hellebore
n. any plant of the genus Veratrum but particularly Veratrum viride, a poisonous plant indigenous to North America that has a history of use by Native Americans for various medicinal purposes. It contains more than 20 alkaloids, including veratrine, which has analgesic properties when used topically but produces prolonged muscle contractions when ingested. The hellebore alkaloids were also used medicinally in England as well as America in the 18th and 19th centuries in the treatment of numerous conditions, including seizures, neuralgia, headaches, and respiratory problems. They have been used more recently to lower blood pressure but generally are avoided because of their potential toxicity. The name hellebore is also given to poisonous ornamental plants of the Eurasian genus Helleborus.