Formerly used as a medicinal plant, poisonous ragwort is becoming a nuisance, especially for grazing animals, as it continues to spread. Therefore, many areas have moved to prevent further spread.
Occurrence and cultivation of Jacob’s vervain.
Jacob’s-grass is very poisonous and in some cases, because it has spread excessively, it already needs to be controlled, especially, especially in pastures where there are animals. The ragwort (Senecio jacobaea), often called ragwort, belongs to the genus of ragworts in the family of composite plants. The perennial plant is about 30 to 120 cm high and grows mainly in sparse forests, meadows and pastures, on rubble and roadsides in Europe and Asia. The name Jacob’s-grass is derived from the flowering at the time of Jacob’s Day (July 25) and the white pubescence that appears after flowering. In the spring, Jacob’s-greyweed first sprouts leaves, a rosette of feathery leaves near the ground. During the flowering period between June and October, bright yellow, pinnate flowers with a diameter of 15 to 25 mm are formed, from which seeds later develop. The Jacob’s-grass is very poisonous and in some cases, because it has spread excessively, it must already be combated, especially, especially in pastures where there are animals, the plant becomes a health problem for the animals.
Effect and application
In ancient times, Jacob’s-grass enjoyed great popularity as a medicinal plant, especially the parts of the plant were used above ground during flowering. Because the pyrrolizidine alkaloids contained in the plant parts have a toxic effect, medicinal use is rather discouraged. The alkaloids can cause irreparable liver damage, harm embryos, alter genetic material, and cause cancer. All parts of the plant contain the toxic substances, but the highest proportion is found in the flower parts. The main toxins are jacobin and senecionin, as scientists have demonstrated in the milk of grazing cattle. Also in honey or in cereals already partly seeds of the Jacob’s-grass could be proven. Characteristic signs of poisoning that can occur when Jacob’s-greyweed is used are gastrointestinal problems, cramps, coordination difficulties, weight loss, clouding of consciousness, sensitivity to light (photosensitivity), and severe liver damage that can lead to death in animals. Horses are particularly sensitive. In humans, poisoning rarely occurs, at most when tea mixtures that are frequently consumed are contaminated. Then symptoms such as fatigue, loss of appetite, hair loss and the like may occur. In addition, contact with the plant can cause contact allergies. In ancient times, Jacob’s-greywort was used for love potions, and in the Middle Ages, people hung it as an amulet to protect themselves from enchantments. Witches were said to tie the plants into bundles to be able to fly with their help. Leaves and flowers were sometimes used as dyes for yellow and green color. Today, Jacob’s-grey herb, if used medicinally at all, is used as a tea, fresh juice, poultice, or used in homeopathy as a mother tincture or in low potencies. Due to the recommendation of the Federal Health Office in the 1990s not to take the plant because of its toxic effects, its importance as a medicinal plant has declined.
Importance for health, treatment and prevention.
Until the 1990s, St. James’s verbena was used as a versatile medicinal plant, in folk medicine especially for urinary urgency, painful menstruation (dysmenorrhea) and rheumatic complaints. A poultice of freshly pressed leaves helps with neuralgia, sciatica, joint pain, skin inflammation and skin diseases. It also played a great role in nosebleeds and menstrual cramps. Prepared as a fresh juice, ragwort helps to relieve swelling and pain. In homeopathy, a mother tincture is prepared from the plant and in low potencies it is used for various eye diseases. However, experts strongly advise against long-term internal use due to the toxic effect, because the toxic alkaloids can cause permanent liver damage.Our ancestors probably would not have understood this scaremongering, because they appreciated the ragwort as an effective medicinal plant. The plant was used in many different ways. Aqueous infusions and extracts made from the herb were particularly popular. They were used as gargles against sore throat, sore throat and tonsillitis, fever and diarrhea, flu-like infections, nosebleeds and asthma. Our ancestors were obviously not deterred by the poisonous effect, apparently coped with it. Even Paracelsus (1493 – 1543) knew that the dose alone makes the poison. Today, scientists know from laboratory tests that it is actually not the poisonous alkaloids of the ragwort that are the problem, but their degradation products that are harmful to the liver. In the animal kingdom, nature has made many provisions for possible victims of the plant. Insects, for example, are immune, the caterpillars of the butterfly species “ragwort bear” even need the leaves as food, and many other animal species such as hare, deer or animals on pasture are largely protected because the leaves are pungent and have an unpleasant taste. Experts therefore generally warn against too much scaremongering, which overshoots the mark. For species that are at risk, it helps to remove the plant from pastures as a preventative measure, or if a pasture is overrun with ragwort, not to allow animals to graze there. If the plants are removed, they should be burned if possible because they can still continue to reproduce when dried.
