CAROLINA HERBS!!!

MISTLETOEphoradendron spp.of THE MISTLETOE FAMILY(Phoradendron serotinum and Viscum album)

There are 2 plants with the common name “mistletoe” the American mistletoe (P. serotinum has a relatively lower toxicity compared to Viscum spp) and European mistletoe (V. album). Mistletoe is a parasitic perennial with white or translucent berries that can be quite sticky. They grow on the trunks and branches of deciduous trees. P. serotinum is widespread in the U.S., hence the American mistletoe moniker. V. album, endemic to much of Europe, can occasionally now be found in the U.S., mainly in California. These plants are common adornments and holiday symbols most commonly sold around Christmas time.All sections of P. serotinum are potentially harmful as they contain phoratoxin, a toxalbumin. Most ingestions result in little physical reaction, although some patients may experience gastrointestinal symptoms. The entire Viscum spp. plant is toxic. After a latent period of several hours, clinical effects from viscotoxins can develop. Bradycardia, delirium, as well as toxicity of the liver, central neverous system, kidney, and adrenals can also occur. Steeping the plant in hot water (“herbal tea”) may result in large amounts of ingested toxinMistletoe is well known for causing intestinal upset, as well as a sudden and severe drop in blood pressure, breathing problems, and even hallucinations. If a large enough amount of these plants are ingested, seizures and death may follow.

 Since mistletoe is much used for Christmas decorations, it should be kept out of the reach of young children.SYMPTOMS:eating the berries will cause acute stomach and intestinal pains, diarrhea, weak pulse, mental disturbances, and the collapse of blood vessels. Death has occurred within 10 hours after ingestion.

The leaves and berries of holly and mistletoe plants, even the dried plants, should be kept well out of your pet's reach

Mistletoe can cause significant vomiting and diarrhea, difficulty breathing, collapse, erratic behavior, hallucinations and death when ingested by pets

POINSETTIA(Poinsettia pulcherrima R. Grah)other related plants ornamentals such as E. Marginata (snow on the mountain), E. Cyparissias (Cypress spurge), E. Milli Ch. Des Moulins (crown of thorns cactus), E. Lactea Haw. (Candelabra cactus) andE. Tirucalli L. (pencil, Malabar or spurge trees) also contain irritant juice and are potentially dangerous.

 MOST LIKELY TO BE SEEN GROWINGas a houseplant or in greenhouses throughout the temperate zone, frequently used for winter decoration because of its showy red bracts. This flowering plant, indigenous to Mexico and Central America, has large green and red leaves.

 DANGERyoung children have ready access to this house plant. The leaf is what appears to be poisonous

 SYMPTOMSprior to death the symptoms were vomiting and purgation of the bowels accompanied by delirium. The milky sap is capable of producing blistering of the skin andPoinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima)

Poinsettias can cause irritation to the mouth and stomach and sometimes vomiting in pets.

 Poinsettia Plant Basics

A lot of people have been led to believe that the poinsettia plant is deadly for pets and children, but this is actually an unlikely occurrence. The poinsettia plant’s brightly colored leaves contain a sap that is irritating to the tissues of the mouth and esophagus. If the leaves are ingested, they will often cause nausea and vomiting, but it would take a large amount of the plant’s material to cause poisoning, and most animals and children will not eat such a large enough amount because of the irritating taste and feel from the sap.

 However, if the plant has been treated with a pesticide, your pet or child could be at risk of becoming ill from ingesting the pesticide. The size of your pet and the amount of ingested plant material will be the determining factors for the severity of the poisoning. Young animals -- puppies and kittens -- are at the highest risk. Severe reactions to the plant or to the pesticide it has been treated with include seizures, coma, and in some cases, death.

 Maybe YOU did not spray your plants with anything, however, where you purchased them, whether at the nursery, Home Depot, Wal-Mart , etc, they may have sprayed the plants when the plants came in.Even if THEY did not spray the plants, it is a sure bet that where your plants originate from did get sprayed with herbicides and pesticides.Otherwise,the grower risks losing his/her entire crop.Something to think about.

Lilies and Daffodils

Lilies (Lilium, all spp.):Ingesting any part of the plant can cause complete kidney failure in 36-72 hours. First symptoms appear in a few hours and may include appetite suppression, lethargy, vomiting.Cats are especially sensitive to lily poisoning, so be very careful to keep your cats away from lilies of any kind, including the Amaryllis, Easter lilies, and Stargazer lilies so often found in homes around the holidays.

 Both popular gift items at this time of year, plants in the lily and daffodil can be toxic to pets. In cats, Lilium and Hemerocallis genera lilies are the most dangerous. Eating even a small amount of the plant will have a severe impact on a cat's system, causing severe symptoms such as gastrointestinal issues, arrhythmia, and convulsions. Daffodils are also toxic to both dogs and cats, especially the bulbs.

.Holly and mistletoe are also popular holiday plants. These plants, along with their berries, have a greater toxicity level than the poinsettia

Holly (Ilex aquifolium and opaca)

There are 2 commonly distributed forms of the holly in the United States (U.S.): the English holly (Ilex aquifolium) and the American Holly (Ilex opaca). English and American holly are not to be confused with the South American Ilex species, Ilex paraguariensi and Ilex guayusa, which are commonly used to make teas and other drinks for their reported antioxidant properties and caffeine content.

These shrubs (The ENGLISH HOLLY and the AMERICAN HOLLY)are most commonly used as holiday decorations, although they can be found in gardens. Holly exposure accounts for the 3rd highest rate of genus-specific human plant exposure calls in 2010The berries containing the toxin saponin are poisonous; the leaves are notThe toxic component of the berries is saponin. The primary potential biological effect of saponin is a negative interaction with cellular membranes. Saponins can cause hemolysis in erythrocytes and alterations in permeability of small intestinal mucosal cells. Most ingestions cause little or no toxicity. The primary clinical effects observed, which occur exclusively with large ingestions, include nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping, and occasionally dermatitis. There can be allergic sensitization and worsening dermatitis with repeat exposures. Rarely, mydriasis, hyperthermia, and drowsiness have also been reported.

Poisonings most often occur in children, and most cases are harmless. In adults, one must eat 20-30 berries before becoming symptomatic, whereas children only have to consume 5.

Holly, commonly found during the Christmas season, can cause intense vomiting, diarrhea and depression in pets.

Bittersweet (Solanum dulcamara) and Jerusalem cherry (Solanum pseudocapsicum)

 Bittersweet, or the woody nightshade, is a semi-woody perennial vine introduced from Europe. Common to the northern U.S. and southern Canada, it has purple and yellow flowers with 5 spreading petals and red ovoid berries. The Jerusalem cherry, or Christmas orange, is a perennial grown as a decorative houseplant. Originating in the Middle East, it now flourishes in Hawaii and the Gulf Coast states. It also has 5-petaled flowers but typically has yellow-red-orange berries. Solanum-related poison center calls in general are common, and S. dulcamara alone made up the 22nd most species-specific U.S. poison center calls.

 In both of these plants the immature fruit is more poisonous than the still-toxic ripened fruit due to the glycoalkaloid solanine. Solanine may exert toxicity through alteration of mitochondrial potassium and calcium transport, but this mechanism is speculative. In animals solanine exhibits cholinesterase activity and cardiac glycoside effects, but these effects are not seen in human poisoning.

 The clinical effects of solanine are primarily gastroenteritis and abdominal cramping. Salivation, bradycardia, tachycardia, hypotension, and altered mental status have also been documented. Symptoms usually occur several hours after ingestion and may persist for several days. The solanine effects seem more potent in children; in adults, solanine has little toxicity. While 1 source reported that just several bittersweet or Jerusalem cherry berries can prove fatal in children,

 Of the plants discussed thus far, it seems as though bittersweet and Jerusalem cherry constitute the most danger

 A LITTLE EXTRA CAUTION FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE INSIDE PETS:

Holiday Tinsel and Ornaments

Tinsel, while not toxic, is very attractive to pets, particularly cats. The shiny, dangling decoration reflects light and can move in the slightest draft — appearing to come alive to watchful critters.

The problem with tinsel is that once it’s consumed, it can cause serious injury to your pet. If not caught in time, this foreign body ingestion could actually be fatal as it twists and bunches inside your pet’s intestines. Immediate veterinary care is required

Christmas tree pine needlescan produce oral irritation, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, trembling and posterior weakness.

The oils produced by fir trees can be irritating to a pet's mouth and stomach, causing excessive vomiting or drooling. The tree needles, meanwhile, may cause gastrointestinal irritation, obstruction and puncture.

If your dog or cat does manage to ingest any part of these holiday plants, call your veterinarian or poison control immediately to find out what you should do to minimize the damage.

West J Emerg Med. 2012 December

UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine

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Know Your Poisonous Plants by Wilma Roberts James

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