Squill

Sea Onion: A Poisonous Plant with Many Uses

Sea onion, also known as mouse onion, is a perennial herbaceous plant native to the Mediterranean and also found in South Africa, Pakistan, India and America. It gets its name from its bulb, which is used in pharmaceutical medicine. Despite the fact that sea onions contain toxic substances, they are used in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and the fight against rats.

Sea onions belong to the hyacinth (formerly lily) family. Its popular name “mouse onion” is explained not only by the similarity of the bulb to a mouse head, but also by the fact that this plant attracts mice with its smell. The leaves of the sea onion are fleshy and collected in a rosette, and the peduncles reach a height of up to 1.5 meters and are decorated with inflorescences of small flowers on peduncles.

Sea onions contain several toxic substances, including scillarene and a mixture of various glycosides, which have cardiac effects similar to those of digitalis. Preparations made from sea onions can help with circulatory failure and other cardiovascular diseases.

However, it is worth noting that sea onion is a very poisonous plant. If used incorrectly or exceeding the recommended dose, it can cause serious poisoning. Therefore, the use of sea onion for medicinal purposes should only be done under the supervision of a physician.

In addition, preparations for fighting rats are also prepared from sea onions. Due to this, sea onions can be used as a pesticide. However, it is worth remembering that these products can also have harmful effects on humans and animals, so they should be used with caution and all precautions should be taken.

In conclusion, sea onion is a poisonous plant with many uses. Be careful when using it and be sure to consult your doctor before starting treatment. If you want to use scallions as a pesticide, follow the label directions and use with caution.