Yew trees are coniferous trees or shrubsthat make perfect cut hedges. In autumn, pink-red like berries ripen on the branches of yews, which contrast beautifully with the deep green of the needles. However, before we decide to cultivate yew, it is worth checkingwhether yew is poisonous , and if so, to whom this plant can be dangerous. See who can cause yew poisoning and what aresymptoms of yew poisoningWe also advise how to avoid poisoning with this plant.
Is yew poisonous?
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Poisonous properties of yew
Yews (Taxus) are one of the most poisonous woody plants in the worldAll parts of the yew, except for the pink flesh of the seed coat, contain very strong toxins such as taxin, taxicin, taxol and cyanogenic glycosides. These toxic substances are very quickly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, andthe first symptoms of yew poisoningappear 30-90 minutes after eating yew needles or seeds.The toxins present in yew juice are dangerous to people , many farm animals (including horses), as well as for dogs and cats. They remain active even after some or all of the plant has died. This means thatcut twigs, fallen needles, and yew berries can also cause poisoningMost toxins are found in the needles (especially in winter) and yew seeds.
In the pastthere have been cases of fatal yew poisoning among peopleMost often it happened by accident as a result of chewing and swallowing blueberries together with poisonous semen (only three are enough to cause serious complications ).In order to activate the dangerous poisons present in yew juice, it is necessary to chew some of them (e.g. needles or seeds). If the seeds or a few needles of yew are swallowed whole, poisoning may not occur, but only irritation of the stomach or intestines.
Children , who are easily tempted to try attractive-looking blueberries, are primarily exposed to yew poisoning. The pink yew seed aril itself is completely safe and edible, but it is not worth risking eating it due to the risk of poisonous parts of the plant getting into it.
Remember!Yew is poisonous, but only if parts of the plant are eaten. Yew trees do not show any poisonous or harmful properties in relation to people in their vicinity. These plants can therefore be grown in gardens, but make sure that their parts are not eaten by children or pets.
Symptoms of yew poisoning
Toxins found in yew juice act on the heart and central nervous system, paralyze the respiratory system, damage the kidneys and irritate the digestive system. The first symptoms of yew poisoning include nausea, vomiting with foam, severe abdominal pain, anddiarrhea, which is usually violent. Sometimes the gastrointestinal symptoms are absent or so mild that they may not be associated with poisoning. Later symptoms of yew poisoning, i.e. dizziness, intoxication, drowsiness, first accelerated and then slowed breathing, appear about 2-3 hours after the poisoning. Lack of adequate and prompt medical attention leads to unconsciousness, convulsions, kidney damage, cardiac dysfunction, up to respiratory arrest, and death.Symptoms of yew poisoning are similar in humans and animals
Cut twigs, fallen needles and yew-like berries can also cause poisoning
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First aid in case of yew poisoning
There is currently no antidote to the poisons in yew juice The time that has elapsed since intoxication determines the course of treatment. If you suspect that a child, cat, dog or other animal may ingest poisonous parts of the yew, immediately report to a hospital or veterinary clinic.First aid for yew poisoning consists of inducing vomiting, gastric lavage or administration of laxativesto remove poisons from the gastrointestinal tract as soon as possible.
How to avoid yew poisoning?
Yew trees, despite being very dangerous, remain beautiful plants that are worth growing in gardens and parks.To avoid the risk of yew poisoning, we can plant male varietiesin the garden, both common yew, e.g. 'Hilli' or 'David', as well as intermediate yew, e.g. 'Brownia' or 'Hatfieldii' (yews are dioecious plants)which do not grow like berriesIt is very important to warn children against eating unfamiliar fruits and to effectively restrict access not only to yews, but all poisonous plants in the garden.
MSc Eng. Agnieszka Lach
