The dangers of the poinsettia

Could a plant so popular during the holidays also be so dangerous? What problems does it cause if it is dangerous? Is it necessary to eat it to cause difficulties, or is it enough to simply be around it? Why does the misconception persist if it is not dangerous?

In truth, the negative reputation may have begun in 1919, when the son of an army officer died after eating a portion of a poinsettia plant. Many additional accounts indicate mild symptoms such as nausea or vomiting, but no deaths, so it is unclear whether the plant was to blame.

A study published in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine about two decades ago examined nearly 23,000 cases of people eating poinsettias and found.

No fatalities.

Almost the majority of cases (96%) did not require anyone to receive treatment outside the home.

Most cases (92 percent) did not show any signs or symptoms.

To get close to an amount that could cause problems, a 50-pound child would have to eat more than 500 poinsettia leaves, according to one estimate. Pets may experience gastrointestinal problems after eating poinsettias, but these plants do not pose a significant risk to animals.

The dangers of mistletoe

For mistletoe, the story is similar. It’s not particularly harmful, but it can cause an upset stomach if ingested. Mistletoe has been used as a treatment for arthritis, high blood pressure, infertility, and headaches for years. However, none of these uses have high-quality evidence to support them.

The plant’s potential as a cancer therapy has also sparked interest. Some mistletoe extracts contain compounds that have been shown to kill cancer cells in the laboratory and stimulate human immune cells. Alkaloids, for example, have similar qualities to several chemotherapy drugs used to treat leukemia and other cancers in the past. However, a two-part review published in 2019 concluded that combining mistletoe extracts with traditional cancer treatments had no effect on survival or quality of life.

No one thinks that eating this plant, whether accidentally or not, is a good idea. According to the authors of a 1986 evaluation of much research, eating one to three berries or one or two leaves is unlikely to cause serious illness. In a report of more than 300 cases of mistletoe consumption, no major symptoms or deaths were reported. However, some sites warn that if enough is consumed, major complications or even death can occur. The exact amount needed to cause death is unclear, although it appears to be so high that ingesting enough to be lethal is extremely rare.

Holly’s risks

This plant can harm people and pets. Poisonous berries can be found on holly plants. If consumed, they can cause stomach cramps, drowsiness, vomiting, and diarrhea. While eating holly is not recommended, it is unlikely to cause death. Knowing the Latin name of at least one variety of holly would be enough to avoid eating it: yaupon holly is also known as Ilex vomitoria.

Last but not least