Caryophyllum is a beautiful flower, it has colorful flowers and sweet aroma, is a favorite ornamental plant for many people. But, you know what? Caryophyllum is actually a poisonous plant, its flowers, stems, leaves, roots all contain toxic alkaloids, if ingested or contact with wounds, may cause poisoning or allergic reactions. Therefore, caryophyllum cannot be raised, especially in families with small children or pets. This article will introduce why caryophyllum cannot be raised from the following aspects, and how to prevent and deal with caryophyllum poisoning.
## Toxicity of Caryophyllus
Caryophyllum belongs to the caryophyllaceae family, and its scientific name is Dianthus, which means "flower of the gods". Caryophyllum has many varieties and colors, common ones are Caryophyllum First Kiss, Caryophyllum Lady, Green Caryophyllum and so on. The flower language of Caryophyllum is "pure love" or "eternal beauty", but it hides mortal danger.
Caryophyllum contains an alkaloid called dianthine, which is toxic to both humans and animals. Caryophyllene can inhibit cell division and respiration, leading to tissue necrosis and organ failure. Caryophyllene can also affect the nervous system, causing dizziness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, coma and other symptoms. If ingested in large quantities or left untreated, it can be life-threatening.
## Causes of Caryophyllum poisoning
There are two main causes of caryophyllum poisoning: accidental ingestion and contact.
- Accidental ingestion: Due to the bright color and attractive aroma of the flowers of Caryophyllus, it is easy to attract children or pets to bite or swallow. Especially some people who do not know that caryophyllum is poisonous may use it as an edible flower or a medicinal flower. For example, some people will use caryophyllene to make tea or cook, which will ingest a large amount of caryophyllene, causing poisoning.
- Exposure: Since the stems, leaves, and roots of Caryophyllum also contain Caryophyllene, it may cause allergic reactions or irritating damage if it comes into contact with the skin or eyes. For example, some people use caryophyllene to make garlands or flower arrangements⁵, which will expose the skin or eyes to caryophyllene juice, causing redness, burning, tearing, etc.
## Prevention and treatment of caryophyllum poisoning
In order to avoid the occurrence of caryophyllum poisoning, we should take the following measures:
- Do not farm or buy caryophyllum. If you already have caryophyllus, it is best to dispose of it or give it to others and tell them that it is poisonous.
- Do not keep caryophyllum out of the reach of children or pets. If you want to appreciate the beauty of stone bamboo, you can choose to isolate it with a glass cover or other transparent material, or replace it with photos or paintings.
- Do not use caryophyllum as a food or medicinal flower. If you want to use flowers to make tea or make dishes, you can choose some non-toxic flowers such as chrysanthemums, roses, jasmine, etc.
- Do not use caryophyllum for garlands or flower arrangements. If you want to decorate or give away with flowers, you can choose some thornless flowers such as lilies, peonies, orchids, etc.
- Wear gloves and glasses when touching caryophyllum and avoid direct contact with caryophyllum sap from the skin or eyes. If you accidentally come into contact, rinse immediately with water and seek medical attention in time.
If caryophyllum poisoning occurs, we should take the following measures:
- If you mistakenly ingest Caryophyllus, immediately induce vomiting or enema, expel toxins from the body, and dilute them with plenty of water or milk. If necessary, take activated charcoal or other antidotes and seek prompt medical attention.
- If skin or eyes come into contact with caryophyllum sap, rinse immediately with water and apply some anti-allergic or anti-inflammatory ointment. If there is severe redness, swelling, burning, tearing and other phenomena, seek medical attention in time.
- If dizziness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, coma and other symptoms of neurological poisoning occur, immediately send to the hospital for treatment, and give oxygen, rehydration, blood pressure and other measures.
## Conclusion
Caryophyllum is a poisonous plant, its flowers, stems, leaves, roots all contain toxic alkaloids, if ingested or contact with wounds, may cause poisoning or allergic reactions. Therefore, caryophyllum cannot be raised, especially in families with small children or pets. We should pay attention to the prevention and treatment of caryophyllum poisoning and protect the health of ourselves and our families.