In various sources, one can often find the opinion that the hogweed, or "heracle grass" is a poisonous plant. However, this is not quite true. Indeed, some of its species are not edible and dangerous when in contact with human skin, but most species can be used as an ornamental plant, as well as animal feed. Some species can be eaten by humans, as well as make healing agents out of them. We invite you to get to know hogweed, learn how it looks, what is dangerous and what useful properties it has.
Botanical description and habitat
Hogweed (Latin Heracleum) belongs to the family of Umbrella. This plant is a genus of biennial or perennial herbaceous plants, numbering about 70 species. 
The most famous among them are Siberian, ordinary, Sosnovsky, shaggy, narrow-leaved, Persian and others.
You can meet a plant most often in the mountainous areas of the Eastern hemisphere, as well as in central Russia, in the Urals, and in the Caucasus. Forest edges, banks of rivers and streams - these are the places where hogweed usually grows.
Did you know? Due to the fact that certain species of hogweed are gigantic in size and grow very quickly, it was nicknamed in honor of the hero from the myths of ancient Greece Hercules - Heracleum.We describe how the hogweed looks. The plant has a hairy stem with edges, the height of which varies from 20 cm to 2.5 m. Large leaves come out of the rosette. They are pinnate, consist of three to seven oval leaves.
Flowering plants occurs in June and July. At this time, inflorescences appear in the form of umbrellas of 40 cm in diameter from small white or pink flowers. They have a pleasant, slightly noticeable smell. After ottsvetaniya appear fruit - visloplodnik. Seeds ripen in August and September and get enough sleep. 
The collection of young leaves for salads, stems for borscht and mashed potatoes are produced at the moment when the inflorescences appear. A decoction of cow parsnip looks like chicken broth in its taste, and the leaves are similar to carrot flavor.
Due to the sweet taste of rhizome, hogweed can replace root crops.
To poisonous plants also include Durishnik, Chernokorolenka medicinal, Euphorbia cypress, fossil cupola, aconite wolf, volcheyodnik, European bathing suit, autumn crocus, dodder.
Chemical composition
In order to find out, poisonous hogweed or not, we suggest you to familiarize yourself with its chemical composition.
Hogweed contains:
- sugar - up to 10%;
- vegetable protein - up to 16%;
- ascorbic acid;
- carotene;
- essential oil;
- tannins;
- nickel;
- iron;
- copper;
- manganese;
- titanium;
- boron;
- amino acids;
- coumarins.
Different types of Hogweed have different nutritional properties. Some of them may have a negative effect on the human body. For example, the furanocoumarins that are part of the Hogweed Sosnowski, can cause severe burns when touched with the skin.Did you know? In ancient times, hogweed was simply called "borsch". Its name is mentioned in documents dating back to the 17th century. Apparently, the grass was so called because of the shape of the leaves, because in those days "borsch" called something having teeth.
Medicinal properties
Hogweed has a number of useful properties, including:
- anti-inflammatory;
- antispasmodic;
- antipruritic;
- pain killer;
- wound healing;
- sedative;
- anticonvulsant;
- astringent;
- choleretic
Application
Different types of Hogweed are used as ornamental plants, used in cooking, as well as for the preparation of medicines in traditional medicine.
In medicine
The long-standing practice of folk healing has adopted several medical recipes that can alleviate skin diseases, rheumatic pains, diseases of the nervous system, problems with the kidneys, gall bladder and liver.
Means based on Hogweed well help with disorders of the digestive tract, eliminate stomach and intestinal disorders, improve appetite.
It has been proven useful in the treatment of asthma. Heracles grass is also used as an aid for diseases of the genitourinary system, both in men and women. 
Sometimes drugs made from Hogweed are recommended for disinfecting the throat for sore throat, stomatitis, gingivitis and other diseases of the oral mucosa.
In traditional medicine, only one type of hogweed is recognized as a homeopathic plant - ordinary. In folk medicine, they also use the Siberian hogweed, dissected, Sosnowski.
In cooking
Is it possible to eat a hogweed, we have already figured out. Now we give information where it is used in cooking.
Previously, "Herb Herb" was actively used to prepare various dishes, in particular, borsch was prepared from the roots.
Today, except for borscht, salads, soups, pies are made from the stalks and young shoots. Grass salt, pickled, used as a seasoning. Young scapes have a sweet taste, so jam and jam are also made from them. 
Rhizome is boiled in soups, stewed in stew, added as seasoning. Milled dried root make flour for bread and pastries.
Such types of hogweed as dissected, Siberian, and shaggy have found use in cooking. The Persian Hogweed is popular as a seasoning in the East, which is seasoned with salads, first courses, as well as dishes from potatoes and legumes.
Recipes of traditional medicine
- When violations of the digestive tract. It is necessary to prepare an infusion of 30 g of dried plants, 400 ml of boiling water. Mix, withstand 1.5 hours. Infusion skip through gauze to filter. Drink 50 ml 15 minutes before eating.
- With gallstone disease. It is necessary to cook a decoction of 15 g of finely chopped roots, cups of boiling water. Mixed ingredients boil 10 min. After that, we endure the same time and drink 20 ml 3 times a day.
- With the breakdown of sexual functions. Prepare a decoction of 70 g of root, a liter of water. The mixture must be boiled for 10 minutes, then insisted for 10 minutes. For the day to take inside the whole broth.
- To relieve toothache. One teaspoon of chopped root is poured with a glass of 90% alcohol. After four to five hours, it is recommended to use for rinsing a sick tooth.
- With neurosis and convulsions. It is necessary to prepare a decoction of 20 g of finely chopped roots and 250 ml of water. We put the mixture on the fire and boil until a third of the liquid evaporates. Then skip the broth through cheesecloth. Drink 20 ml four to six times a day.
- With rheumatism. Fresh leaves pour boiling water. Wrap a bandage or cloth and apply to the sore spot to relieve pain.
- With skin diseases. Prepare the infusion of 50 g of dry grass, 400 ml of water. Mixed ingredients withstand 2.5 hours. Infusion skip through cheesecloth. Drink before meals two tablespoons four times a day.
- With furunculosis. Preparing a decoction of 15 g of seeds and a glass of water. Boil for 15 minutes, cool for 1 hour, filter. Drink before meals two tablespoons four times a day.
Important! Folk remedies can only be used as an additional therapy. If you are going to take decoctions and tinctures, then you should first consult with your doctor..
Preparation of medical raw materials
Above-ground parts and roots are used for therapeutic purposes. The leaves and stems are cut in the flowering phase. Then they are well dried. Plant five to six stems tied in bunches and tied up under a canopy, in a well-ventilated place, where the sun's rays do not fall.
Yucca, Scorzonera, kupena, maple, bitter wormwood, Kalanchoe Degremona, Jerusalem artichoke, fragrantus are also healing properties.It is important not to dry the grass - it should not crumble into dust.
The roots are dug up in the fall when leaves and stalks die. Then they are cleared of the earth and washed. Clean the roots cut into pieces and dried.
They can be laid out in a horizontal position in a single layer on a sieve, tray, baking sheet and placed in a shady place on the street or in a room with good access to air. 
Contraindications and harm
Hogweed can bring not only benefits but also harm. The main danger that this plant conceals in itself for a person when in contact with it is a burn. Burns can occur so strong and not soon to heal, that the victim will not forget the meeting with this plant for a long time.
There are cases when the burns were so dangerous and extensive that young children died from them. Especially dangerous is contact with grass in hot weather.
Dermatitis, which causes "Hercules grass" on human skin when it comes into contact with its juice, appears first with a blister, then it turns into a dark spot. Healing comes after three to six months.
Also, certain types of plants can provoke allergies in humans when inhalation of pollen, just from the smell or if it gets juice inside. This condition may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, dizziness and headaches. When it comes into eyes, a hogweed can cause blindness. 
To protect yourself from the harmful effects of grass, you must not walk near its thickets with open areas of the body, do not take parts of it in your hands, do not inhale the smell.
Contraindications to the use of hogweed based drugs are individual intolerance, allergies, hemorrhoids, gastritis. You can not take them to pregnant women, children, nursing mothers.
First aid
In case of contact with hogweed juice on the skin, the affected area should be washed as soon as possible with water and also washed with soap. The following washing should be performed with an alcohol-containing substance or with a solution of potassium permanganate. It is also useful to process the drug "Panthenol", furatsilina.
Important! After contact with hogweed juice on human skin and treatment of the lesion site, it is necessary to refrain from going outside for 48 hours to avoid exposure to sunlight..If the burn did occur, then it should be treated with synthomycin ointment or usinate sodium on fir balsam. It is not necessary to apply dressings.
To avoid the appearance of edema and allergies, it is necessary to take an antihistamine.If juice or pollen gets inside, in case of severe burns, you should seek medical attention.
Hogweed - a useful herbal plant that has found application in decorative culture, cooking, traditional medicine. However, handling it must be careful, because during the growing season it accumulates substances dangerous to humans that can harm the body.
