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Thapsia garganica
(Deadly carrot)
Thapsia garganica L. Apiaceae
Botanical info:
Deadly carrot is an herbaceous perennial, growing 50 to 200 cm tall. The generic name Thapsia is derived from the Ancient Greek θαψία as it was believed to originate from the island of Thapsos in Sicily. The resin in the sap can cause skin irritation. It grows naturally in rocky places, cultivated and abandoned fields. Its native to the northeast and southwest Mediterranean. Flowering from July to August.
Hippocratic legacy:
a. In Diseases 3 deadly carrot sap is administrated:
a. As an emetic.
b. As expectorant.
b. In Internal Affections the sap:
a. Is recommended as laxative, in enema application.
c. In Diseases of Women 1 the sap:
a. Is also recommended as laxative.
b. As children expectorant.
d. In Diseases of Women 2:
a. Deadly carrot root is suggested as a laxative.
Other uses:
The root is diuretic, emetic, and purgative. A resin is extracted with alcohol from the bark of the root. The plant has been considered specific in treating pain, though caution is advised since it is poisonous to some mammals. The plant is also strongly rubefacient, producing blisters and intense itching. The chemical compound thapsigargin has been isolated from the deadly carrot, which is evaluated for its antiviral and anticancer properties.