A symbol of May Day and spring, lily of the valley can be very toxic for the digestive tract and the heart. The Poison Control Centers report about sixty accidental poisonings per year in France.
May, the 1stit is customary to pick, buy or offer a sprig of lily of the valley found in the forest or at flower shops. These little bells symbolize the return of spring and sunny daysand would wear happiness. But cautionlily of the valley (from its scientific name Convallaria majalis) is a plant of the Liliaceae family, which contains substances that irritate the digestive tract and are toxic to the heart – cardiotoxic saponins and glycosides – which can cause fatal poisoning in humans (and animals). Poison Control Centers would receive between 40 and 60 calls per year in connection with a thrush poisoningparticularly around May 1.
What is dangerous in thrush? At what dose?
According to Animal Poison Control Centerpoisoning occurs through ingestion of plant parts : stems, leaves, berries (red berries which adorn the leaf in autumn)… All parts of the plant are toxic to humans and animalsAnd even the water from the vase. Also, the Wilted and dried lily of the valley remains poisonous. The toxic dose is poorly known. A few milligrams of pure toxin are enough to cause a reaction, including in the child. The Poison Control Centers estimate that a large quantity of thrush corresponds to the equivalent of 3 to 5 berries in adults or 1 or 2 in children (Or 2 leaves or 2 stems) and that requires emergency care at the hospital with cardiac monitoring. Are particularly at risk:
- young children
- Adults with a smell disorder
- Older people with cognitive impairment
What are the symptoms and dangers of thrush poisoning?
If accidentally ingested, thrush can cause:
- Of the digestive and abdominal pain
- Of the mouth sore and an hypersalivation
- Of the nausea and vomiting
- important diarrhea sometimes hemorrhagic
In case of ingestion in large quantities (which is rare in humans): cardiovascular effects, hypotension And slow heart rate (bradycardia). “Thrush contains substances from the digitalis family. Digitalis is used in cardiology so ingesting thrush can have cardiac effects”, explained to us Dr Jérôme Langrand, doctor at the Paris Poison Control Center, during a previous interview on toxic plants.
Be sure to keep lily of the valley out of reach of children and animals (cats, dogs, etc.).
What to do in case of thrush poisoning? What treatment?
► In case of ingestion ofa small amount of plant : immediately contact the Poison Control Center closest to you. The interlocutor, online, will assess the toxic exposure and will tell you what to do. He may ask you for the name of the plant or its detailed description, the part of the plant that was ingested (berry, flower, leaf, stem…), the quantity swallowed, the time between ingestion and the call. or the symptoms observed.
► In case of ingestion ofa lot of plants (5 or more berries, 2 leaves or 2 or more stems): you have to go immediately to the nearest Emergency DepartmentOr call the fire department (by dialing 18 or 112) or Samu (15) for support at the hospital with cardiac monitoring. Antidigitalic antibodies (Digidot®) or atropines against bradycardia can also be considered.
► In any case, be sure to keep lily of the valleys out of reach of children and animals. As a preventive measure, it is advisable to never leave the vase of soiled water on a tableespecially if the vase is a glass.
List of Emergency Poison Control Centers available 24 hours a day:
| City | Number |
|---|---|
| Angers | 02 41 48 21 21 |
| Bordeaux | 05 56 96 40 80 |
| Lille | 08 00 59 59 59 |
| Lyons | 04 72 11 69 11 |
| Marseilles | 04 91 75 25 25 |
| Nancy | 03 83 22 50 50 |
| Paris | 01 40 05 48 48 |
| Toulouse | 05 61 77 74 47 |
Beware of the confusion between lily of the valley and wild garlic!
There is a real risk of confusion between the edible leaves of wild garlic (Allium ursinum) and those toxins from thrushwarns the Belgian Poison Center on its website. To tell them apart:wild garlic has a characteristic garlic odor, star-shaped white flowers and ends in a white, elongated bulb, while lily of the valley has two to three rigid leaves on the same stem. The stem of lily of the valley flowers does not exceed the leaves in height.
Sources:
– French Toxovigilance Poison Control Centers
– Risk of poisoning, French firefighters
– Poisonous plants at the pharmacy. Life Sciences [q-bio]. 2019. ffdumas-02329325 – Floriane Wartel.
– Poison Control Centers of Belgium