This list covers 17 poisons, from “Warfarin” to “Wasp Venom,” drawn from plants, chemicals, and venomous creatures found around the world. Some are used as pesticides or industrial solvents, others exist naturally in flowers, roots, and berries, and a few come from the stings and bites of animals defending themselves. Despite their differences, each one can cause serious harm to the human body in the wrong dose or exposure.

Poisons are substances that disrupt or damage the body’s normal functions when they enter it, whether through ingestion, contact, or a bite. Some, like warfarin, have a dual identity: the same chemical that kills rodents is used in tiny, controlled doses to treat blood clots in people. Others, like white arsenic, carry a dark history as a favored tool in poisonings centuries ago.

Below you’ll find the table with the poison, source, effects, antidote, and description for each entry.

Poison: the common name of each substance, so you can quickly find the one you’re looking for.

Source: where the poison comes from, whether it’s a plant, animal, mineral, or manufactured chemical.

Effects: the symptoms and health problems the poison typically causes after exposure.

Antidote: the treatment or remedy used to counter the poison, when one exists.

Description: a short explanation of how the poison works and any notable facts about it.

Poisons

PoisonSourceEffectsAntidote
WarfarinSynthetic anticoagulant (coumarin derivative)Internal bleeding, bruising, hemorrhageVitamin K1 (phytonadione)
WolfsbaneAconitum plant (also called monkshood)Numbness, irregular heartbeat, paralysis, respiratory failureNone specific; supportive care
Water HemlockCicuta plantViolent seizures, convulsions, respiratory failureNone; supportive care with anticonvulsants
Water DropwortOenanthe crocata plantSeizures, muscle spasms, cardiac arrestNone; supportive care
WoorariStrychnos and Chondrodendron plant extractsMuscle paralysis, respiratory failureNone; mechanical ventilation
White SnakerootAgeratina altissima plantTremors, vomiting, “milk sickness” from tainted milkNone specific
White BaneberryActaea pachypoda plant (“doll’s eyes”)Cardiac arrest, gastrointestinal distressNone specific
WisteriaWisteria plant seeds and podsNausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizzinessNone; supportive care
Woody NightshadeSolanum dulcamara plantGastrointestinal upset, drowsiness, paralysis in severe casesNone specific
WormwoodArtemisia absinthium plantSeizures, hallucinations, kidney damage in excessNone specific
Wood AlcoholMethanol, an industrial chemical solventBlindness, metabolic acidosis, organ failureFomepizole or ethanol
White PhosphorusChemical element used industrially and militarilySevere burns, liver and kidney damageNone specific; supportive care
White ArsenicArsenic trioxide, a refined mineral compoundVomiting, organ failure, garlic-smelling breathDimercaprol (BAL) or DMSA
Weever Fish VenomWeever fish dorsal spinesIntense pain, swelling, tissue damageNone specific; hot water eases pain
Widow Spider VenomLatrodectus (widow) spider biteMuscle cramping, pain, sweating (latrodectism)Antivenom
Water Moccasin VenomAgkistrodon piscivorus (cottonmouth) snake biteTissue necrosis, bleeding, swellingAntivenom (CroFab)
Wasp VenomWasp stingPain, swelling, anaphylaxis in allergic individualsEpinephrine for allergic reactions

Descriptions

Warfarin
Warfarin blocks the body’s ability to clot blood, causing internal bleeding when ingested in large doses. Best known as rat poison, it’s also prescribed in tiny, controlled doses to prevent blood clots in humans.
Wolfsbane
One of the most toxic plants in the world, wolfsbane’s purple flowers hide aconitine, a potent neurotoxin that can stop the heart within hours of exposure, even through skin contact.
Water Hemlock
Often called North America’s most toxic plant, water hemlock’s roots resemble edible parsnips but contain cicutoxin, which triggers violent seizures within minutes of being eaten.
Water Dropwort
Nicknamed “dead man’s fingers” for its tuberous roots, this European plant contains oenanthotoxin, a compound that overstimulates the nervous system and can kill within hours.
Woorari
An old spelling of curare, woorari was used by South American hunters to tip arrows and darts, paralyzing prey by blocking nerve signals to muscles.
White Snakeroot
This woodland plant contains tremetol, a toxin that passes into the milk of grazing cattle and historically killed thousands of settlers, including Abraham Lincoln’s mother.
White Baneberry
Named for its eerie white, black-dotted berries, this plant contains cardiogenic toxins that can stop the heart if enough berries are eaten.
Wisteria
The seeds and pods of this popular flowering vine contain wisterin and lectins that cause severe stomach upset if chewed or swallowed, especially in children.
Woody Nightshade
Also called bittersweet, this climbing plant’s red berries contain solanine, the same toxic compound found in green potatoes, causing stomach cramps and nausea.
Wormwood
Famous for flavoring absinthe, wormwood contains thujone, a compound that overstimulates the brain and can cause convulsions if consumed in concentrated amounts.
Wood Alcohol
Once distilled from wood, this alcohol is metabolized into formic acid in the body, attacking the optic nerve and causing permanent blindness or death if swallowed.
White Phosphorus
This waxy, glowing chemical ignites on contact with air and causes deep burns; if ingested, it damages internal organs and can cause fatal poisoning within days.
White Arsenic
A colorless, tasteless powder once nicknamed “inheritance powder” for its use in historical poisonings, white arsenic shuts down cellular energy production throughout the body.
Weever Fish Venom
Buried in shallow sand along European coastlines, weever fish deliver an excruciating sting through venomous spines when accidentally stepped on by waders.
Widow Spider Venom
The venom of black and brown widow spiders contains latrotoxin, which triggers uncontrolled nerve firing, causing painful muscle cramps that can spread through the whole body.
Water Moccasin Venom
This venomous North American water snake injects hemotoxic venom that destroys tissue and blood cells around the bite, causing severe swelling and lasting damage.
Wasp Venom
A wasp’s sting injects a cocktail of enzymes and peptides that cause immediate pain and swelling, and can trigger life-threatening allergic reactions in sensitive people.
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