The star of Bethlehemwas undoubtedly loved by Poles. This flower has entered the canon of obligatory Christmas decorations, almost like a traditional Christmas tree. Although it beautifully adorns our homes, many people are concerned that thestar of Bethlehem is poisonous and can cause allergiesThere have been many unfavorable opinions around it, which, however, are not always reflected in reality. Checkis it really poisonous
Is the star of Bethlehem poisonous to people? Photo Stars For Europe
Is the star of Bethlehem poisonous to humans?
The star of Bethlehem, also known as poinsettia or spurgeons,contains poisonous white milk juicein its tissues, just like all other spurgeons. This juice contains euphorbic acid, euphorbine and cyanogenic compounds that can painfully burn the skin, cause dermatitis, and if it gets into the eye - even temporarily blind a person.Poisonous juices are found in the root, leaves and stems of the star of BethlehemIt is also worth knowing that the leaves admired by us (the ones that stain red so beautifully) owe their color to the dyes belonging to to anthocyanins.
It all sounds scary. So much so that some people think thatthe name poinsettia comes from Eng.the word poison for poisonBut this is complete nonsense! The name poinsettia comes from the name of Joel Roberts Poinsett, who brought the star of Bethlehem from Mexico to the USA.
In practice, as it turns out,reports of the highly poisonous effect of the star of Bethlehem are greatly exaggeratedAnd so, although the star of Bethlehem may cause gastrointestinal disturbances, nausea and vomiting after ingestion, in practice it concerns it is less than 10% of recorded cases of human consumption of this plant. The symptoms are usually very mild and rare.
When bringing the Star of Bethlehem flower home , place it out of the reach of small children, andwhen caring for the plant, avoid direct contact with its juices , which they can flow out, for example, after breaking a twig. But there is no need to overdo it. The huge number of houseplants grown in our apartments can be much more poisonous than the Star of Bethlehem.
Does the star of Bethlehem cause allergies?
Growing the Christmas star should be avoided by people allergic to latex.Almost every second person with latex allergy has symptoms of allergy after direct contact with the star of BethlehemThe effect of such contact may be inflammation of the skin, mucous membranes, and much less often an allergic asthma attack.
For this reason,with damaged poinsettias, from which the juice leaks, it is worth proceeding carefully , trying not to stain, let alone rub your eyes with the milk coming from its twigs. Just in case, after work, wash your hands thoroughly.
Is the star of Bethlehem poisonous to cats and dogs? Photo Stars For Europe
Is the star of Bethlehem poisonous to a cat or dog?
The star of Bethlehem has little toxicity to petsAnd so, for examplefor cats, the risk may be defined as low. Plants such as pot azalea, oleander, clivia, Persian cyclamen or the very popular benjamin ficus are much more toxic to the cat.
Nevertheless, it is worth knowing thatif the juices of the star of Bethlehem come into contact with the mucous membranes of the animal, they can cause severe irritationand pain, and if ingested, severe diarrhea and vomiting may occur, which ultimately leads to dehydration our pet. First aid is to rinse irritated eyes or mouth with clean, lukewarm water. Then go to the vet who will give you emetic drugs, charcoal, and if necessary, rehydrate your pet and give you painkillers.
