Is it worth it to have a beautiful, but poisonous flower at home - an euphorbia: how dangerous is it?

Euphorbia is one of the most popular indoor plants. Spectacular appearance, beauty, easy care - all this attract connoisseurs of floriculture. It can be found both in offices and in homes.

Euphorbia is often confused with a cactus. He also, like a cactus, does not require careful care. And, like a typical succulent, it can grow for a long time and feel great without watering and adequate lighting. But the milkweed and the cactus have nothing in common.

But how beauty is deceiving, because the juice of this plant can bring harm to the animal and man. What exactly is dangerous milk milk juice and whether it is possible to keep this plant at home - further in the article.

Description and photo

Euphorbia, or Euphorbia (Euphorbia), a genus of plants of the family Euphorbia. The homeland of milkweed is the subtropics of Africa and America. It was there that it adapted to survive in the conditions of the scorching unbearable sun.

All types of milkweed have white juice, similar to milk, inside the fleshy stem. By this resemblance to milk, the plant got its name. According to an ancient legend, the milkman Euphorbos cured the ruler of Numidia with milk of milk, who later immortalized the name of his savior.

The chemical composition of milkweed:

• rubber;
• milky juice;
• resin;
• euphorbon;
• amorphous gum;
• coumarins (esters of hydroxy acids);
• flavonoids (polyphenolic compounds);
• alkaloids (nitrogen-containing compounds).

Due to its rich pharmacological content, euphorbia is used in medicine. Preparations from leaves, stems, flowers, root and milk juice are used for wound healing, as well as diuretic, diaphoretic, analgesic, anthelmintic and anti-inflammatory action. You can read more about the beneficial and healing properties of milkweed grass here.

Further photos of different varieties of plants euphorbia:

You can read about different varieties of milkweed in a separate article.

Is there poison in the flower or not?

Euphorbia lovers are often interested in: is the plant poisonous or not? All representatives of the milkweed genus are dangerous due to alkaloids in the composition. Care must be taken with this plant. Avoid close interaction with the flower.

What is the danger of poisonous juice of milkweed? When ingested in food or water, a person develops severe toxic gastroenteritis.

Symptoms:

• headache;
• pain and burning in the esophagus;
• abdominal pain;
• lightheadedness, vomiting, diarrhea;
• bloating;
• dehydration, dry mouth;
• lowering blood pressure;
• Heart arythmy.

Indoor flower poses a serious danger to people who are allergic to milkweed components. Sometimes this leads to Quincke's edema.

First aid for euphorbia juice poisoning

1. Physical peace and complete emotional discharge.
2. Reception of enterosorbents (aqueous solution of activated carbon 2-3 times a day, enterosgel 1 tablespoon 3 times a day).
3. Reception of a salt laxative (Magnesium sulfate).
4. Drink plenty of water (mineral water, milk, jelly).

Skin contact

When milky juice gets on the skin, a burn is formed, and with an allergic reaction, ulcers form. At the site of interaction of the skin with milky juice, the skin turns red, severe itching, burning, local edema, rash begins.

First aid:

1. Wash hands thoroughly with soap.
2. Apply ointment with anestezin or a remedy for burns to the lesion.
3. Take an antihistamine medicine (Suprastin, Claritin, Zyrtec).

With eye damage

When the milk gets into the eyes, a sharp burning pain appears, swelling of the eyelids, visual acuity decreases, sometimes temporary blindness may appear, tears pour, the conjunctiva of the eyes becomes inflamed.

First aid:

1. Rinse eyes with running water or a decoction of chamomile.
2. Drop a drug with an anti-allergic component into the eyes (Dexamethasone, Maxidex, Allergodil).
3. Take an antihistamine medicine.

Precautionary measures

• You can not do at home the manufacture of medicines containing milk juice.
• It is unacceptable to take drugs prepared at home by unskilled persons.
• It is forbidden to exceed the dosage and change the treatment regimen when taking products containing parts or juice of the plant.
• All agricultural activities with a flower should be carried out in special protective equipment (gloves, glasses).

Is it possible to keep this plant at home?

You can keep the flower at home, but remember that milk milk juice takes first place among plant poisons. And if there are small children in the house, then it is better to abandon the content of this exotic plant. In the bustle of the day, you can miss the moment when the leaves of the plant are ripped off, and part of the stem is broken off and tasted.

Why can’t you keep euphorbia at home if you have pets there? Cats often pinch leaves of plants. It is important to remember that poisonous flowers have no place in the kitchen. It is important to put the plant as high as possible so that no one has free access to it.

About the features of milkweed breeding at home, as well as about growing it in open ground, we talked about in this material.

Euphorbia is an unusual flower. Its beauty attracts many connoisseurs of exotic plants. Its unpretentiousness in the content is captivating. But it is important to weigh the pros and cons before purchasing this green pet.

Watch the video: 10 Plants That Could Kill You (May 2024).