Bear's garlic or wild garlic: how to avoid poisoning from greens

Greens and herbs

Bear's garlic, wild garlic, bear's onion, and kolba are all names for the same plant in the Amaryllis family, a subfamily and genus of onion. It is native to the European part of Eurasia. Its medicinal properties were recognized by ancient Greek healers. The bulbs are dug up in the fall, and young wild garlic is harvested in early spring.

Formed nodules are difficult to confuse with other inedible roots, but the leaves of the beneficial wild garlic and the poisonous lily-of-the-valley and hellebore are similar. To avoid poisoning, it's important to know the key differences.

The benefits and harms of bear grass

The tender sprouts are harvested to restore the body's vitamin and mineral reserves. Wild garlic contains:

glycosides - antibacterial, antifungal and antiparasitic action
retinol - restores visual functions, improves the quality of skin, hair and nails;
ascorbic acid - responsible for immunity;
B vitamins - normalize the functioning of the nervous system;
phytoncides are substances with antioxidant action;
lysozyme (muramidase) - inhibits the growth of pathogenic bacteria;
Essential oils - accelerate metabolic processes and normalize breathing.

Note!

Bear grass is valued for its ability to increase appetite, reduce the load on the digestive tract by normalizing the functioning of the pancreas, and for its anthelmintic effect.

Those with a history of chronic gastritis, pancreatitis, peptic ulcers, or cholecystitis should avoid spring greens. Avoid overindulging in salads during pregnancy and lactation, as their effects on the developing body of the unborn and existing baby are unknown. If chronic conditions worsen after consuming the salad, symptoms resembling those of intoxication may occur.

Differences between wild garlic and poisonous plants

The chances of poisoning from meadow greens are much lower in the fall—at that time, people dig up the bulbs, which are not found on poisonous plants. However, in the spring, doctors often have to treat victims who accidentally confused similar leaves.

The main characteristic of wild garlic is its distinct garlicky aroma. It's faint when the plant is still growing, but if you rub a leaf in your hand, the scent intensifies. After rain, it's difficult to distinguish the two scents, especially if you're not a gifted taster. Therefore, it's best to memorize the differences.

Differences between bear grass and poisonous plants:

Plant parts	Wild garlic	Hellebore and lily of the valley
Leaves	smooth, tender	corrugated dense
Root zone	with a reddish tint	light, whitish in hellebore and dark green in lily of the valley
Direction of growth	the grown leaves grow upwards	"Mature" hellebore forms a head, and lily of the valley forms a rosette
Leaf shape	elongated, lanceolate	wide, teardrop-shaped, elliptical

Attention!

Young shoots are the most recognizable. Wild garlic and poisonous plants produce two leaves, and until they become stronger, it's difficult to discern the corrugations and stripes. You should use the smell as a guide.

Signs of poisoning and methods of providing first aid

Symptoms of intoxication appear within 15 minutes of exposure in children and 40-60 minutes in adults. Victims experience a burning sensation in the mouth and throat, thirst, nausea, weakness, dizziness, abdominal cramps, and colic. Increased sweating, salivation, and vomiting occur.

First aid for accidental poisoning with plant poisons

If the victim is conscious, irrigate the stomach with warm water, inducing vomiting until the fluid is free of food debris. An absorbent should be taken, such as activated charcoal, Enterosgel, Atoxil, or Polysorb.

If the patient is unconscious, they are placed on their side to prevent choking on vomit, and fluid and sorbent are administered through a tube—for example, an IV tube into which fluid is pumped using a syringe without a needle.

Further detoxification procedures are performed in a hospital setting. Even if the victim's condition has improved, hospitalization is necessary. Complications may develop.