Potentially Dangerous Plants for Humans

[wendy]

Holly Wadsworth-Hill
We’ve recently covered the common garden and household plants that can be poisonous to cats and dogs but it’s not only our pets that could be at risk. Certain plants are poisonous to humans and can cause anything from a mild rash to painful blisters depending on the plant itself, level of contact with it and which part of the plant is touched or ingested.

Thankfully, serious poisoning or harm to humans from plants is very uncommon in the UK – which is rather fortunate when you consider what a nation of keen and devoted gardeners and nature lovers we are. There are, however, a number of plants that can be potentially harmful, with inquisitive children being especially at risk.

Common garden and countryside plants which pose a potential risk from either eating or touching their berries, flowers, sap or foliage are:

Chrysanthemums
- well known skin irritants, always use gloves when handling.

Deadly Nightshade (Atropa)
- a poisonous skin irritant.

Giant Hogweed
- often found growing on riverbanks, the sap of this tall plant can cause painful blistering and acute sensitivity to sunlight.

Hyacinth
- the bulbs of the Hyacinth are a common skin irritant, use gloves and take care when planting.

Mistletoe
- should be reserved for kissing under, and never eaten! Mistletoe contains Phoratoxin in all parts of the plant and can cause anything from blurred vision to breathing difficulties, drowsiness, stomach pain and vomiting.

Narcissus
- Daffodil bulbs can be confused with onions and, if added to cooking, can cause vomiting and serious illness.

Parsnip Plant
- the sap of this wild growing plant can cause extreme sensitivity to light and lead to anything from a slight rash to blisters.

Ivy
- whilst the very poisonous Poison Ivy is only found in North America, English Ivy can also cause mild skin irritation to those with sensitive skin.


Snowdrops
- these can cause sickness and diarrhoea if eaten.

Wild Mushrooms
- these can be either delicious or deadly so, unless you absolutely no your stuff, never pick or eat them.

Yew
- this shrub or small tree can be highly poisonous to humans if ingested and there are some real horror stories related to it. Be sensible, be cautious when handling it and never ingest any part of it. The colourful berries can appear very attractive to children, so make sure that, if you have one, children are taught not to have any contact with it at all.

Also be aware of: Anything with a bite!

Thorns and needles from roses, holly and brambles can cause scratches and usually superficial damage to the skin but, if they get caught in the skin, they can be a more serious issue. If you can’t immediately remove the enemy with tweezers then you might try soaking the area in warm water first. If you can’t remove the thorn or needle yourself and it’s not working its own way out of the skin, don’t just ignore it – call your GP and ask for an appointment to avoid continued irritation and infection.

Stinging Nettles: These are probably the most common British countryside nemesis and if you escaped childhood without being stung then you weren’t nearly as adventurous as you should have been. Stinging nettles are covered in tiny needle-like hairs and it’s those hairs that break off the nettles and embed themselves into the skin at the gentlest brush. The itchy, stinging discomfort doesn’t normally last long but it is very unpleasant – especially to children. The trusty dock leaf antidote is more than just an old wives tale so, if stung, have a quick hunt for a usually neighbouring dock leaf, pull it up and rub it against the skin to neutralise the effect of the stinging nettle.

The good news is that new plants are usually labelled if there is a known toxicity risk and, as we mentioned right at the beginning of this article, dangerous plants are rare in the UK.

Our list is by no means exhaustive but, when it comes to protecting yourself and staying safe in the garden or when exploring the countryside, a common sense approach is usually enough. For instance, wear gloves when gardening, never eat anything unless you know exactly what it is and, despite the temptation to eat fresh from the tree, it’s always worth giving things a wash first – a cursory rinse should do it if it’s from your own garden or allotment.

If you have children, grandchildren or regular visits from young ones, it’s usually enough to warn them of the dangers of touching or eating anything that they find in the garden or when out and about – kids are fearless and have wonderful imaginations – both of which are enviable qualities but, none the less, they can get them into trouble if left completely uncensored. We would suggest that you just double check the ingredients of their home-made perfume or lemonade, before the production process commences.
https://www.mymailgarden.co.uk/advice-t ... ransactors

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