Original article (in Croatian) was published on 2/21/2025; Author: Marta Kolarić
Carrots have a wide range of positive effects on the health of babies and children, but one should be cautious of excessive consumption.
“Why is it not worth eating vegetables? Find out in the video… just a small part of the real truth. We talk about how many plants we eat, like carrots, are not actually food. The carrot we know today was created through selective breeding from the wild carrot, also known as Queen Anne’s Lace, which was toxic. Today, it is less toxic, but it is still not safe for children. The percentage of infertility in women is steadily rising… and we wonder why”, states the post spreading on Instagram (archived here), accompanied by a video claiming that toxic food is being given to children.
In the video, it is mentioned, among other things, that for many plants that we eat, like carrots, people think they are food. They are not food”. It is then explained that the orange carrot we eat today was created in the 18th century through the work of agronomists who transformed the wild carrot. What most people don’t know is that this wild carrot was used “as a morning-after pill”.
“It is so toxic that it causes abortion”, claims the post, adding that we should stop giving this to children.
From wild to domestic carrot
The distant ancestor of the familiar orange carrot, the wild carrot, known as “Queen Anne’s Lace”, named after Queen Anne of Britain, has a small, white, but edible root with a distinctive carrot smell. Today, unlike its domesticated descendant, it is primarily used for decorative purposes due to its white flowers that grow in umbrella-shaped clusters. After carrots were domesticated over a thousand years ago in Central Asia, they spread to China in the 13th and 14th centuries and reached Europe in the 15th century. Later, European settlers brought it to North America. Through selective breeding, domestic carrots were made sweeter and their roots larger, with an improved texture that made them softer and more pleasant to eat.
Initially, domesticated carrots were purple or yellow. Through selective breeding of yellow carrots in the Netherlands in the 17th century, domesticated carrots with higher concentrations of the orange pigment beta-carotene were developed. Additional varieties were later created, leading to the wide diversity of shapes, sizes, and colors of carrot roots today.
Are carrots toxic?
“Carrots have a wide range of positive effects on the health of babies and children. Carrot consumption in babies and children positively impacts eye health, supports the proper functioning of the circulatory system, kidneys, and liver, and encourages immune system development. Regular carrot consumption in babies and children strengthens the immune system – strong immunity is crucial for optimal growth and development”, explained nutritionist Nenad Bratković regarding the importance of carrot consumption in children.
Although wild carrots are edible, Cornell University emphasizes that individuals can develop a rash if they come into contact with the juice of the wild carrot, which contains compounds similar to those in wild parsnips and giant hogweed, causing burns when in contact with the skin. The plant is also mildly toxic to livestock. It is important to note that wild carrots are often mistaken for hemlock, a plant that contains several toxins, the most deadly of which is coniine, which in sufficient doses can paralyze the heart and lungs.
Nutritionists explain that domesticated orange carrots can be toxic to humans only if consumed in excessive quantities. Too much beta-carotene in the body can cause carotinemia, a condition where carotene builds up in the skin, giving it a yellow or orange tint, particularly on the palms, soles, knees, and nose. This condition is usually harmless and is treated by reducing beta-carotene intake. Consuming excessive amounts of carrots, due to the beta-carotene which the body converts into vitamin A, can also result in hypervitaminosis A. Excess vitamin A is stored in the liver or fat cells, which can lead to toxic buildup over time, causing loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, hair loss, fatigue, or nosebleeds. Hypervitaminosis A may, in some cases, require hospitalization. The most optimal and safest option is to consume three to four carrots daily.
Wild carrot as a contraceptive method through history
Hans Wohlmuth, a pharmacognosy expert at Southern Cross University in Sydney, and holistic practitioner Gabrielle Claire Jensen explain, based on their research and existing literature, that wild carrot was historically used both as a fertility stimulant and as a contraceptive. Even in antiquity, Hippocrates, Dioscorides, and Pliny mentioned its seeds as abortifacient. During the Middle Ages, knowledge of plant preparations was lost, including the use of wild carrot seeds, due to the persecution of “witches”, who were often midwives, herbalists, and healers. In the 17th century, English botanist Nicholas Culpeper described the wild carrot in his botanical guide as a plant whose roots and seeds could stimulate menstruation and even aid in conception, depending on how it was prepared. In the 19th century, some medical publications mentioned wild carrot as a plant that promoted menstruation. The recommended dose for stimulating menstruation was one teaspoon of crushed seeds. Wild carrot is also mentioned in various Indian medical texts, where its root was considered an aphrodisiac, and its leaves and seeds were used as a uterine stimulant during childbirth. Its use in different regions of India varied, with some using the seeds to relieve uterine pain and as an abortifacient, while others used the seeds to regulate menstruation and control fertility. In the West, in North America, contemporary herbalists describe wild carrot seeds as a natural contraceptive, claiming they prevent the implantation of a fertilized egg.
Testing the effectiveness of wild carrot as a contraceptive
Wohlmuth and Jensen also note that American herbalists conducted two studies, which make up the only documented attempt to test the effectiveness of wild carrot seeds as a contraceptive in the human population. Due to unscientific methods, such as uncontrolled conditions and the lack of standardized interventions or dosages, these studies cannot provide evidence that the seeds are an effective contraceptive for women.
In the first study, 13 women recorded their menstrual cycles, ovulation, and sexual activity, along with the dose and method of seed consumption. Over 11 months, three pregnancies were recorded, although the seeds were not always the only form of contraception.
The second study involved 30 women aged 18 to 50 who used a tincture made from wild carrot seeds and flowers for one year after intercourse, three times within eight hours. Five women completed the entire year without pregnancy, and nine pregnancies were reported – mostly when the wild carrot was not used according to instructions. No abnormalities were observed in the newborns.
The use of wild carrot seeds in preventing fertility has sparked scientific interest, leading to numerous studies on rodents aimed at clarifying the effects of the seeds and their potential efficacy. Research on rodents began in the 1970s and concluded that wild carrot seeds could prevent the implantation of a fertilized egg, induce abortion, and disrupt hormones. In rats and mice, the seeds lowered levels of reproductive hormones, halted the reproductive cycle, and reduced the size of the ovaries. Effects similar to reduced estrogen and progesterone levels were also observed. After discontinuing use, fertility returned without lasting harmful effects.
Due to the limited amount of scientific research on the contraceptive efficacy of wild carrot seeds and findings not confirmed in large scientific studies on humans, further research is needed to confirm the contraceptive effectiveness, clarify the mechanism of action, and identify the responsible compounds.
To conclude, the carrot we consume today has a wide range of positive effects on the health of babies and children, but excessive consumption should be avoided. Wild carrot was used as a contraceptive in the past. Research on rodents began in the 1970s and concluded that wild carrot seeds could prevent the implantation of a fertilized egg, induce abortion, and disrupt hormones. Further research is needed to confirm the contraceptive effectiveness of wild carrots. The post and accompanying video confuse the characteristics of modern cultivated carrots with those of the wild carrot.
