Other toxins include a group of detergent-like compounds known as saponosides, and a derivative of the common buttercup family toxin, ranunculoside, known as protoanemonine. The cardiac glycosides in hellebores include helleborin, helleborine, and hellebrin. Plants often modify toxins to protect themselves from damage, and one of the ways they do this is by attaching a sugar molecule to the toxin. As you can guess from the term “cardiac,” these chemicals affect the heart. Hellebores contain a number of different toxins, and the compounds known as cardiac glycosides are particularly dangerous. The only current and often seen medical use of the plants is to treat mange in animals. Herbalists used it to induce vomiting, with the idea that it would expel worms found in the stomach. Its use as an herbal treatment to kill intestinal worms lasted into the 1700s. The ancient Greeks used it to treat epilepsy and mental disorders, and herbalists from the Middle Ages used it extensively. The use of hellebore rhizomes in medicine dates back millennia, with the first recorded mention dating back to 1400 BC. What does this mean? While a high dose of a particular chemical may be toxic, a lower dose may even be used as a medicine. There is an old saying that the dose makes the poison. Older horses are especially vulnerable to this type of poisoning. In the case of horses, the vet may go to the pasture and paddock to see if grazing patterns can identify the particular species that was eaten. While this can often be successfully treated if caught early, it is recommended that you do what you can to keep your pet calm after you return home to avoid any unnecessary stress on his or her heart. It is critical for the vet to examine the animal’s heart, since hellebore can cause serious and often fatal heart problems, such as heart palpitations and contractions. This will likely involve a complete blood count, biochemistry profile, and urinalysis. Your vet will check your pet’s liver and kidney function. If you suspect that your pet has eaten hellebore, you should bring a sample of the plant with you if possible when you go to the vet. If your pet ate a relatively small amount, you may be instructed to thoroughly rinse his or her mouth. If your pet ate a large quantity of the plant, or if serious symptoms are developing, you will need to bring the animal in for further treatment. Do not induce vomiting or take any other reactive measures unless directly to do so by an emergency health care provider.įor pets, you may call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 88. In the US, call the poison control help hotline at 1-80, or get help online via their website. It’s important to seek medical advice immediately if you suspect your child or pet has eaten any part of the hellebore. This can happen in the case of beta-blockers, steroids, and some chemotherapy medications. In addition to the direct effect of the toxins contained in these plants, they may interact negatively with prescription medications. Seek immediate veterinary or medical treatment if you suspect that any part of the plant has been consumed. The leaves, stems, and roots of these plants are all poisonous.Īlthough seldom fatal, your pet (or even your child) can become very ill if any part of the plant is ingested. They produce different toxins than Helleborus, but the symptoms of poisoning are the same. album is known as green or Indian hellebore. Veratrum viride is commonly known as white or European white hellebore, while V. There are two species of this plant, which are unrelated to Helleborus, and members of the lily family. Hellebores are also known by their common names, Lenten rose, Christmas rose, winter rose, and bear’s foot.įalse hellebore is also toxic. Children and pets may be tempted to eat the pretty flowers, and you’ll need to keep them out of reach. Hellebores are often used in floral arrangements around Christmastime, so it’s important to be able to identify them.
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