Poisons. Between Life and Death

Paradoxically, poisons have been faithful companions of humanity since ancient times. They are embedded in myths, utilized in the struggle for power, and are essential for both archaic rituals and the medicine of the future. Poisons are a source of both destruction and salvation. Life and death. After all, it’s all determined by the dose.

The book by biologist Elina Stoyanova is a true "round-the-world trip" through the world of poisons: from Chinese medicine and the poisoned arrows of Indian tribes to shamanic potions and the deadly (literally) cosmetics of European beauties. You will learn how the most famous poisons work—curare, aconite, belladonna—get acquainted with the mysteries of "crab's eye," vermilion, and bezoars, and also find out which poisons are used in modern medicine and how.

How does the Western understanding of poisons differ from the Chinese? What is "hemlock," which Socrates was poisoned by, and what made soma—a drink of Indian gods—divine? What plant was called "the ruler of a hundred medicines" in China and used in Greece to poison wolves? How can one neutralize poison to turn it into medicine? Are there poisonous birds? Finally—what can poisons reveal about specific cultures and humanity as a whole?
The world of poisons is vast, complex, and mysterious. It is a story of life and death, light and darkness, which continues to this day. And who knows, perhaps in this story, there are still many unexpected pages that we have yet to turn.