What happens if you eat a lily of the valley flower. Lily of the valley - a poisonous plant or not? Are lily of the valley berries or the whole plant poisonous?
Lily of the valley blooms in May-June, the fruits ripen by autumn and have an orange or red color. The fruits look like small peas. A beautiful fragrant plant with small white bell flowers is also useful. From raw material lily of the valley is obtained pharmaceuticals with cardiotonic and choleretic action. However, despite the fact that it is a medicinal plant, lily of the valley poisoning is not uncommon. When eating 5 berries, you must urgently seek medical help.
The whole plant and especially flowers contain cardenolides - cardiotonic glycosides. Even water in which there is a bouquet of lilies of the valley becomes poisonous. Plant glycosides (convallaria, convallamarin, convallotoxin) act on the heart and have a slight diuretic property. Exceeding the concentration of plant glycosides is several times higher than the effect of digitoxin (see). This reaction is called the digitalis reaction of the body.
Popular names: Mayevka, Meadow Cheremka, Forest tongue, Konvalia (Ukrainian), Hare ears.
When does lily of the valley become poison?
Once in the body in a toxic dose, glycosides cause an increased heartbeat in the victim. Due to the slowdown in conduction in the heart, the diastole phase (relaxation of the heart muscle) is lengthened. Glycosides stimulate the center of the vagus nerve, which is located in the medulla oblongata, and inhibit the enzyme that regulates the balance of potassium and sodium ions. Thanks to this enzyme, normal processes of transmission of nerve impulses occur in cells.
In the normal state, the enzyme during the work of the heart removes calcium from the cells. In case of poisoning, the excretion of calcium is disturbed. This leads to an increase in cardiac contractility, a decrease in the speed of nerve impulses. In the treatment of cardiac glycosides in adequate dosages, doctors achieve an antiarrhythmic effect. In patients, the heart rate stabilizes, renal blood flow improves, and edema disappears.
From the raw materials of the medicinal plant, alcohol tinctures are made, preparations for intravenous administration for the treatment of arrhythmias, heart failure, neurosis, and edema. With puffiness in the eye area, lotions from infusions are recommended. It is better to buy tincture in a pharmacy and coordinate the dosage with your doctor. Lily of the valley medicinal preparations are recommended to be used with motherwort or valerian. Popular pharmacy products:
- Zelenin drops;
- lily of the valley-motherwort drops;
- lily of the valley-valerian drops;
- Pumpan;
- Valokarmide.
Warning! Even pharmacy and homeopathic preparations cause poisoning and symptoms of a violation. of cardio-vascular system. If signs of intoxication appear, an ambulance should be called immediately.
If lily of the valley poisoning occurs, the victim's pulse slows down due to intraventricular blockade. A violation in the systemic circulation develops, which leads to dysfunction of vital organs and systems.
Clinical picture of poisoning
In case of poisoning with lily of the valley berries, the victims develop symptoms of a violation of the central nervous system, there are disorders of the autonomic nervous system. This manifests itself:
- bouts of nausea and vomiting (see);
- vision disorder;
- disturbance of consciousness.
There are violations of the cardiovascular system:
- rhythm disturbance;
- ventricular bradycardia;
- AV block;
- decline blood pressure;
- collapse.
Ventricular extrasystoles in lily of the valley poisoning are a harbinger of cardiac arrest! The occurrence of any rhythm disturbances require urgent medical attention! Conducting laboratory blood tests shows an increase in potassium levels. Carrying out cardiography can show tachyarrhythmia, AV-blockade of the heart.
First aid and further treatment for lily of the valley poisoning
In case of poisoning with lily of the valley berries, which contain cardiac glycosides, the stomach is washed before the arrival of the ambulance (see). As an aid, give 2 glasses of salt (half a teaspoon of salt per glass) and induce vomiting. The procedure should be repeated up to 4-5 times. If there are no sorbents in the first-aid kit, you can give 100 g of black bread crackers. It is advisable to make an enema or give a quick-acting laxative (30 g of sodium sulfate).
In the hospital, washing is carried out through a probe with the introduction of 100 g of crushed activated carbon. Coal, unlike other sorbents, has a high sorption activity in relation to plant toxins.
Patients are prescribed forced diuresis - the introduction of intravenous solutions and diuretics. To account for the water balance, patients are placed with a urinary catheter. In the case of a decrease in heart rate (bradycardia), in order to prevent cardiac arrest, the victims are shown the introduction of Atropine. If the rhythm is disturbed, Lidocoin or Phenytoin is prescribed.
Important! Patients are strictly contraindicated in the introduction of solutions and calcium preparations. Hypercalcemia in case of poisoning with cardiac glycosides leads to the development of sustained cardiac contraction - "stone heart".
At the same time, the patient undergoes hemosorption and antidote therapy. Hemosorption refers to methods of extrarenal blood purification from toxins using a special device with a container for sorbents. The patient's blood is pumped through an apparatus with sorbents and purified from poisons.
Important! During hemosorption, the patient may experience complications: lowering blood pressure, chills, bleeding, vessel embolism with an air bubble or sorbent.
Antidote therapy consists in the introduction of drugs with opposite properties. With bradycardia, Atropine is administered, with impaired consciousness with delusions and hallucinations - Nivalin, Physostigmine or Aminostigmine. With a sharp decrease in blood pressure, the introduction of intravenous blood products or blood substitutes is indicated. In case of cardiac arrest, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the introduction of Adrenaline or Norepinephrine is carried out.
Effects
The consequences of poisoning are dangerous for the health and life of children, as well as patients with heart failure. Not rendering emergency care may lead to death. The consequences are also dangerous for people with kidney dysfunction. In such patients, glycoside intoxication leads to renal failure.
Find out, . Typical symptoms of intoxication and emergency care
Why ? How poisoning occurs and how the victim is treated.
All about: chemical composition plants, the effect of poisons on the body, symptoms, treatment.
Prevention of lily of the valley poisoning
For the purpose of prevention, it is necessary to adhere to the basic rules:
- Do not collect lily of the valley for the preparation of medicines if you are not sure of your knowledge.
- Do not buy medicinal raw materials from the hands.
- Do not take pharmaceutical preparations based on lily of the valley without consulting a doctor.
- Do not exceed the dosage of drugs.
- You can not listen to the advice of friends, since the dosage is selected individually for each patient, depending on the condition and concomitant diseases.
- Do not give lilies of the valley to children, as the whole plant is poisonous.
- If there are small children in the family, care must be taken to ensure that the child does not drink water from the vase where the lilies of the valley stood.
Remember that the cardiac glycosides that make up lily of the valley can be fatal if first aid is not provided in time.
Lily of the valley is a well-known plant with white flowers and a pronounced aroma. The flower is used to prepare various medicines, but in some cases is dangerous to humans. Lily of the valley poisonous or not? What is the harm of the plant?
Lily of the valley properties
It is recommended to learn to distinguish the May lily of the valley from other similar plants that bloom in May and June. This is a perennial plant, belongs to the asparagus family. Listed in the Red Book. Has a horizontal root system good development. The leaves are lanceolate, large, dark green in color, slightly pointed at the tops.
One stem grows between the leaves, above the middle of which one brush with flowers is formed. Flowering lasts up to twenty days, at the end of the process, the formation of an ovary with an orange berry occurs. The fruit often contains two seeds.
The poisonous flower is medicinal and, due to its properties, is used in medicine. The composition contains various useful substances.
Substances:
- Essential oils that have a beneficial effect on the nervous and hormonal systems.
- Flavonoids strengthen the vascular walls.
- Saponins have an anti-inflammatory effect.
- Organic acids normalize the digestion process and have a strengthening effect on the immune system.
- Important trace elements and vitamins.
- favorably acting on the work of the heart muscle.
- Coumarins improve the process of hematopoiesis, restore blood composition.
- Sugars that nourish the heart and nerve fibers.
However, for medical purposes, substances from lily of the valley are used in minimal quantities. It is not recommended to use the plant for medicinal purposes on its own in order to avoid overdose and negative consequences.
What is the danger of lily of the valley for humans
Lily of the valley poisonous or not? Vegetation is considered dangerous to living organisms and belongs to poisonous species. It has toxic all parts, especially fruits - they contain most of the harmful compounds. Poisoning by lily of the valley seeds is possible.
The composition contains cardiac glycosides used for medical purposes, but in small quantities.
When an increased dosage enters the body, an intense heartbeat is noted, there is a violation of cardiac activity, the transmission of nerve impulses. Death occurs as a result of the use of a substance in an amount five times higher than the therapeutic dosage.
Lily of the valley contains substances analogous to glucocorticosteroids - saponin steroids. When ingested, atherosclerosis develops, pressure decreases, respiratory process. There are several reasons for lily of the valley poisoning.
The reasons:
- After the flowering process is over, appearance lily of the valley becomes inconspicuous, and the leaves are very similar to wild garlic. If a person confuses two plants and a lily of the valley leaf gets into food, then serious poisoning occurs, and a fatal outcome is not ruled out.
- Lily of the valley berries are the most dangerous part. Often, children suffer from lily of the valley poisoning due to curiosity and lack of control from adults. Berries retain toxic properties after heat treatment, so it is unacceptable to use them for compotes and jams.
- The manufacture of medicines from lily of the valley requires careful adherence to all proportions and technologies. Otherwise, the development of serious intoxication is possible.
In severe poisoning, the work of the heart is disrupted. Death occurs due to the cessation of cardiac activity and failures in all systems. For humans, even the water in which there was a bouquet of flowers is toxic. A long stay in a room with a bouquet of lilies of the valley leads to a headache and a deterioration in the general condition.
What is the danger of lily of the valley for animals
Lily of the valley fruits and flowers are toxic to domestic cats and dogs and cause serious poisoning in them. However, some wild animals and birds tolerate the poison of the plant well. Many animals of the canine family are insensitive to the toxins present in the lily of the valley. However, most birds and animals die when eating the berries of the plant.
In pets, the fruits of the plant cause heart failure, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy. If these symptoms occur, it is recommended to take the animal to a veterinarian as soon as possible.
Plant poisoning symptoms
Signs of lily of the valley poisoning appear after some time. Clinical manifestations depend on the severity of intoxication.
Signs:
- sharp and intense vomiting, bouts of nausea;
- skin becomes pale;
- there are painful sensations in the abdomen;
- the heart begins to contract less often;
- the rhythm of the heart muscle is disturbed;
- constant desire to sleep, muscle weakness;
- lowering blood pressure;
- confusion, hallucinations;
- cardiac arrest in severe forms of poisoning.
The described symptoms are typical for acute poisoning. With prolonged use of preparations from lily of the valley, a person develops a chronic form of intoxication. It is characterized by the presence of less pronounced symptoms.
What happens:
- A sharp decrease in body weight.
- neuralgic disorders.
- Violation of consciousness.
- Insufficiency of the heart muscle.
- Failures of visual functions, a person sees everything in yellow.
The appearance of such symptoms requires prompt medical attention. This will help avoid negative consequences and lethal outcome.
Help with lily of the valley intoxication
Lily of the valley poisoning is life-threatening, so you need to help the victim as soon as possible. First of all, when suspicious symptoms appear, a team of doctors is called. Before their arrival, they carry out actions aimed at cleansing the body of the toxin.
What to do:
- Perform gastric lavage. For this purpose, a weak solution of manganese or salt is used. The poisoned person drinks the liquid, then provokes. Washing is carried out until the complete purification of the outgoing waters.
- They give a poisoned person, they will help to quickly cleanse the body of toxins.
- It is allowed to use laxatives and cleansing enemas.
- Give plenty of water to drink.
AT medical institution selected after examination suitable treatment. Prescribe the necessary drugs, medicinal solutions. Treatment is carried out until the complete restoration of vital functions.
Consequences and measures of poisoning
Poisoning with lily of the valley toxins is dangerous for any person. But children, the elderly and patients with diseased kidneys are especially affected. The possibility of developing negative consequences in the form of disruption of work is not excluded. internal organs. The most severe consequence is death.
Observance of safety measures will help to avoid poisoning. Adults should explain to children that lily of the valley and its berries are dangerous. If the kids also go to the forest, then you need to control their every step.
Is lily of the valley poisonous? It is not recommended to use a flower for self-treatment. However, if there is still a desire, then you must carefully follow the entire recipe and not exceed the allowable dosage for treatment.
Lily of the valley is poisonous to humans and animals. Despite the beauty of the flower, there is a real danger. The plant can cause rapid death or disability.
Video: lily of the valley - is a poisonous plant
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Once, in the 80s of the last century, looking through the issues of the journal "Science and Life", I drew attention to the article by the phenologist A. Strizhev "Insidious Berries" (1978, No. 8. p. 159-160). It was about the May lily of the valley. From it I read that: "Lily of the valley drops soothe and strengthen the heart, and in this role the plant has long been featured in the pharmacopoeias of the world as a healing agent. But the lily of the valley is also a poison, its red berries, which are easy to find in the August forest, are especially poisonous." Judging by A. Strizhev, "the lily of the valley both heals and cripples." Marvelous!
I remembered that in some books I met completely different information about lily of the valley berries. I had to look for a completely different look at the May lily of the valley and its fruits. I found the book of the candidate of sciences S.I. Ivchenko "Entertaining about botany", published by the "Young Guard" in 1969. This book begins with the section "Gifts of Nature", and in it the subsection "The Flower of Inspiration" was placed in the first place.
What "flower of inspiration" was discussed in this book? It turned out about the May lily of the valley, which in the north of Russia was given the name forest lily, on the Volga - black cohosh, in the Smolensk region - forest or dog language, in the Moscow region - hare cabbage, in the Don region - wild bird cherry, in Ukraine - convalia, in the Tambov region - juvenile or the culprit.
Legends, songs, and poetry are written about the May lily of the valley. For example, the composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky wrote about him:
... O lily of the valley, why are you so pleasing to the eyes?
Others have flowers more luxurious and magnificent,
And brighter edge in them and more fun patterns -
But there is no charm in them mysterious yours.
The verse, an excerpt from which I have quoted, was set to music by the composer A.S. Arensky.
Everyone knows, in my opinion, the song "Lilies of the Valley", which was popular in the 70s and 80s of the last century, in which there were very good words about the "flower of inspiration".
Latin name: Convallaria majalis.Why did they compose poetry and write songs about the May lily of the valley? I am convinced that lily of the valley flowers - elegant marble balls-buds or bells attract with their unique aroma. Research botanists, in all likelihood, quite reasonably argue that the floral charms of the May lily of the valley were created by Nature not without "intention": the plant specially prepared them for insects in order to make it easier for them to search for flowers, at the very bottom of which a nectar delicacy is prepared for them. Insects, taking nectar from flowers, pollinate them abundantly with the pollen of a generous neighboring flower.
English title: Lily of the valley.
Family: Liliaceae - Liliaceae.
Folk names: eye grass, May lily, Mary's bells, snow droplets, lilies of the valley, rejuvenator, shirt, rejuvenated, culprit.
Pharmacy name: lily of the valley herb - Convallariae herba, lily of the valley tincture - Convallariae tinctura.
However, since ancient times, the May lily of the valley called insects and people to him not only in May. Instead of marble bells, first in June, green peas appeared, which in the Moscow region either at the end of August or in the first half of September turned into red berries.
S.I. Ivchenko wrote about them: “In the old days, red berries-peas of lily of the valley were even a rare delicacy, in search of which peasant children specially went to the forest. ), but, of course, we cannot agree with this.Many experts give very flattering reviews about the medicinal virtues of lily of the valley berries, and in one of the old books I happened to read a curious message that in the Kaluga province, lily of the valley has long been collected and, according to a local saying , used "from chokhu, from gomozu * and from wife's chirping *".
* chokh, -a, m. (old). Sneeze, sneeze. Ch. attacked someone. Doesn't believe in dreams or choh<погов. о том, кто несуеверен и ничего не боится>. Explanatory Dictionary, ed. S. I. Ozhegova and N. Yu. Shvedova
* Gomoz m lower goofy psk. gomozun m. gomozunya f. bonfire Vologda
homozyla vol. hard. gomozga vol. Vologda gomoza, fidget. Play
homosexuals pl. to play pranks, to frolic. (Dal) Gomoz , hamza, gomoza - whirlwind, fidget; to turn around - toss and turn, turn around. (http://ectricon.narod.ru/)
* Zhurba- sadness, grief, grief. (Dal)
Who is right? S.I. Ivchenko, who claims that the berries of the May lily of the valley are edible and healing, or the phenologist A. Strizhev, who claims that "especially poisonous ... red berries" of the lily of the valley? In order to find the answer to this question, I looked into the Popular Medical Encyclopedia (Moscow: Soviet Encyclopedia, 1963). It states: "The ground part of the plant, especially the flowers, contain substances (glycosides) that stimulate the activity of the heart and regulate the heart rate. Lily of the valley preparations - lily of the valley drops, convazid, convallatoxin, etc. - are prescribed for decompensation of the heart, its neuroses and heartbeats.
Lily of the valley tincture, lily of the valley drops - alcohol tincture of leaves and flowers of the May lily of the valley. Transparent liquid of reddish-brown color with a weak, peculiar smell and bitter taste. It is prescribed, like other preparations of May lily of the valley, for adults 15-20 drops, for children 1-12 drops 2-3 times a day, mainly for heart neuroses, often in combination with valerian and hawthorn preparations.
The fact that some parts of the May lily of the valley are poisonous, in "Popular medical encyclopedia"There's not a word.
He turned to the book of A.F. Gammerman, G.N. Kadaev and A.A. Yatsenko-Khmelevsky "Medicinal Plants (Healing Plants)" (M. school", 1984.-400s., ill.). In it, the authors wrote about lily of the valley: "Lily of the valley preparations are used for acute and chronic heart failure. Lily of the valley tincture is prescribed mainly for heart neuroses, both alone and in combination with tinctures of valerian, belladonna, hawthorn ... Lily of the valley flowers have long been used on Russ against dropsy, heart disease, epilepsy, apoplexy, eye diseases (in the form of lotions), from pain in the abdomen, from fever (in wine tincture). Western Europe Lily of the valley has been used since the Middle Ages." There are also no warnings in this book that "May lily of the valley is a poisonous plant.
One old book I read that when meeting guests, landowners always put plates with lily of the valley berries on the table. I have not found any reports that anyone has ever been poisoned by lily of the valley berries. To make sure the gifts of the May lily of the valley are harmless, I once, before lunch on Saturday in early September, went to a not very ecologically clean forest located between the Old (Chkalovsky village) and the New Star City of the Moscow Region, and collected a decent plastic bag of lily of the valley berries. Don't think that I decided to commit suicide. No. For some reason, I was convinced that the May lily of the valley - the plant was mistakenly or specially included in the list of poisonous by someone.
While picking lily-of-the-valley berries, I was noticed by a married couple walking through the forest: a State Prize winner, who worked at the same research institute as me, and his wife. The laureate asked: "Why are you picking these berries? Are they poisonous?" I jokingly answered him: "I want to poison myself."
Returning from the forest, without saying anything to my wife, I ate a couple of handfuls of lily of the valley berries. I didn't get sick from using them. On Sunday I ate another handful of red berries. And nothing happened to me. My mood improved. The "fiery motor" in his chest worked without interruption.
On Monday afternoon, the Laureate accidentally met me at the Institute, looked at me, and asked: "Are you still alive?" He answered him: "Alive. Apparently, I ate a little poisonous berries." In fact, in two days I ate all the berries that I picked on Saturday. As a result, I became convinced that they are edible and that hardly anyone has ever "thrown their hooves" from them.
Then I gathered more lily of the valley berries in the forest of the Vladimir region, filled a liter glass jar with them, filled the berries with alcohol and put the bowl in a dark place. I did not find any recommendations on how much alcohol tincture should be prepared on lily of the valley berries. I let her stand for a month. I tried the prepared potion. Convinced that it is a great medicine.
In general, I tested lily of the valley berries on myself. I did not shout to the whole world that they are edible and healing. Anyway, I decided, no one would believe. In all likelihood, in the 80s of the XX century I was the only collector and consumer of lily of the valley berries in the USSR.
Once I had guests: a school friend, the secretary of the party committee of the Likhachev plant and my wife's brother. During the feast, I was called to the service.
Left the guests, went to the research institute, returned two hours later. The guests sat in the apartment quite tipsy, although they could not get tipsy from what I left them on the table. I found out that they got to the alcohol tincture from lily of the valley berries, drank a two-hundred-gram glass, and their tongues "loosened".
Well, you and daredevils, - I told them. - In the jar from which you drank alcohol, lily of the valley berries, And they, as you know, are poisonous. I am the only one drinking this tincture. And while alive. And how will it affect you? I dont know.
Time has shown that the lily-of-the-valley tincture had a wonderful positive effect on my guests. After that, I began to advise some "cores" to use lily of the valley berries and tinctures from them. Sometimes I am asked the question: "Did such and such a phenologist say that lily of the valley berries are poisonous?" I answer: "It seems to me that the berries of the lily of the valley were made poisonous not by a phenologist, but by a horseradish who does not distinguish wolf berries from lily of the valley berries."
However, they lie that the berries of the May lily of the valley are not edible, not only phenologists, but also the compilers of various books. So S.P. Matsyutsky in the book "To the Tourist about Plants" (Moscow: Profizdat, 1988) wrote about May lily of the valley: "The whole plant is poisonous, but these attractive berries are especially dangerous. Lily of the valley contains a number of cardiac glycosides that cause poisoning ... The fruits of the forest handsome - May lily of the valley contains potent poisonous substances.
G.P. Shtauber - the compiler of "Herbal" (Kostroma: State Unitary Publishing and Printing Enterprise "Kostroma", 1999) wrote about May lily of the valley: "The whole plant is poisonous. One of the first signs of poisoning is vomiting. In severe poisoning, tachycardia, visual disturbances, convulsions are observed. Death may result from heart failure.
The author-compiler V.M. Fedoseenko of the book "The New Encyclopedia of Plants: Myths, Healing Properties, Horoscopes, Plant Calendar" (M.: RIPOL KLASSIK, 2003.-736 p.) wrote about lily of the valley: "People also call lily of the valley: shirt (in the shape of a flower), a rejuvenator (but with medicinal properties), a culprit (tincture of wine) ... In medicine, lily of the valley is used as a heart remedy, for palpitations, to relieve nervous tension, treats rheumatism, eye diseases, mental disorders. Poisonous. "
To be honest, I have an opinion that either someone does not really want our people to be healthy, or the authors of books containing information on the toxicity of lily of the valley are absolutely incompetent people.
I did not set myself the goal of establishing the one who excluded May lily of the valley from the list of benign medicinal plants and included it in the list of poisonous. While experiencing the effect of the red berries of the lily of the valley, I tried to prove to people that the May lily of the valley is an excellent medicinal plant.
I will be very grateful to people who will not pluck the "flowers of inspiration" in May, but will allow very useful healing red berries to form instead.
These berries will help many people (especially "cores!) Extend their lives on Earth. Vladimir ZAMOROKA, Moscow.
* * *
Dry flowers of May lily of the valley are integral part snuff Schneeberger.
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Cautious opinion:Side effects. With the use of drugs prescribed by a doctor from this plant and the correct dosage side effects can not be. But the active ingredients of lily of the valley, contained in all parts of the plant, are poisonous. And yet it should be said that the toxicity of lily of the valley is greatly exaggerated. The tales that a child allegedly died after drinking water from a vase where lilies of the valley stood are not confirmed. Serious poisoning with May lily of the valley is hardly possible, even when eating berries. However, care must be taken.
horror story
May lily of the valley— convallaria majalis L. (fig. 109) Liliaceae family– Liliaceae Rhizome perennial (15-20 cm) with two large oval leaves; flower arrow with brownish scales; flowers are small, white, rounded bell-shaped, with a pleasant smell; fruits are yellowish-orange or red berries. Blossoms: May-beginning of June; fruits ripen: end of July-August. |
Rice. 109. May lily of the valley convallaria majalis |
Spreading. European part of the USSR (from the southern taiga to the forest-steppe); ecological range - wide (dry and wet habitats, coniferous and deciduous forests); thickets; reduces the inland range due to excessive harvesting and forest degradation poisonous organs. Whole plant and fruits (may be eaten by children). Chemical composition and mechanism of toxic action. Contains saponin convallarin and row cardiac glycosides(convallamarin, convallatoxin, etc.), according to the structure of aglycone, belonging to the strophanthidine group, etc. The action of lily of the valley glycosides is similar to that of foxglove (see p. 235). Saponin convallarin irritates the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract, causes diarrhea, affects the kidneys (increases urination). picture of poisoning. Poisoning can occur when eating lily of the valley berries (especially by children), with an overdose of its drugs. Fatal cases are known after drinking water in which lilies of the valley stood. Lily-of-the-valley poisoning of ducks and geese, which have pecked at discarded bouquets, has been registered. However, foxes and other canids can eat large quantities of lily of the valley berries without harm, using them as an anthelmintic. Symptoms of poisoning and first aid: see foxglove (p. 236). Other types. Lily of the valley Transcaucasian - C. transcaucasica Utkin ex Grossh North Caucasus, Transcaucasia, Mountainous Crimea) and l. Keyske ( C. keiskei Mig.) (south Far East) - similar in morphology, medicinal and poisonous value(The first species is often not separated from L. May, considering it only a geographical variety). A similar, but weaker poisonous effect is possessed by representatives of the lilies from the genus Kupena containing cardiac glycosides and saponins (Polygonatum), raven eye (Paris) and birdman (Ornithogalum). |
May lily of the valley poisonous plant healing properties. Taking any parts of the flower causes intoxication, and the consequences of poisoning can seriously harm health.
May lily of the valley is a poisonous plant and the consequences of poisoning can be serious.
May lily of the valley
May lily of the valley - a poisonous plant with medicinal properties. In May-June, during flowering, this plant, because of the beautiful medium-sized white inflorescences, is popular with many lovers of beauty, and the flower is often plucked to be placed at home in a vase. Flowers in a vase are not dangerous to humans, but accidental ingestion of ground parts of a plant can lead to sad consequences.
A little about the flower
Poets and prose writers used many romantic epithets to describe the lily of the valley, but it is worth considering the main characteristics of the flower:
- blooms in the second half of May-early June (earlier flowering is possible in warm regions);
- the flowers are white, medium-sized, bell-shaped and collected in inflorescences;
- leaves are large, bright green;
- in July-August, spherical orange berries appear in place of fallen flower petals.
May lily of the valley - a dangerous, but very beautiful plant
Almost all descriptions of the plant made by pharmacologists and romantics refer to the flowering period. For romantics, this is the period of giving bouquets, and for pharmacologists, the time of harvesting raw materials that have the maximum medicinal value, due to the content of cardiac glycosides, essential oils and other healing ingredients. But May lily of the valley is dangerous not only during the flowering period, accidentally eating stems, leaves or berries can lead to sad consequences.
Plant dangers
Poisonous like flowers. and lily of the valley berries
Due to the high content of cardiac glycosides, organic acids and saponins, May lily of the valley is widely used in medicine. An extract from a poisonous lily of the valley plant helps to slow down the heart rate and has a choleretic effect. Tablets made from medicinal raw materials are often prescribed for the treatment of tachycardia and tachyarrhythmia, as well as for violations of the gallbladder.
But in tablets, the concentration of the extract from the flower is minimal and is not capable of harming the human body. Much more dangerous is the accidental ingestion of ground shoots. This can happen in 3 cases:
- With leaves. After flowering, the May lily of the valley becomes inconspicuous and green, and its leaves resemble wild garlic shoots. If the flower is located among wild garlic thickets, then the picker may not notice that this is a lily of the valley, collecting tasty and useful leaves. When eaten, one accidentally ingested leaf of lily of the valley is enough to provoke life-threatening poisoning.
- By eating fruits. Lily of the valley berries look edible and are often tasted by children. For a child, 2-3 berries are a lethal dose. In an adult, glycoside poisoning can occur when, when harvesting edible berries, lily of the valley fruits accidentally fall into the basket. The main danger lies in the fact that even after heat treatment, lily of the valley fruits do not lose their toxic properties and prepared jams and compotes are toxic to humans.
- Illiterate use of raw materials for herbal medicine. Most sources for users indicate only safe recipes for external use, but sometimes you can find the recipe for tinctures and infusions.
In large doses, May lily of the valley greatly slows down the heartbeat and can cause cardiac arrest.
Poison and salvation
Is lily of the valley poisonous? Yes, lily of the valley is a poisonous plant, but if taken in small quantities, it will help many hearts improve the quality of life:
- equalizes the heart rate;
- slow down the heart rate.
In addition to people suffering from heart disorders, an extract from flowers and leaves will help patients with impaired bile outflow by gently stimulating the gallbladder. But if the therapeutic dosage is exceeded, signs of poisoning may appear.
Lily of the valley is used in medicine
If we analyze the benefits and harms, it can be noted that in minimal doses, the plant extract is useful and pharmacologists often use it to make medicines. Self-preparation of medicinal raw materials with subsequent treatment of the heart or gallbladder can be dangerous.
If you study the main sources about lily of the valley, it can be noted that there are no recipes for internal use, only external use is recommended for the treatment of diseases of the skin and joints. But, when searching on the Internet, you can stumble upon ways to use the plant for ingestion. It is undesirable to follow such recommendations: with illiterate use of lilies of the valley, the harm will be greater than the benefit and instead of feeling better, a person may end up in intensive care.
Can poisoning be prevented?
Flowers, leaves and berries dangerous to people, but simple rules help to avoid poisoning:
- Do not take inside lily of the valley infusions and tinctures. In the manufacture of tablets, the percentage of plant extract is strictly dosed, and in the independent manufacture of liquids percentage may be violated. Violation of the dosage can cause symptoms of intoxication.
- Carefully monitor the collected gifts of the forest. Despite the similarity, the leaves and berries of the lily of the valley differ from other plants. It is recommended to sort out the harvested crop of plants or leaves before harvesting and throw away all questionable raw materials.
Pay special attention to children. If the danger of poisonous flowers and herbs can be explained to an adult child, then for a baby a berry will be associated with a delicacy.
It is necessary to closely monitor the behavior of a small child on the street in July and August, because lilies of the valley, growing not only in the forest, but also in city flower beds, have attractive orange berries at this time.
Help with poisoning
The flower is highly toxic, even the water in which the bouquet stood can cause intoxication. It is noteworthy that not only forest lily of the valley is poisonous, but also cultivated varieties of flowers cultivated on garden plots and flowerbeds.
Symptoms of poisoning will be:
- abdominal pain;
- nausea and vomiting;
- weakness;
- pale skin;
- headache;
- signs of arrhythmia and bradycardia, a drop in blood pressure.
With severe intoxication, confusion and hallucinations occur.
First aid for poisoning
When these symptoms appear, a person needs to wash the stomach: give 3-4 glasses of cool water to drink and induce vomiting. The procedure is repeated several times and it is considered a positive result of washing that only water comes out of the stomach when vomiting.
There are no specific antidotes for this intoxication, but it is recommended to give a person activated charcoal, smectite or other sorbents. After gastric lavage, the victim must be taken to the hospital.
Dangerous Consequences
The greatest danger of poisoning with cardiac glycosides contained in the plant is death from cardiac arrest. In mild cases of intoxication, the development of cardiac arrhythmias is possible:
- bradycardia;
- arrhythmia.
The rhythm can be restored after the removal of cardiac glycosides from the body, or the pathology will become a chronic disease.
Beautiful and dangerous, so you can say about May lilies of the valley. Flowers can be smelled or enjoyed for their beauty, but if ingested, they will cause symptoms of poisoning.
If there is no experience in preparing lily of the valley tinctures, then you should not drink self-prepared products - this can provoke poisoning. It is better to purchase a herbal preparation in a pharmacy.
Video
What does the May lily of the valley look like? How is it used in medicine? These questions can be answered in this video