Eating House Plants: Not a Good Idea

Eating house plants? Not a good idea! This is Dr. Steven Andrew Davis, Speaking of Health. Few things would seem as innocuous as house plants. And yet, every year people are seen in emergency rooms because of house plant poisoning. The list of poisonous house plants is long. The fruit and seeds of Bird of Paradise, the leaves and berries of English and Glacier Ivy, and all parts of more that a score of others, from Boston Ivy to Caladium, Saddleleaf to Philodendra.

Consider, for example, what happens if one should eat Dieffenbachia, sometimes know as “Dumcane.” Eating this plan can produce so much irritation of the mouth, throat and voice box that it causes inability to speak, hence the name “Dumcane.”

Other house plants can cause severe intestinal symptoms when eaten. This shouldn’t be too surprising because, after all, many laxatives are derived from plants. But some are dangerously potent. Eating only a few castor beans can make a child dangerously ill.

While a host of house plants then can cause mild to moderate illness this doesn’t mean that one shouldn’t enjoy nature indoors. It does mean, though, that when a child, in particular, eats a house plant the local poison control center should be called for advice. And if there’s any question as to the severity of symptoms, that patient deserves emergency care. For a copy of this script and journal reference, access our web site, www.speakingofhealth.com. Speaking of Health, I’m Dr. Steven Andrew Davis for CBS News.