section name header

Definition

snakeroot

(snāk'root‵ )

Any of numerous plants once believed to be useful as a remedy for poisonous snakebites.

black s.Black cohosh.

Seneca s.

Variant: senega snakeroot

Senega root.

Virginia s.

SEE: Aristolochia.

white s.A perennial herb (Eupatorium rugosum Houtt) that contains the toxin tremetol and was once thought to be useful as a remedy for snakebites. The tremetol causes trembles in animals and milk sickness in humans.

SEE: milk sickness; trembles; tremetol.