The Poisoner's Almanac

If you’re struggling, consider therapy with our sponsor. Visit  https://betterhelp.com/almanac for a discount on your first month of therapy. If you have questions about the brand relating to how the therapists are credentialed, their privacy policy, or therapist compensation, here is an overview written by the YouTube creators behind the channel Cinema Therapy that goes into these topics:  https://www.reddit.com/r/cinema_therapy/comments/1dpriql/addressing_the_betterhelp_concerns_headon_deep/  Hey Poison Friends! Last week, we discussed a few vegetables with toxic parts or traits. We also talked about houseplants and a big toxin we went over was oxalic acid. But I want to dive into some flowery poisons. So of course we need to talk about the pretty plants in many flower gardens that are actually poisonous. We discuss various bulb plants like daffodils and tulips, of course, as well as the simple weedy flowers, shrubs and vining plants that are toxic to both humans and animals. Our Greek and Roman mythology fans will love our discussion on daffodils/narcissus, because there are just so many stories concerning it. We also have stories of those who have survived such poisonings (and a few tragic stories as well, unfortunately). Oh, and some how, Audrey Hepburn makes it in this one? Come find out how and also learn what plants not to put in your mouth or allow children or pets around unmonitored. Thank you to all of our listeners and supporters! Please feel free to leave a comment or send us a DM for any questions, suggestions, or just to say, "hi." Support us on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/thepoisonersalmanac⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://patreon.com/thepoisonersalmanac] Follow us on socials: The Poisoner's Almanac on IG- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/poisoners_almanac?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/poisoners_almanac?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==] Adam- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@studiesshow?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@studiesshow?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc] Becca- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@yobec0?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@yobec0?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc]

If you’re struggling, consider therapy with our sponsor. Visit  https://betterhelp.com/almanac for a discount on your first month of therapy. If you have questions about the brand relating to how the therapists are credentialed, their privacy policy, or therapist compensation, here is an overview written by the YouTube creators behind the channel Cinema Therapy that goes into these topics:  https://www.reddit.com/r/cinema_therapy/comments/1dpriql/addressing_the_betterhelp_concerns_headon_deep/  Hello Poison Friends! We need to discuss some poisons found in the garden! My goal was to go into the poisons that can be found in the vegetable garden as well as in the flower garden, but I have to make it two parts because I somehow never realize how long I can talk about stuff! Also, Adam has capped my research at 5,000 words per episode as I struggle with stopping anything. Therefore, we are discussing some poisons that can be found in the vegetable gardens around the world. Rhubarb leaves, solanine in potatoes (at least those not stored properly), Cassava, ginkgo biloba seeds, cashews, and more.  We have some fun (and some more tragic) stories behind each of these as well as the history and folklore of their growth and use. For instance, we need to talk about that time in WWI when the British government encouraged their citizens to eat rhubarb leaves while food was scarce or why it is not okay to munch on houseplants (I hope we all knew that one, but hey, make sure they are out of reach of children or pets if toxic). How about the guy who worked hard to make the potato popular in France? Did you know potatoes were actually once banned there because it was believed they could cause leprosy or plague? Well, obviously they do not, but when green they can make you very sick. Cassava! It is a staple crop in parts of South America and in Africa, but when not processed correctly, it can be deadly as they contain cyanogenic glycosides. So how do so many people eat it? And have there been any recent cases of poisoning from cassava? Unfortunately, yes. Have you ever seen a cashew tree or its fruit? A story from the Philippines gives a fun explanation for why it looks the way it does. Also, before being processed for eating, they are also poisonous, covered with the same substance that causes the itchy reaction when you touch poison ivy. How about a story concerning the six Gingko trees that survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and how their seeds can still cause accidental poisonings today. Also, that Ginkgo leaf extract some people are taking? According to some recent studies, it may not even be helpful. Let’s talk about it! Thank you to all of our listeners and supporters! Please feel free to leave a comment or send us a DM for any questions, suggestions, or just to say, "hi." Support us on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/thepoisonersalmanac⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://patreon.com/thepoisonersalmanac] Follow us on socials: The Poisoner's Almanac on IG- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/poisoners_almanac?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/poisoners_almanac?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==] Adam- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@studiesshow?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@studiesshow?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc] Becca- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@yobec0?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@yobec0?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc]

If you’re struggling, consider therapy with our sponsor. Visit  https://betterhelp.com/almanac for a discount on your first month of therapy. If you have questions about the brand relating to how the therapists are credentialed, their privacy policy, or therapist compensation, here is an overview written by the YouTube creators behind the channel Cinema Therapy that goes into these topics:  https://www.reddit.com/r/cinema_therapy/comments/1dpriql/addressing_the_betterhelp_concerns_headon_deep/  Hello poison friends! I left you with a bit of a riddle last week as to today’s topic and as you can see, we are discussing Rabies! This is an older virus (belonging to the genus of Lyssaviruses—named for the minor Greek goddess of rage and fury, Lyssa). We are focusing on the history, mythology, pathology and signs and symptoms of the disease as well as how the first rabies vaccine was developed back in 1885 and historical cures that were not effective and a little on the weird side. From stories of “Mad Dogs” to the use of “Madstones,” we are taking a walk through history on how rabies has been a formidable and fearsome enemy to humanity and wildlife alike. We will take a look at how the disease spreads and how long it may take for symptoms to show. Hopefully, for you they never do, because once symptoms show, it is nearly 100% fatal. Less than 20 people have survived rabies and we will talk over some of these cases as well. With the proper prophylactic vaccines we have now, even post exposure, it is nearly 100% preventable. We will go over what animals carry it and are affected by it and what to look for there. I will surely rant about not approaching wildlife in general if you are not experienced as a handler or whatever, because rabid or not some animals will not hesitate to defend themselves, their young, or their territory. Also, if you have any sort of encounter with an animal known to carry rabies, it is important to seek prophylactic treatment, bite or no bite. There have been cases of victims being infected without being bit, and you may not even know you have been anyway by some of these animals.  Thank you to all of our listeners and supporters! Please feel free to leave a comment or send us a DM for any questions, suggestions, or just to say, "hi." Support us on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/thepoisonersalmanac⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://patreon.com/thepoisonersalmanac] Follow us on socials: The Poisoner's Almanac on IG- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/poisoners_almanac?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/poisoners_almanac?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==] Adam- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@studiesshow?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@studiesshow?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc] Becca- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@yobec0?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@yobec0?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc]

If you’re struggling, consider therapy with our sponsor. Visit  https://betterhelp.com/almanac for a discount on your first month of therapy. If you have questions about the brand relating to how the therapists are credentialed, their privacy policy, or therapist compensation, here is an overview written by the YouTube creators behind the channel Cinema Therapy that goes into these topics:  https://www.reddit.com/r/cinema_therapy/comments/1dpriql/addressing_the_betterhelp_concerns_headon_deep/  Hello poison friends! This episode has taken some time to get here, and I apologize. We had to re-record everything because things just went crazy. It is our first regular episode that is available on video, after all, and of course there were tech issues we did not foresee. However, here we are and I am excited to bring you an explanation of an illness you may have seen recently in the news, especially in relation to the deaths of the actor Gene Hackman, his wife, and dog. While Gene did have advanced Alzheimer’s disease, his the autopsy of his wife, Betsy Arakawa shows that she died of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome. This is a rare, but potentially deadly, illness spread by the droppings, urine, or saliva of rodents, mainly deer mice here in America. While in other parts of the world such as Europe and Asia, it results in kidney problems and failure, the strain typically found in the Americas causes pulmonary/respiratory distress and higher rates of death as a result. There have been outbreaks of this illness such as that in the 1990s among the Four Corners region of the US, and we go into detail about that as well. So where could Betsy Arakawa have contracted this illness? Let’s discuss and avoid unhealthy assumptions, shall we?  Just FYI, I wanted to discuss more than one zoonotic disease this episode, but Adam has been holding me accountable to not overdoing it. So yeah, we are going to be discussing another virus next week that is more “furious.” It is older and more well known and even has ties with Greek Mythology. Any guesses? Thank you to all of our listeners and supporters! Please feel free to leave a comment or send us a DM for any questions, suggestions, or just to say, "hi." Support us on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/thepoisonersalmanac⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://patreon.com/thepoisonersalmanac] Follow us on socials: The Poisoner's Almanac on IG- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/poisoners_almanac?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/poisoners_almanac?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==] Adam- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@studiesshow?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@studiesshow?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc] Becca- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@yobec0?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc⁠⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@yobec0?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc]

If you’re struggling, consider therapy with our sponsor. Visit  https://betterhelp.com/almanac for a discount on your first month of therapy. If you have questions about the brand relating to how the therapists are credentialed, their privacy policy, or therapist compensation, here is an overview written by the YouTube creators behind the channel Cinema Therapy that goes into these topics:  https://www.reddit.com/r/cinema_therapy/comments/1dpriql/addressing_the_betterhelp_concerns_headon_deep/  Hey poison friends! We are back with another episode on fungi. It has been awhile since we spoke on some of our favorite poisonous mushrooms, but this time I wanted to discuss the subject of molds. Toxic black mold has long been a subject of debate within the medical community concerning just how toxic it can be to humans. Certainly, it affects those with allergies to it, chronic respiratory issues such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, and COPD. It has also been shown to cause pulmonary hemorrhage in infants and in animal studies. So let's discuss how mold grows and how it causes symptoms such as headaches, breathing problems, and confusion for some. We also need to take a look at possible deaths that were related to toxic black mold. We are also discussing invasive fungal infections this episode. No, not that bad case of ringworm or athletes foot, although those are certainly annoying. I mean that which infects the respiratory system or invades through broken skin and spreads around causing havoc in our bodies. There have been millions of deaths every year related to invasive fungal infections, many of which are related to immunosuppression such as with HIV or those on immunosuppressive drugs longterm. There are various fungi that can invade the body, but this time we are focusing on Aspergillus (causing aspergillosis). I could not do another episode on fungi without including some fun ones such as whiskey fungus and radiotrophic fungi. Nor could I leave out the subject of one of the most well known video games/shows these days: The Last of Us. Yep, we are also going in to cordyceps and how it hijacks it hosts, leading them to an unfortunate demise so it can propagate more of the parasitic fungi. I promise to end on a fun note though with the cutest blue mushroom you've ever seen. Thank you to all of our listeners and supporters! Please feel free to leave a comment or send us a DM for any questions, suggestions, or just to say, "hi." Support us on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/thepoisonersalmanac⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://patreon.com/thepoisonersalmanac] Follow us on socials: The Poisoner's Almanac on IG- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/poisoners_almanac?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/poisoners_almanac?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==] Adam- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@studiesshow?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@studiesshow?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc] Becca- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@yobec0?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@yobec0?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc]