Poinsettia

Poinsettia, which is also known by the names Advent star, Christmas star and poinsettia, as well as by its Latin name Euphorbia pulcherrima, is a flowering plant. The whole plant and its sap/latex are used to make medicine. Despite serious safety concerns, poinsettia is used to treat fevers, to stimulate milk production in breastfeeding women and to induce abortion. Poinsettia latex is used to kill bacteria, reduce pain and as an emetic. Some people apply poinsettia latex directly to the skin to remove hair, treat warts and cure other skin conditions. It is also applied directly to the affected areas for toothache.

How does poinsettia work?

There is not enough information available to say poinsettia could work as a medicine.

How effective is poinsettia?

There is not enough scientific data to make a statement about the effectiveness of poinsettia for fever, pain and infection, and when applied to the skin for skin conditions, warts and toothache. Further scientific research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of poinsettia in these applications.

Safety and side effects

Poinsettia may not be safe and harmless. It can cause skin rashes, serious irritation to the eyes and irritation or burns to the mucous membranes of the mouth, throat, stomach and intestines. Recent studies suggest that the plant is less toxic than previously thought. In America, there are reports of 22,793 cases of potential poisoning without fatalities, of which 92.4% were found to be non-toxic.

Precautions and warnings

Children: Poinsettia may not be safe for children if ingested or applied to the skin. Poinsettia may have caused the poisoning death of a 2 year old child.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Poinsettia may not be safe for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding, so pregnant and breastfeeding women should refrain from using it.

Digestive tract disorders such as peptic ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn's disease: Poinsettia may irritate the digestive tract, so it should not be used if you suffer from any of these conditions.

Interactions

There is currently no information on interactions between poinsettia and medications or supplements.

Dosage

An appropriate dosage of poinsettia depends on various factors such as age, state of health and others. At the present time, there is insufficient scientific data to make a statement about appropriate dosage ranges for poinsettia. For this reason, you should follow the dosage instructions on the label and/or consult a doctor or pharmacist before use.

References

1. Krenzelok EP, Jacobsen TD, Aronis JM. Poinsettia exposures have good outcomes...just as we thought. Am J Emerg Med 1996;14:671-4.