Selected synonyms:Ageratina conspicua — synonym of Ageratina grandifolia Ageratina dendroides — synonym of Raulinoreitzia crenulata Toxicity Milk from cows that have eaten snakeroot can cause illness if ingested because the milk becomes toxic. Symptoms of milk sickness include vomiting. Medicinal Use Ageratina pichinchensis'' is a traditional Mexican treatment for superficial fungal infections of the skin. These plant extracts contain encecalin which has activity to inhibit and kill the fungus. Studies have compared its effectiveness in treating toenail fungus with ciclopirox. Long used in India to treat snakebite, epilepsy, mental disorders. It was also discovered to be useful in regulating hypertension discovered in 1949, but it causes various side effects. Used to treat schizophrenia due to the alkaloid reserpine it contains. There are many indigenous cultures that have used snakeroot for its ability to grow hair on the surface of the nose and tongue. One such use of snakeroot for this purpose comes from the practices of external alchemy as practiced in Daoism, because hair grown on the nose and tongue by the use of snakeroot is considered a place for one to absorb energy into the body from one's surroundings. Native Americans, Indigenous Siberians, and Indigenous tribes in Africa have also used snakeroot for these purposes. References External links Asteraceae genera