Why is spathiphyllum dangerous for humans and animals?

Having decided to buy an exotic plant with elegant white flowers, people often wonder whether spathiphyllum is dangerous – poisonous or not. “Women's happiness”, as it is also called, can become a wonderful decoration for any interior, but when keeping it at home, it is necessary to take precautions.

Brief description of spathiphyllum

Spathiphyllum is a perennial plant from the Ariodaceae family. It has more than 45 species, some of which can be grown indoors. Its homeland is the countries of South America and East Asia. In the wild, it grows in humid tropical forests with swampy soil, mainly on the edge of water bodies.

At home, spathiphyllum is unpretentious and easily adapts to indoor conditions. No special care is required, except for regular watering and moistening of the leaves.

Is spathiphyllum poisonous?

Spathiphyllum juice contains a toxic substance - calcium oxalate. This compound can cause poisoning, mucous membrane burns, and also a strong allergic reaction. It can enter the body not only by direct ingestion of plant parts, but also through the skin.

Therefore, it is not recommended to grow “women’s happiness” in houses where there are small children and animals.

Useful properties of the flower

In addition to the fact that spathiphyllum is a home decoration, adds coziness to the living space and pleases the eye, this tropical plant also has a number of other useful properties:

1. Absorbs excess carbon dioxide and produces oxygen.
2. Cleans the air of harmful impurities. The compounds are absorbed by the leaves, then pass to the root system and are removed into the soil, where they are gradually broken down by the activity of microorganisms.
3. Destroys airborne fungal spores.

Plant allergy

Allergy sufferers may experience various reactions, manifested in the form of skin rashes or respiratory depression.

What causes

Spathiphyllum is an allergen only during the flowering period. The pollen, which has a strong smell, causes an undesirable reaction in the body. The rest of the time, the plant is harmless to allergy sufferers.

Symptoms

The main symptoms of an allergic reaction to spathiphyllum are:

• photophobia;
• dry cough;
• dyspnea;
• weakness;
• sweating;
• hives.

At the same time, symptoms typical of bronchial asthma may also appear:

• suffocation;
• wheezing when inhaling and exhaling.

Treatment

If allergy symptoms appear, you should consult a doctor. Both for the treatment of an attack and for the purpose of preventing its occurrence, specialized anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed, for example, Cromoglin or Allergocrom, as well as antihistamines (H1 blockers), such as Zyrtec or Claritin. The dosage is determined directly by the attending physician.

Harmful to humans

This beautiful houseplant can cause a lot of problems if you do not follow simple safety rules. Poisoning can occur as a result of swallowing any part (leaves, stems, flowers, rhizome). Sometimes intoxication can also occur upon contact with the skin, if there are wounds on the surface of the epidermis.

Spathiphyllum is especially dangerous for children and people with a weakened immune system. When ingested, the juice can cause the following reactions:

1. Burn of the mucous membrane of the larynx and esophagus.
2. Digestive upset.
3. Stomach pain.
4. Swelling of the airways.

Symptoms of poisoning

Calcium oxalate causes depression of muscle activity. In this regard, the main symptoms of poisoning are:

• convulsions;
• dyspnea;
• heart rhythm disturbance;
• blood pressure surges;
• nausea;
• laryngeal edema;
• diarrhea;
• confusion;
• weakness.

First aid

In case of poisoning, it is necessary to call a doctor immediately. Calcium oxalate is an extremely dangerous substance, so delay in providing qualified assistance is fraught with consequences for the health and life of the victim.

While waiting for the doctor, you should follow the instructions:

1. Rinse the skin surface and mucous membranes where the toxic substance has come into contact with cold water.
2. If the juice was swallowed, you need to drink as much water as possible. It must be cold, you can even add ice to it.
3. Eating food is prohibited.
4. You cannot perform gastric lavage on your own.
5. Take a horizontal position, place your head on the side so that in case of swelling of the larynx, the tongue does not fall back.

Why is spathiphyllum dangerous for animals?

Spathiphyllum juice is dangerous not only for people, but also for their pets. Often dogs and cats try to compensate for the lack of nutrients by eating houseplants. Some of them can be beneficial for your four-legged pet, but this does not apply to spathiphyllum.

When swallowed, this plant causes swelling and inflammation of the oral cavity and respiratory tract. This condition is extremely dangerous and can cause death. You cannot take risks and self-medicate; you must take your pet to the vet as soon as possible.

Spathiphyllum juice is also dangerous for the animal's vision. When it gets into the eyes, the caustic substance causes inflammation of the cornea, which eventually leads to complete blindness in the absence of proper treatment.

Precautionary measures

When caring for spathiphyllum, it is necessary to observe several simple safety measures that prevent harmful effects:

1. When trimming leaves and faded flowers, wear household gloves.
2. If juice gets on clothing or skin, wash the area immediately.
3. In case of contact with eyes, consult an ophthalmologist.
4. The plant in the house should be placed in such a way that children or animals do not have access to it.
5. Wash your hands thoroughly after contact with the plant.

Magical properties of spathiphyllum

Spathiphyllum has some magical properties. It is believed that this plant helps women to get over a breakup with a loved one, and in married couples it helps to maintain strong trusting relationships. Based on this, the unofficial name of the flower, used by the people, was chosen - "women's happiness".

There is a belief that spathiphyllum can attract money. To do this, you need to place a pot with a plant in a room where banknotes are stored, and put a coin in the tray. Tie the pot with a green rope. If you ask spathiphyllum for help with your financial situation every day, over time the plant will help its owner.

Signs associated with the flower

It is believed that you cannot give, give away or sell your spathiphyllum, it can take away happiness from the person who got rid of their plant in this way. But to give a new, just bought flower as a gift, on the contrary, is a lucky sign. It can be given to both singles and married couples. After all, this plant, if you believe the legends, helps people find their love and keep it for many years.

If a person decides to buy a flower on their own, it is worth following the following rules to ensure that the purchase is successful and brings happiness:

1. The best days to buy are Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
2. The seller must be a blonde with blue eyes.
3. You cannot take change after payment.

It is believed that "women's happiness" dies when the house is dominated by bad energy from constant quarrels and discord. Therefore, it is worth carefully monitoring the appearance of the plant, because it is a kind of indicator of healthy relationships between family members.