The benefits and harms of indoor milkweed, medicinal properties and contraindications

The well-known indoor plant, spurge, can be found in office buildings, on windowsills in apartments, and in green corners of various institutions. Indoor spurge is a poisonous plant. What are the benefits and harms of this favorite flower and why has it become popular among gardeners?

Chemical composition of the plant

A distinctive feature of the plant is a thick, dense stem filled with burning juice - poisonous milk. If drops of milk get on your hands, they dry quickly and are difficult to wipe off from any surface.

The toxic liquid contains:

• Apple acid;
• euphorbion;
• rubber;
• flavonoids;
• coumarins;
• alkaloids and resins.

Any poison in small quantities can be useful. The juice of the plant is used for healing and antiseptic treatment of wounds and abrasions on the skin. Before using milkweed, evaluate the benefits and possible harms of treatment.

Features of different types

Euphorbia indoors is a representative of the Euphorbia family, a succulent plant, the second name is euphorbia. This genus has more than 2000 species. The plant is grown at home on windowsills, in gardens, and greenhouses. The following types are popular for home cultivation:

• Euphorbia Mila is a thorny, tree-like shrub with small oval leaves and small red flowers.
• Euphorbia white-veined - distinguished by a ribbed thick stem. The leaves are located only at the top of the plant, large, oval with white veins.
• Euphorbia triangular - has a triangular stem strewn with thorns, small green leaves form on the sides of the trunk, can reach a height of one meter, and forms branches with age.

Euphorbias are often confused with cacti, but these plants belong to completely different families. There are species called “false cacti.”The following varieties are suitable for growing in the garden:

• Euphorbia multiflora is a perennial succulent more than 3 meters high, with a jagged, dense triangular trunk, blooms in early spring, and needs shelter in winter.
• Fischer's milkweed is grown in beds with medicinal plants; it is popularly nicknamed “man root”; it is believed that with the help of the plant you can defeat various types of tumors and disinfect open wounds.
• Euphorbia cypress - forms a compact decorative bush, is used to decorate alpine hills, in winter it needs additional shelter.

All types of euphorbia secrete a milky toxic substance as juice. Growing these succulents at home is not difficult; the plants are unpretentious and undemanding to the soil. When caring for the plant, it is important not to allow the soil to become waterlogged; milkweeds should be located on the sunny side.

Benefits and harm to the body

The tart juice of the plant can cause a variety of allergic reactions if it comes into contact with the skin. Replanting a bush and taking care of the succulent must be done with caution. If part of the plant is eaten by a child or pet, acute poisoning may occur.

If juice gets into your eyes, they must be rinsed immediately. You should also remember that drops of milk that end up on the floor or walls eat into the coating and are difficult to clean off.

The main beneficial properties are the ability of milkweed to disinfect and heal wounds, and treat insect bites. Since ancient times, the prickly plant has been used as an antitumor agent. Succulent juice fights leukemia and has an active immunostimulating effect. Is spurge harmful or not? The answer to this question depends on the correct and timely use of the plant.

What do they use?

Various parts of the prickly plant can be used for medicinal purposes. When preparing medications, it is recommended to be careful and use gloves.

Euphorbia juice

The caustic juice of milkweed is poisonous, but it is often used for medicinal purposes, using the medicinal properties of the plant. A small amount of milk is applied to skin wounds that have been festering for a long time and do not heal. The juice will sting and the sensation is unpleasant, but the product can completely remove harmful bacteria from the cut and protect the wound from fungi.

The juice burns warts and treats old calluses. A prickly succulent will help get rid of freckles and whiten your skin.

Leaves and stems

In ancient times, the medicinal leaves of milkweed were dried along with the mashed or finely chopped stem. The result was a kind of powder that was sprinkled on open wounds or made into a tincture, which was used during outbreaks of infectious diseases, such as chickenpox.

Roots

Alcohol tinctures are made from the roots of the plant, which can alleviate suffering during gout attacks. A decoction of the roots was used for gastrointestinal problems, epileptic seizures and problems with the nervous system. The products should be used in small quantities; an overdose can cause allergic reactions.

Seeds

From the seeds of the plant you can obtain oil, which is successfully used in folk medicine for cosmetic purposes. Oil improves hair health and prevents hair loss. Among the peoples of Africa it is used as a laxative.

How is culture used in folk medicine?

False cactus has been used as a medicinal plant in everyday life of different peoples of the world. Various parts of the plant are used as medicines for all kinds of diseases.It is important to properly prepare raw materials and create suitable conditions for their storage.

To remove age spots and freckles

It is enough to lubricate your face with fresh milkweed juice. Before and after the procedure, the facial skin is treated with a nourishing fatty cream to avoid dry skin and its subsequent peeling.

Important! Before using the product, you should check your tendency to be allergic to milkweed. Apply a small amount of milk to the wrist and wait a few minutes.

If everything is in order, there is no hives or unbearable itching, treatment with milkweed can begin.

Tincture for the treatment of fungal infections, lichen, eczema and warts

You can apply fresh plant juice by treating problem areas with a cotton swab. Often a different recipe is used. A tincture of the leaves and stems of the plant is used. The drug is used in the form of baths; the effect of milkweed on the skin in this case is considered less aggressive.

Decoction for stomach problems

Using a decoction of milkweed roots as a laxative and analgesic. The drug is prepared as follows: 5 grams of dried root is poured into 0.5 liters of water and boiled for about 10 minutes. The broth is cooled and used for a week, one tablespoon three times a day before meals.

A decoction for diseases of the nervous system, shortness of breath and to eliminate epileptic seizures

Use a decoction of leaves and roots. It is best to use fresh parts of the plant, which must be washed and immersed as a whole in a container of water. Cook the ingredients for 15 minutes. Then the roots and leaves are squeezed out and removed. The decoction is stored in the refrigerator and taken one tablespoon per day.

Home hair removal with milkweed juice

Magic milk will get rid of unwanted body hair. Euphorbia juice is dried on glass or in a ceramic plate. The dried milk is scraped off with a knife and a little water is added until it becomes mushy. The product is applied to problem areas and rubbed in with massage movements.

Milk against lichen

Baths and decoctions of various parts of the plant are used; as a rule, the stems and roots of the crop are used. You can use compresses with a healing decoction.

Infusion for removing calluses on feet

There are two treatment options: baths in an alcohol solution or applying live fresh juice to problem areas. Before the procedure, the skin must be steamed, and then a rich cream must be applied to problem areas.

Precautionary measures or why spurge is dangerous

When working with milkweed, always exercise caution; we must not forget that the plant is poisonous and can cause poisoning of the body. Wear gloves and protect your eyes from splashes of milkweed juice.

Skin burn

If the plant juice gets on the skin, a burn may form and the area will become painful. In this case, the area of ​​skin where the milk has gotten must be washed with cold running water, and ice can be applied. If a person is prone to allergies, take an antihistamine.

Getting milkweed juice in your eyes

Associated with unpleasant sensations and a threat to vision. The eyes will burn severely; they must be immediately rinsed with clean cold water. If partial vision loss occurs, contact a specialist. If your eyes are very red, you can use Kromhexal eye drops. A bacterial infection can develop from a burn to the mucous membrane of the eye; as a preventive measure, the eyelids are lubricated with erythromycin ointment.

Milkweed juice poisoning

It can occur in an acute form: vomiting, tongue swelling, and pain in the stomach. It is important at this moment to remain calm and not panic. If all these signs occur, you need to call a doctor or an ambulance. You can try to do gastric lavage yourself, then take activated charcoal or Enterosgel.

If an allergic reaction occurs simultaneously with poisoning, use antihistamines; Enterosgel should not be used in this case until the doctor arrives.

First aid for poisoning

Algorithm of action in case of poisoning:

• Call an ambulance.
• Drink 3 liters of cold water and induce vomiting.
• Take activated carbon or Enterosgel.
• Try to lie down and wait for the doctor.

If a person feels itchy skin or has a swollen tongue, take Suprastin or another antihistamine.

Who is contraindicated to use the plant?

The use of folk remedies in the treatment of various diseases is contraindicated for all allergy sufferers. It is necessary to obtain recommendations from a doctor.

You cannot use spurge:

• Children under 12 years of age.
• Pregnant and lactating women.
• People with individual intolerance to the substance.

When using any traditional medicines, unpredictable reactions and contraindications may occur. Before treatment, consult a doctor.