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
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
Ackee is a tropical fruit native to West Africa, where it is known as akye, but it is legendary in Jamaica. Brought to the Caribbeans in the 18th century, it is the National Fruit of Jamaica and one half of Jamaica’s signature dish, ackee and saltfish. Ackee is a member of the Sapindaceae family, an extensive … Continue reading
In search of a psychedelic high, some teenager, somewhere, will turn to nutmeg. Yes, that aromatic spice used in pumpkin pie and eggnog can take you for a trip. And people have been trippin’ on nutmeg for centuries. Nutmeg dates back to Indonesia and the “Spice Islands” near the turn of the 16th century. Then, … Continue reading
What if I told you that there was a natural compound, present in the bark and roots of a tree, that reduces or eliminates the addiction, craving, and withdrawal of drugs like heroin? What if I then told you that you couldn’t have it? That’s the story of ibogaine, an alkaloid found in the small … Continue reading
I am a product of the ’80s. I also grew up along the water in the Puget Sound area of Washington state. And during that time there were two words that caused worry and fear in children and adults alike. Red Tide. My family, excluding myself, loved eating clams and mussels. I just enjoyed harvesting … Continue reading
Wormwood, and its chemicals and concoctions, has an interesting history, and it’s difficult to know where to start. And whenever I’m in doubt, I start at the beginning, despite what my favorite author says (see rule 5). The plant genus Artemisia houses over 300 species, and includes the common sagebrush, as well as the cool sounding mugwort and … Continue reading
Queen of Poisons. Where do you go from there? And names like that aren’t usually given away, you have to earn them. So how exactly did aconitine receive this highest honor? By being a bad ass, of course. The genus Aconitum is comprised of over 200 species of flowering plants, and grow in damp and part-shade areas … Continue reading
Homepage featured image of Colchicum autumnale by ukgardenphotos (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) Colchicum autumnale, the autumn crocus, the meadow saffron. I am neither a botanist, nor a taxonomist, so when something is called a crocus I naturally assume it is, well, a crocus. Silly me. They aren’t even in the same family, let alone order. They … Continue reading
On every street corner in America there resides a Starbucks. On the counter of every gas station there lives an energy drink display. In every pharmacy there is a No-Doz section. Mountain Dew by the caseload in gamers’ basements. Coke and Pepsi in a cage match. What’s the common denominator here? Caffeine. And lots of … Continue reading
One of Nature’s most intriguing poisons, to me at least, is scopolamine. Where else can you find a natural product with such a colorful history? Scopolamine has its roots in witchcraft, zombies, crime, murder, and a top-secret CIA program. Seriously, how can one not love this stuff? If any drug could be called evil, this … Continue reading
Nature's Poisons 