reading
Spring is here, and that means one thing: poison ivy. Okay, that’s a bit melodramatic, as spring also kills off winter, brings my garden alive, and reminds us that summer is around the corner. But I happen to have horrid reactions to poison ivy – as well as insects. And besides passing on my genes of … Continue reading
With apologies to the 1979 cult classic “Attack of the Killer Tomatoes”, green potatoes are the real killer. Maybe killer is too strong a word. How about poisonous? Most of us have heard that green potatoes can make you sick, but is there any truth to this, or is it just a myth? The answer … Continue reading
Nature's Poisons 