Couple survives near-fatal poisoning from heartbreak grass

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In a shocking incident in Xinyi, Maoming, a couple narrowly escaped death after consuming soup made from a toxic plant they mistakenly identified as an edible ingredient. The couple, both in their fifties, prepared a soup using the roots of what they believed was "Wuzhi Maotao" (五指毛桃), only to realize too late that they had actually used Gelsemium elegans, commonly known as heartbreak grass, a poisonous plant of the family Gelsemiaceae found in China and other Asian countries. Just ten minutes after enjoying their meal, Mr. Luo and Mrs. He (assumed name) began experiencing severe dizziness and weakness. Recognizing the symptoms of potential food poisoning, they quickly called relatives and friends for assistance and were rushed to the Sihe Town Health Center. Upon arrival, Mr. Luo was struggling to breathe, disoriented, and unable to walk, while Mrs. He exhibited less severe symptoms. Dr. Yang Jianbang, the deputy director and attending physician at the health center, suspected ………………………………