Manataka American Indian Council
POISON PLANTS
AND WARNINGS
POINTS TO REMEMBER
If you have not positively identified a plant
and its origin. DO NOT EAT or use it in any way.
Make certain branches used as skewers during outdoor cookouts
are not from a poisonous tree or shrub.
Make certain
the plants you use are not deadly look-alikes.
Do not assume
because an animal eats a plant that it is fit for human
consumption.
Cooking does not always detoxify a poisonous
plant.
Store poisonous plants in a secure location out of the
reach of children.
Teach children to keep flowers, seeds,
berries and leaves out of their mouths.
IF POISONING OCCURS
Immediately
call a doctor, hospital or poison control center.
Report the
name of the plant, amount and part of the plant digested, the time
the poison was ingested and save the plant.
If a doctor is
NOT
available:
Have the victim
drink plenty of water.
IF victim is conscious and NOT
convulsing:
Induce vomiting by tickling the back of the
throat with a blunt instrument like a finger or spoon.
If
vomiting cannot be induced by stimulation, have the victim drink
soapy water, saltwater or Syrup of Ipecac. Get Syrup of Ipecac
from most pharmacies. Keep in your medicine cabinet or kit at all
times. Adult: 2 tablespoons Child: 1
tablespoon Infant: 2 teaspoons
Keep victim
comfortable and administer artificial respiration if necessary.
Take the victim and the plant to nearest medical
facility.
POISON PLANTS
APPLES
Apple seeds contain cyanogenic glycosides. If you eat enough of the seeds, you could very well die.
ANGEL'S TRUMPET
All parts of these plants contain dangerous levels of poison. People sometimes die trying to create recreational drugs from the plant.
CASTOR BEANS
One castor bean contains enough ricin to kill an adult within a few minutes.
DAFFODILS
Daffodils are deer- and vermin-resistant, and no wonder -- they have a poisonous numbing effect.
DOLLS'S EYE
The fruit of a doll's eye plant contain cardiogenic toxins that can lead to cardiac arrest and death.
GROUND CHERRY (JAPANESE
LANTERN) (CHINESE LANTERN)
These ornamental plants grow
low to the ground with many branches. The leaves and unripe
fruit are poison.
HEMLOCK
All parts of the plant contain the alkaloid coniine, which causes stomach pains, vomiting and progressive paralysis of the central nervous system.
HOLLY
The berries of these ornamental plants
are poison and especially dangerous for small children. Symptoms: nausea,
vomiting, diarrhea.
HORSE CHESTNUT
(BUCKEYE)
All parts of this common shade tree and shrub are poison
and may be fatal. Symptoms: Twitching, weakness, dilated
pupils, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, paralysis, and stupor.
Can be fatal.
HYDRANGEA
Large flower clusters grow on this deciduous shrub of
vines. The leaves, branches and buds are poison.
Symptoms: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, rapid breathing,
staggering, convulsions and death.
IRIS (FLAG)
This very
popular garden or wild perennial produces leaves and rhizomes that
are poison. Symptoms: Severe but not serious stomach
upset. The root causes dermatitis.
JIMSONWEED (THORNAPPLE) (JAMESTOWN WEED)
(STINKWEED)
All parts of these common annual weeds are poison,
especially seeds and leaves. Symptoms: Abnormal thirst,
dilated pupils, nausea, hallucinations, convulsions, rapid pulse,
high blood pressure, coma. Leaves and flowers cause
dermatitis.
JUNIPER (RED
CEDAR)
The
leaves of these very common evergreen trees can cause skin
irritation.
LADY'S SLIPPER
Found in forests, and wooded orchards, the
leaves and stems cause skin irritation.
LATANA (RED
SAGE)
All
parts of this fruit bearing southern perennial ornamental
shrub are poisonous. Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, muscular
weakness, rapid heartbeat, circulatory collapse, kidney damage and
difficulty in breathing.
LILY OF THE VALLEY
Most parts of this very fragrant
blooming perennial are poison, including roots, leaves, flowers and
berries. Symptoms: Large amounts can cause mental confusion,
circulatory collapse, and death.
LUPINE
(BLUEBONNET)
All parts of this herbaceous perennial and annuals are
poisonous, especially the unripe seeds. Symptoms: Labored
breathing, convulsions and coma.
MAYAPPLE
(MANDRAKE)
The green fruit, roots and foliage of this herbaceous
perennial are poisonous. Symptoms: Vomiting and
diarrhea. The fruit of this plant is
edible.
MILKWEED
This erect, coarse perennial plant is found in fields
and damp roadside areas. Its leaves, stems and sap are
poison. Symptoms: Stomach upset. Could be
dangerous to children if eaten in quantity. The immature seed
pod of some species is edible if
cooked.
MISTLETOE
Found in many types of trees, the berries of this
woody, semi-parasitic evergreen are poisonous. Symptoms:
Acute stomach and intestinal irritation, diarrhea and slow
pulse. Can be fatal.
MONKSHOOD (ACONITE)
(WOLFSBANE)
All parts of these pretty perennial wildflowers are
poison, especially the root, and seeds. Symptoms:
Vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, spasms, respiratory paralysis and
convulsions. Can be fatal.
MORNING GLORY
This colorful vine is a common
ornamental plant with seeds that are poisonous. Seeds have a
hallucinogenic effect. Symptoms: Digestive upset,
stupor, coma and death.
NARCISSUS
(DAFFODIL) (JONQUIL)
All parts of these very common perennial
garden flowers are poisonous, especially the bulbs. One bulb
can cause death. Symptoms: Nausea, vomiting,
diarrhea. Severe cases result in stupor, convulsions and
possible death.
NETTLE (STINGING
NETTLE)
Great
care must be taken when harvesting these tall annual or perennial
bristle weeds for cooking. The nettle hairs cause severe
itching, burning and skin inflammation.
NIGHTSHADE
(BLACK NIGHTSHADE) (DEADLY
NIGHTSHADE)
All parts of this woody shrub-like plant are
poisonous, especially the unripe berries. Symptoms:
Dilated pupils, Intense digestive upset, rapid heartbeat, depression
of the central nervous system and may be
fatal.
OLEANDER
All pats of this ornamental evergreen tree or shrub
are poisonous, especially the fruit. Symptoms: Dilated pupils,
digestive upset, bloody diarrhea, weak pulse, dizziness, drowsiness,
paralysis of the lungs, coma and death.
PHEASANT'S
EYE (SPRING ADONIS)
This very common perennial ornamental
plant produces leaves and stems that are poisonous.
Symptoms: Stomach upset, nervousness and depression. Can
be fatal if consumed in large quantities.
POISON HEMLOCK
All parts of this tall
biennial, carrot or parsley look-alike plant are poisonous,
especially the seeds and roots. Symptoms: Dilated
pupils, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, trembling, slow pulse,
respiratory failure, coma and death.
POISON IVY
(POISON OAK) POISON SUMAC
All parts of these are very
common woody vines, shrubs or trees are poison, especially the
leaves. Smoke from burning these plants can cause
poisoning. Symptoms: Itching, skin rash. Can
be fatal if ingested.
POKE (POKEWEED) (INKBERRY)
The cooked young shoots of this plant are
edible, but the raw leaves and berries can cause a severe
reaction. Symptoms: Stomach cramps, nausea,
vomiting, diarrhea, hard breathing, weakness, spasms, convulsions
and death.
POPPY (POPPY OPIUM)
(ORNAMENTAL POPPY)
All parts of this popular erect annual herb are
poisonous. The unripe fruit causes stupor, shallow breath and
coma. Other parts cause digestive upset and nervous
tics.
POTATO (IRISH POTATO)
(WHITE POTATO)
As a common garden vegetable, the sprouts, leaves,
shoots and green tubers are poisonous. Symptoms:
Dilated pupils, digestive upset, numbness, paralysis,
circulatory and respiratory depression. Can be
fatal.
PRIVET (PRIM)
All parts of this common
ornamental hedge or shrub are poisonous. Symptoms:
Severe digestive upset, weak blood pressure, possible kidney damage.
Can be fatal.
RHODODENDRON (AZALEA)
(LAUREL)
All
parts of this wood evergreen and deciduous shrub are poisonous,
especially the foliage. Symptoms: Increased saliva and
nasal discharge, digestive upset, depression of t he heart and
nervous system, paralysis, and stupor. May be
fatal.
RHUBARB
Grown for its edible leave stock, the leaves and roots
of this perennial garden plant are poison. Symptoms:
Burning and irritation of the mouth and tongue. May be fatal if the
tongue and throat swell blocking air passage. Other
symptoms include nausea and vomiting.
ROSARY PEA (PRECATORY BEAN) (JEQUIRITY BEAN) (INDIAN
LICORICE)
These woody perennial vines produce colorful seeds used
for making jewelry and decorations. The seeds are
poisonous. Symptoms: nausea, weakness, vomiting, stomach
cramps, diarrhea, cold sweats, drowsiness, circulatory and
respiratory failure, coma and death. One single seed can be
fatal.
ST. JOHN'S WORT
This plant is often used as medicinal herb but the
leaves are poisonous and can cause skin irritation and severe
symptoms if ate.
SCOTCHBROOM
The seeds of this brushy type deciduous shrub are
poison and effect the central nervous system causing nervousness,
excitability and stomach upset.
SPURGE
(POINSETTIA)
(SNOW-ON-THE-MOUNTAIN)
The milky sap of the leaves and stems of
numerous varieties of this herb or shrub causing severe blistering
and burning of the eyes and skin. Ingestion may result in
acute irritation of the mouth, throat and stomach. Can be
fatal.
STINGING TREE
This plant is the deadliest and most potent stinging nettle in the world. The nettles contain a potent toxin that has been known to kill humans.
SWEET PEA
The seeds of this common annual are poison. They
can cause bone deformation, paralysis, shallow breathing and
convulsions. Can be fatal in large
amounts.
TOMATO
The vines and leaves of this common plant are
poison. Symptoms: Stomach upset, nervous and cardiac
depression and dermatitis. Fatal in large
amounts.
WHITE SNAKEROOT
White snakeroot
contains the toxin tremetol. Abraham Lincoln's mother
reportedly died after swallowing snakeroot-contaminated milk.
WISTERIA
The seed pods of this common ornamental tree or shrub
are poison. Symptoms: Digestive upset. Children
may be poisoned by one seed.
YELLOW JASMINE
(CAROLINA JASMINE)
All parts of this popular tall, woody evergreen vine
are poisonous. Symptoms: Profuse sweating, muscular
weakness, shallow breathing, depression, convulsions and
paralysis. Can be fatal. The leaves, flowers
and roots can cause dermatitis.
EUROPEAN YEW
Nearly all parts of this tree are poisonous. The leaves and the seeds contain a poison called taxanes.
(GROUND
HEMLOCK)
Even
though the berry pulp is edible, all other parts of this evergreen
tree or shrub are poison, especially the seeds. Symptoms:
Dilated pupils, vomiting, diarrhea, trembling, labored breathing,
convulsions and coma. It can be fatal if taken in
quantities.
CREDITS:
Indian
Medicine Sources:
Millspaugh,
Charles F. American Medicinal Plants. NY: Dover Publications,
1974.
Mooney, James. Myths of the Cherokee and Sacred Formulas of
the Cherokees.
Nashville TN: Charles and Randy Elders, Publishers,
1982.
Moore, Lee Standing Bear, Indian Remedies. Hot Springs, AR,
1990.
Weiner, Michael. Earth Medicine Earth Food. NY: Fawcett
Columbine, 1980.
The Origin of Medicine | Indian Remedies |
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