Holiday (Plant) Follies

mycrofft

Still crazy but elsewhere
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Around the time of year, through house decoration and table adornment, we bring ourselves and our loved ones in contact with some plants they orally don't live as close to as now. Couple that with the excitement of the holidays, consumption of alcohol, etc etc, and the potential for exposure or ingestion of non-food plants. (This does not address idiosyncratic reactions some individuals may have to contact or ingestion).
Here are a few items. Anyone have others?
(By the way, here's an interesting website by NIH about the way herbs are being used alternatively!)
http://nccam.nih.gov/health/mistletoe/

POINTSETIA: not orally or exceedingly topically toxic, according to research cited by the NIH:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8906768

MISTLETOE (BERRIES): Not as toxic perhaps as once thought. A retrospective study in 1996:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8699554
But still regarded with caution and l;aspersions are warned about the potentially dangerous results. The toxin is throughout the plant, but is especially concentrated in the leaves:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002883.htm


YEW, foliage and berries, in wreaths:

Christmas%20yew%20wreath%20with%20ornamental%20apples%20&%208%20red%20candles-278849.jpg

Used as an oral and arrow poison since prehistoric times in Europe. Used now as landscaping. Brought in for decorations due to attractive berries and green flattened needle foliage.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002877.htm

EUROPEAN HOLLY berries (Ilex aquifolium):
0125340.jpg

Older accounts point to berry intoxication of children mostly, and of course, worse with large quantities.
http://www.inchem.org/documents/pims/plant/ilexaqui.htm#SectionTitle:2.1%20%20%20Main%20risks%20and%20target%20organs


There are a few plants marketed or informally named the USA a "holly" (and "yew") which are not in the same family as the varieties considered here. Also, intentional abuse does occur, the outcome of which cannot be clearly anticipated. The big points to cover here are gather data and samples, transport, and monitor-support vital signs; the days of antidotes and delayed induction of vomitting, or the use of cathartics, are pretty well gone.

These are common ones. Anyone else have examples? How about hearing from our non-USA and non-European cohorts?. How about drugs or treatment regimens you have had ordered by medical authority?
 
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mycrofft

mycrofft

Still crazy but elsewhere
11,322
48
48
Yew berries resemble currants a little.

I am certain they don't taste the same.
 
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