Well, let me tell ya, if you ever see a plant called white snakeroot, best you leave it alone. This little weed might look harmless with its small, white flowers, but it’s got some nasty stuff inside it. Folks don’t know sometimes, but if ya touch white snakeroot and then get it on your face or near your mouth, that’s when trouble can start.
So, what happens if you touch white snakeroot? Well, let’s break it down simple.
1. White Snakeroot Got Poison in It
This plant ain’t your regular ol’ backyard weed. Inside, it has a poison called tremetol. Now, touching it with your hands might not be so bad right off, but if that stuff gets in your mouth or if you got any cuts or scrapes, then it might get into your body. Back in the day, people even called it the “milk sickness plant” because cows would eat it, and then folks drinking that milk would get real sick. It was deadly, I tell ya, especially for the old settlers who didn’t know what they were dealing with.
2. Touching It Can Still Cause Some Skin Trouble
Now, folks say touching white snakeroot won’t give ya as much poison as if you eat it, but it can still cause some skin problems. You might feel itchy or see some red spots where you touched it, and some people’s skin is more sensitive than others. But here’s the trick: don’t rub your eyes, and don’t go touching your mouth after handling it. Wash your hands good with soap and water if you even think you touched it.
3. Symptoms to Watch Out For
If, by some chance, the poison gets inside your body – whether from milk or somehow getting into your mouth – you’d start feeling all sorts of bad. Here’s what to look out for:
- Weakness, like you don’t got the strength to move
- Muscle shaking or spasms
- Throwing up or nausea
- Constipation – yep, hard to get things moving
- Feeling super thirsty
- Confused or outta your mind
- In real bad cases, it can even put ya in a coma
It’s scary stuff, that’s for sure, and it’s why folks say to stay away from it, especially if you got animals around like cows or goats. If they eat it, their milk can carry that poison right to you.
4. Why It’s Called “Snakeroot”
Now, this plant’s got a funny name – white snakeroot. Way back when, people thought it was good for treating snake bites, believe it or not. They’d make a poultice from the root and slap it on the wound, thinking it’d help. Some folks even thought burning the leaves and breathing in the smoke could help with fainting! Of course, we know now it’s more dangerous than helpful, so ya won’t catch anyone using it like that today.
5. How to Spot White Snakeroot So Ya Don’t Touch It
White snakeroot grows about one to three feet tall, has small, white flowers in little bunches, and kinda dark green leaves. It usually pops up along the edge of woods or in shaded areas where the sun ain’t too strong. If you’re out and about, best to avoid any small, white-flowered plants unless you know for sure what it is. Better safe than sorry, right?
6. Final Words of Caution
If ya think you or someone else touched white snakeroot and feels off, it’s best to see a doctor, just in case. And remember, if you got animals, make sure they ain’t grazing where this stuff grows. Better to stay away from it altogether so ya don’t have any troubles.
So there you go, all ya need to know about white snakeroot. Keep an eye out, don’t touch it, and especially don’t go putting your hands near your mouth if you think you did. This little plant may look innocent, but it’s got a mean bite hidden in it, just waiting to cause problems.
Tags：[white snakeroot, toxic plants, plant safety, poisonous plants, tremetol, plant identification, milk sickness]
