Thursday, December 25, 2008 Literatus: The pointsettsia’s sinister side By Zosimo T. Literatus, R.M.T. Breakthroughs
THE use of Christmas flowers in homes as bouquets, door hangs, and Christmas tree ornaments might sound artificial, but doing so could be less dangerous for the kids and adults during Christmas.
Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima), also known as the Christmas flower, is the green-and-red floral symbol of our increasingly Westernized Christmas interior decoration.
The United States National Institute of Health (US NIH), however, warned on the careful use of Poinsettia, as it contains poisonous substances, which cause what medical authorities called Christmas flower poisoning.
Poinsettia is a native species in Mexico, and named so after Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first United States Ambassador to Mexico, who introduced the plant into the US in 1828. The Aztecs called it Cuitlaxocitl (“star flower”).
Its use in Christmas began in Mexico in the 16th century. A legend tells of a young girl who was too poor to provide a gift for the celebration of Jesus’ birthday. The child was so inspired by an angel to gather weeds from the roadside, which turned out to be Poinsettias, and place them in front of the church altar. Since the 17th century, Franciscan monks in Mexico included the plants in their Christmas celebration.
Sinister side. When someone in the family touches the sap of Poinsettias, or perhaps eats part of the plant, poisoning ensues as the diterpene esters are put in contact with the body. This poisonous substance has been isolated in the leaves and the stems.
Skin contact causes blistering, redness and swelling. It is not so dangerous but it could be discomfiting enough to make Christmas crumble to the tune of a festered mood.
Contact with the eyes can cause temporary blindness.
The gastrointestinal impact is a bit serious depending on the amount taken in. Nausea and eventual vomiting can happen, but reportedly not too serious to need a trip to the hospital.
Although differences in individual reaction to this toxin can account for the results, one of which could be spending the rest of Christmas watching cable television on the hospital bed.
In case a hospital visit becomes inevitable, it should be expected that washing out of the stomach, through a tube inserted into the mouth, would be performed.
Stephen Acosta, a physician at the Department of Emergency Medicine in Portland VA Medical Center in Portland, Oregon, advised that if the patient does not exhibit severe reaction such as vomiting, convulsions, or a decreased alertness, having the person drink water or milk would usually take care of the case.
If symptoms occur, any intake must be avoided unless advised by a professional health care provider.
