In the territory of Russia about 15 species of cow-parsnip, or Heracleum grow, and in the world nearly 70 species of this plant are known. The greatest danger is constituted by cow-parsnip of Heracleum sosnowskiy which occupies more and more territories recently.
The cow-parsnip - very beautiful and large plant, in the morning in its wide carved leaves gathers very many dew. But it is impossible to touch this grass at all, otherwise it is possible to get burn of the second degree. Each species of cow-parsnip contains coumarins, but their concentration is very various therefore there are plants almost not constituting danger.
Sosnovsky's cow-parsnip very hardy, it is resistant to various toxic chemicals and frosts. This plant emits hazardous substances which do it dangerous in the atmosphere. Such essential oils and coumarins can cause burns if to touch plant. In more hard cases these substances make headache, sick, vomiting and loss of consciousness.
The cow-parsnip from the middle of July and until the end of August is most dangerous - during blossoming. The negative impact of plant is shown not at once, and after a while. Juice of this grass which at hit on skin does it sensitive to sunlight is also dangerous, blisters and burns appear. Even after treatment and washout of juice from the surface of skin the danger to be traumatized remains several days. Essential oils of cow-parsnip are very dangerous to the people suffering from hypersensitivity. This substance is especially harmful to those for whom it is allergen. In this case at the person the throat strongly swells. If quickly not to help the victim, he will choke. To prevent negative impact of cow-parsnip, at hit of juice on skin it is necessary to isolate this site from sunshine not less than for two days. Carefully wash the affected skin with water with soap and wipe with alcohol. Instead of alcohol it is possible to take solution of potassium permanganate or solution of Furacilin. Sea-buckthorn can oil already formed burn. If juice has got not on skin, and on mucous membrane, as soon as possible it is necessary to see doctor. Reaction to allocations of cow-parsnip is very individual, but the most sharply negative impact is shown at people with light skin. Other species of this plant are less poisonous, but externally practically do not differ from Sosnovsky's cow-parsnip therefore it is necessary to avoid all grades of this grass.