Poisonous houseplants

Poisonous houseplants can hide in our homes. It's hard to imagine a house without flowers. Indoor plants play a special role in it - living decorations, surrounded by which we feel comfortable and safe.

They fill the space with their smell, they please us with their shapes and colors. In addition, they create a pleasant microclimate, increase the humidity and oxygenate our home, and some of them even remove toxins from the air. In houses we have more and more different ornamental plants. Our knowledge of them, however, is not great. As a rule, we are immersed in the secrets of growing, forgetting that among them there are poisonous houseplants that have a negative effect on our body.

Most of the beautiful plants living in our homes have a negative impact on our health. Some contain dangerous substances for humans. Among them there are plants that are very popular and can be found in almost every home.

Poisonous houseplants, which are most common in our homes:

• diffenbachia;
• spurge;
• Croton;
• azalea;
• alocasia;
• aloe;
• geranium;
• hydrangea;
• dracaena;
• dope;
• cactus;
• oleander;
• peperomy;
• ivy;
• poinsettia;
• boxwood;
• spathiphyllum;
• philodendron;
• cyclamen;
• yucca.

What if I have any poisoning or irritation?

As soon as you notice something is amiss, immediately call an ambulance or go to the hospital.

Make sure that the child has no plant debris in his mouth. In anticipation of an ambulance, you can induce vomiting, give mouthwash and activated charcoal.

Do not induce vomiting if the child is unconscious.

Bring on inspection the plant that the child ate, the doctor will be easier to identify the toxin, and choose the appropriate method of treatment.

In case of skin or eye irritation with milky juice, gently rinse the reddened area under a stream of warm water.

Be careful that children do not rub their eyes with their hands and do not pull them into the mouth, because, thus, you can rub the irritating juice on a large area.

Briefly describe the most common poisonous houseplants:

Dieffenbachia - attracts attention mainly with beautiful carved leaves. It grows in the tropical region, in the conditions of our climate, it can be grown as a home. In it, or rather in its juice contains - oxalic acid and calcium oxalates.

Diffenbachia juice tends to cause dermatitis and other skin problems. If it gets into the eyes, a person experiences an attack of acute pain, lacrimation and spasm of the eyelids. The use of any part of the plant inside can cause nausea, diarrhea, arrhythmia, paralysis.

Irritating effect on the vocal cords, which can lead to loss of voice for a long time.

Philodendron is a representative of the plant genus from South and Central America. Contains allergenic substances. Getting on the skin, juice causes irritation, and if it gets inside - an attack of pain and burning in the mouth and throat, the mucous membranes swell, salivation occurs.

Croton. Refers to the family molochaevyh. All of its aboveground and underground parts (stem, leaves and roots) contain a liquid that causes irritation to the skin and eyes. With oral use, there may be attacks of diarrhea and vomiting.

Spathiphyllum. We are fascinated by its beautiful leaves, but it is quite a poisonous plant. Contains calcium oxalate, which causes skin and eye irritation. When ingested, it is a strong irritant to the mucous membranes of the mouth and the gastrointestinal tract, as well as the swelling of the respiratory tract.

What should be done when the pet has poisoned with poisonous indoor plants for cats?

If your pet has one or more of the above symptoms, then most likely he ate a plant containing poisonous substances. Such poisoning is very dangerous, and you should immediately seek help from a veterinarian. Try to determine the source that caused the poisoning of the cat and when visiting a veterinarian take a sample of the plant, eaten by the pet. This information will help you diagnose and prescribe an adequate treatment for your pet more quickly.

This article describes only some poisonous houseplants that can pose a threat to your health and environment. But it does not in any way call for completely getting rid of decorative poisonous houseplants or not buying them because they can be dangerous. You must follow the rules of care for them and placement. In fact, every day we are dealing with chemicals that are much more harmful than the described samples. During the care of such plants, it is better to use printers. Wash hands thoroughly with soap after contact with the liquid emitted by the plant. If the house has small children and animals, then you can put pots in hard-to-reach places. Older children should know that houseplants can not chew their fruits and flowers, which grow in containers or pots. Fruit is better to take in the kitchen from the refrigerator or a special vase that is on the table. Observing simple rules, your favorite indoor plants will long please the eye without damage to health.

Toxic houseplants for humans

These are potted plants, often called "toxic." The concept is rather vague, because very many (and, probably, almost all) household pot plants are more or less potentially dangerous to health if you consume them in large quantities! But who will be, there are a dozen bitter leaves?

We can not neglect the danger, especially if there are children and animals next to us. First of all, we care about the health of our children. The faster you determine the plants containing real poisons (for example, some alkaloids, saponins and glycosides) that irritate the skin and eyes (milky juice), the sooner you will be able to make your life and others more comfortable and protected.

Eating part of leaves or flower petals can cause nausea or upset stomach. Fortunately, it rarely happens that children eat a lot of leaves or flowers, because plants are very bitter in taste (in this way, plants can protect themselves from destruction by herbivores).

In people who are allergic to toxins, this leads to swelling of the respiratory tract and greatly hampers breathing! Others cause seizures, rapid heartbeat and coma.

Molochko (coming out of damaged parts of the plant) causes irritation (redness, burning, swelling) of the skin, eyes, irritation of the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract if swallowed.

It is interesting that some of the poisons in small doses are used to make medicines.

In more detail, we will focus on the safety of children. Children are curious, they want to touch everything and try, most of them will be happy to know the world around them in accordance with the saying "all try for a tooth" - this is quite natural. Of course, parents must provide safety to their babies!

It is necessary to put poisonous houseplants high, far from children's hands and curious looks. When the time comes, cultivation of a living garden on a windowsill can be very exciting. Until the children grow up, let the plants are high on the closet or on special pendants. If possible, find a new home for them - for sure you will find someone who will like such a gift.

Note the sharp spikes of yucca, aloe, agave or cactus. These plants should also be placed so that children do not reach them.

Explain to the child that plants can be dangerous, teach them not to play next to them.

Taking care of personal safety, when working with poisonous indoor plants, wear gloves. Gently treat plants to avoid damaging their stems and leaves. During transplantation, the treatment of such plants is not desirable for touching the eyes, nose, or mouth. After the termination of care of them it is necessary to wash well hands with soap and water.

The most poisonous houseplants

Ivy is a native of Latin America. It grows very quickly and does not require much time to care, and besides, its decorative qualities and long life are highly valued. Ivy leaves can be in the form of stars, large, small, mottled (green and white or cream). It can grow upwards or hang freely. Ivy juice contains toxic saponins, which irritate the skin and conjunctiva of the eyes. If you accidentally swallow a piece of the plant, it can adversely affect the respiratory system, fever, rash, hallucinations, lethargy and vomiting.

In spite of the fact that ivy is one of the most poisonous houseplants, syrups are used from its leaves to be used as an aid in the fight against infections of the upper respiratory tract

Medicine has various useful properties of stems and leaves that have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, hemostatic, wound-healing, antifungal, expectorant, spasmolytic and diuretic action.

There are several medicinal forms of ivy: freshly squeezed juice, alcohol tincture. Fresh leaves, processed in a special way are used in ointments, balms.

Cyclamen is Persian. Refers to the family of primrose. There are about 16 species of cyclamens. Motherland - the Mediterranean. Cyclamen in a pot usually grows from 15 to 40 cm in width and height, along with flowers. Cyclamen blooms from autumn to spring. Most varieties in the summer experience a period of rest, so that when the plant fades, do not rush to throw it away. Cyclamen is a perennial plant, and after a short rest resumes abundant flowering. Shades of colors are diverse - white, pink, purple, red, bicolour. The leaves of the cyclamen are dark green, heart-shaped, often covered with a silvery pattern or veins.

The plant has underground tubers that contain toxic cyclamines. Poisonous houseplant after swallowing, causes an attack of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, dizziness, seizures. The cyclamen hides the earth, and thanks to this, we do not contact them. Care must be taken when transplanting or dividing tubers. When working with this flower, you must always wear gloves and do not touch your face and mouth.

Cyclamen tubers have long been used in the treatment of sinusitis. Equally helps to fight against gastrointestinal diseases, as well as various neuralgia.

Poinsettia (Bethlehem Star). Representative of the genus Molochaev, which are known to be poisonous. This is due to the fact that they contain juice containing euphorbic acid, and cyanogenic compounds that scorch the skin and cause dermatitis. Avoid contact with eyes, because they can temporarily blind a person. The juice of the plant is poisonous in roots, leaves and stems.

You need to know that people contact the plants every day that belong to the poisonous, often without knowing it. Many medicinal and ornamental plants are widely used in cooking as seasoning and are the most poisonous plants. For example, poppy. But rarely do you hear that someone actually poisoned them.

All because toxic substances are in not edible parts, for example, stems, roots or leaves, or lose their harmful properties after drying or cooking.

In fact, poinsettia is toxic only in case of damage, because of the damaged parts of the plant, juice that causes side reactions such as irritation or dermatitis begins to be released. That's why you should be especially careful about your children, who may bite the plant in ignorance. Do not worry that a simple touch to the leaves or flowers of poinsettia will have consequences. Nevertheless, cases of poisoning by this beautiful plant are known. The most susceptible can be people with allergies, children and animals, which may have undesirable consequences.

The skin of people prone to allergic reactions reacts immediately to contact with poisonous juice. Therefore, always hands, after taking care of poinsettia, it is necessary to rinse thoroughly with plenty of water. If someone from your environment has eaten spurge, you need to give him vomit, stomach drops, and it is better to go to the doctor to make sure that everything is in order.

Typical symptoms of poisoning are redness of the skin, skin ulcers, dermatitis, allergies, asthma attack. In case of ingestion - pain in the abdomen, vomiting, fever, malaise.

Deadly poisonous plants

Adenium is a variety of plants from the family of kutra. Many species are poisonous. Stems, leaves and roots contain very toxic milky juice. It is used to make poisonous arrows. You need to be very careful when you care for this deadly poisonous plant, especially if you have cuts or abrasions on your hands.

Oleander. The beauty of blossoming oleanders is fascinating. A very popular plant in our homes. It reaches considerable size and abundant flowering. Despite the fact that it grows in Southern Europe, it can be grown without any problems at home. His flowers of various shades - white, pink, red, yellow, beige.

It is a deadly poisonous plant. The taste of his leaves are very bitter. An adult can die after eating 4 g of oleander leaves, but for a child, even one leaf can be fatal. The first symptoms of oleander poisoning appear fairly quickly. These include vomiting, bloody diarrhea, chills of the whole body, loss of consciousness and coma. The poison acts directly on the heart, causing arrhythmia, heart attack and heart paralysis.

It is believed that at the beginning of the nineteenth century Napoleon's troops passed through Spain to take Madrid. At one of the halts they caught a lamb, and they wanted to cook it at the stake. The soldiers lit a fire and laid a few branches with a row of growing bush, not knowing that it was oleander. After dinner, they suddenly had seizures, acute diarrhea and chills. Many of them died, and survivors suffered from poisoning for a long time. Napoleon after this incident forbade his soldiers to touch the oleander.

Datura. Herbaceous plant of the Solanaceae family. It is appreciated for beautiful flowers in the form of pipes. Often it is cultivated at home. During the summer, these plants adorn balconies and terraces, and in winter they are stored in rooms protected from frost.

It is very toxic and hallucinogenic. Dried leaves of datura have a dark green color and a characteristic, intoxicating, unpleasant odor.

The hallucinogenic and poisonous properties of this plant were already known in ancient times, as recorded from the time of the Roman Empire. Severe and fatal poisoning associated with its use. Seeds and herbs of dope were also used for the insidious murder of unwanted applicants for power, wealth and fame, as well as political opponents.

The composition of this deadly poisonous plant:

• alkaloids, such as scopolamine, atropine, glucoside scopoletin;
• tannins;
• flavonoids;
• traces of oil with a smell similar to tobacco;
• meteloidin and cuscochigrin.

On the average, 1 gram of datura seeds contains about 2-4 mg of alkaloids.

Hallucinogenic and toxic effects are associated with the presence of alkaloids in its composition. They block certain parasympathetic receptors.

The highly toxic effect concerns, in particular, the respiratory center, soothingly acts on the peripheral nervous system, causing drowsiness and amnesia.

The average lethal dose contained in the scopolamine of the plant is 0.1-0.2 grams. But there were cases of survival after oral administration, even 0.3-0.5 grams of dose. This is due to individual sensitivity to scopolamine.

The derivative of substance - butyl bromide hyoscine is used in medicine: to reduce the contraction of smooth muscles of the gastrointestinal tract and contractions of the pylorus, biliary and urinary tract; spastic constipation, to check the obstruction of the fallopian tubes and radiological diagnosis of the esophagus, stomach, duodenum and urinary tract; in the preparation of drugs for anesthesia.

Dentistry can be used as a part of preparations from convulsions, neuralgias, rheumatism and as a remedy for cough and kidney colic. Experts do not recommend the use of a deadly poisonous plant and drugs from it due to insufficiently proven efficacy.

Thus, dope preparations were withdrawn from use.

Poisoning with deadly poisonous plants is a very common problem. The poison of other plants containing alkaloids is distinguished by the fact that it can cause attacks of rage, madness or acute psychosis, which are the result of a strong psychomotor agitation.

After the phase of excitation, the state of lethargic sleep, relaxation and increased drowsiness, which can be very deep.

In the case of treatment of intoxication from the datura, gastric lavage is performed, sodium sulfate preparations, activated carbon are introduced. In addition, it is necessary to fill the deficiency of fluid and electrolytes. Due to the tendency to urine retention, as a rule, the patient is put a catheter.

In each case, in addition, drug treatment is necessary. As an antidote introduce pilocarpine, which stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system. In severe cases of respiratory depression, the patient undergo intubation manipulations.

Poisoning by dope is the result of both intentional and accidental use. The biggest problem is that young people deliberately use dope for psychedelic experiments, not realizing that they can end tragically.

Poisonous houseplants for cats

Often owners of pets do not understand that such an innocent thing as a houseplant in a pot, as well as a flower in a vase can be deadly to their pets. Cats love to chew all available parts of plants. Some of them do this very rarely, unnoticed by the owner. The insidiousness of plant toxins is that they often do not cause any symptoms. Everything looks as usual, the cat feels well, but suddenly her condition begins to deteriorate sharply and when you see a doctor it turns out that the unfortunate animal irreversibly damaged the kidneys or liver. Other plants can cause serious burns to the mouth and the gastrointestinal tract.

Most often, from poisoning with poisonous indoor plants for cats, young individuals suffer that are interested in everything that surrounds them. Many of the pets do not show any interest in plants at all, and for many years live peacefully in winter gardens or apartments, which are filled with flowers and shrubs.

Nevertheless, we can reduce the likelihood of poisoning to a minimum, refusing to keep houses of some ornamental plants, usually growing in pots, and are most tempting for a cat.

Therefore - deciding to take under his care a new member of the family - we must do everything necessary to rid the house of poisonous indoor plants for cats. We also need to monitor the cut flowers in the vases, they can also have toxins. You can not say with absolute certainty that a cat that has never been interested in plants in the presence of the owner, will not want to bite them. It can cost him dearly - to cost lives.

The most frequent poisoning symptoms of poisonous indoor plants for cats:

• indomitable vomiting;
• diarrhea;
• lack of appetite;
• more bright than usual color of gums and tongue;
• swollen tongue;
• stomach ache;
• convulsions.

Poisonous house plants for cats are as follows:

• Alocasia sp. Alocasia. The juice of the plant is poisonous. It can be a cause of swelling of the mouth and throat, and in case of contact with the eyes, conjunctivitis and corneal involvement develop.
• Aloe vera - aloe. Juice causes diarrhea if taken internally.
• Azalea sp. - azalea. Toxic to the whole plant. If ingested, cardiopulmonary insufficiency may occur; vomiting; diarrhea.
• Diffenbachia sp. - Diffenbachia. The juice of the plant contains oxalic acid. It causes swelling of the oral mucosa and larynx in the animal.
• Dracaena - dracaena. Causes swelling of the larynx.
• Geranium - geranium. Causes indigestion. Especially toxic red geranium.
• Hydragea sp. - hydrangea. Plant leaves contain cyanides, which are activated by interaction with water and saliva. Causes vomiting, diarrhea, trembling, problems with the heart, lungs and kidneys.
• Hedera helix sp. - ivy. It contains a substance that disrupts hematopoiesis. Causes vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions. Ivy Boston can cause a laryngeal edema.
• Peperomia - peperomy. She is dangerous with swelling of the larynx. Causes impaired coordination and acute heart failure.
• Bukus - safflower evergreen. Causes severe intoxication of the body, even with a fatal outcome.