Is Yarrow Poisonous? Many people ask themselves this question when they themselves, children or pets have come into contact with it or have even swallowed parts of plants. That makes perfect sense, because the Achillea - as the yarrow is called in botanical jargon - has doubles that can lead to confusion. Interested parties can find out what to look out for and when to be careful here.
Toxic or Non-Toxic?
There is no single type of yarrow, this is just an umbrella term for plants that are very similar and closely related to one another. However, all members of the Achillea group are not poisonous. This applies to every part of the plant. Roots as well as stems, leaves and flowers can be touched and consumed without hesitation.
In herbal medicine, the representatives of the Achillea group are even used as medicinal herbs, as they are said to have various positive properties. However, this also calls for greater caution because there are
Recognize yarrow
The representatives of the yarrow have the following characteristics, by which they can be recognized relatively easily:
- depending on the species, it reaches heights of 30 centimeters up to one meter
- the stems are slightly thickened and rigid, as well as hairy
- the small flowers sit on branched shoots and are white, yellow or light pink
- the leaves are pinnate
Tip: In order to avoid confusion with other plants, it makes sense to take photos with clearly visible details of the plants to collect. Alternatively, you can plant the plant yourself. In any case, this is easier to use, as there is no need to reckon with soiling or pollution from chemicals or exhaust gases.
Caution: mix-up
There are two plants that look very similar to Achillea and therefore a risk of confusion
represent. On the one hand, there is the spotted hemlock (Conium maculatum) and on the other hand about the giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum).Spotted hemlock
The spotted hemlock is poisonous and can be recognized by the fact that it has reddish spots on its stems and gives off an unpleasant odor when touched. The smell is reminiscent of animal urine or ammonia. In addition, with a height of up to two meters, the plant is significantly larger than the medicinal herb. Young plants are still very similar to the medicinal plant.
Only when the spotted hemlock is fully grown does the size represent a sure differentiator. In the event of accidental exposure, the following complaints can arise:
- Difficulty breathing up to and including respiratory arrest
- Discomfort when swallowing
- burning sensation on the lining of the mouth
- cramps
- Paralysis and paralysis of the nerves
- Muscle weakness
The plant contains toxins in all parts and is dangerous for pets such as horses, cats, dogs, rabbits and guinea pigs, as well as for humans. In a fully grown horse, a consumption of three kilograms of the plant is enough to create life-threatening conditions or even lead directly to death.
The dangerous amount of spotted hemlock for smaller animals, people and especially smaller children is correspondingly low. Therefore, when collecting, one must pay close attention to the differences.
Giant hogweed
Of the
Giant hogweed can also lead to symptoms of poisoning similar to those of the spotted hemlock. However, the mere touch can cause irritation and burn-like wounds. These are particularly pronounced in children and very sensitive people and can be aggravated if they are exposed to UV light. In addition, they can show on the skin for weeks and are accompanied by the following complaints and symptoms:- blow
- Pustules
- Redness
- pains
- Swelling
The giant hogweed is an optical doppelganger of the yarrow family and can be distinguished from it almost exclusively by its leaves. In comparison, however, they also have significantly larger and particularly spreading inflorescences. Since the plants cause pain and discomfort just by touching them, the resulting wounds usually show up problematic and animals such as dogs, cats and horses learn relatively quickly to get away from the giant hogweed because of the pain keep away.
However, greater attention should be paid to this in heavily frequented areas of the garden or on horse pastures ensure that neither children nor animals come into contact with the vegetation while playing or eating can.
Note: Gloves should be worn when removing the giant hogweed, due to the possible damage caused by mere touch. In addition, it is important not to dispose of the plants within the reach of children or animals in order to avoid contact and ingestion.
