Lily of the valley is known as an appealing plant due to its delicate, bell-shaped blossoms with a sweet, intoxicating fragrance, but very few know that it is poisonous and may cause a threat to health. There is a hidden danger associated with the plant, which people should be aware of because it can cause death if swallowed in large quantities. This blog will give you the information that you need to know about this plant.
What is Lily of the Valley?
Lily of the valley, also known as Convallaria Majalis, is a well-known garden flower that grows across the United States, Europe, and Central Asia. These small and pretty perennials bloom in April and May and create dense clusters, which make great ground cover. However, the lily of the valley is not a true lily as it belongs to the asparagus family. This plant grows in shaded areas under the trees and shrubs and is often used in bridal bouquets.
Historically, the lily of the valley symbolises purity, humility, motherhood and sweetness. It is also known as the May lily, the birth flower for May. The plant contains compounds like convallatoxin, which helps treat certain heart conditions. Nonetheless, it is also considered harmful and poisonous for humans and animals.
Is Lily of the Valley Poisonous for Humans and Animals?
Lily of the valley is a small flowering plant that grows back every year and spreads underground, similar to tulips or daffodils. The plant grows about two feet tall and produces sweet-smelling, bell-shaped white flowers with small berries.
Though the lily of the valley looks pretty, it is highly poisonous to both humans and animals. The different parts of the plant, including flowers, berries, leaves and majorly the roots, contain toxic compounds known as cardiac glycosides. These toxins can cause severe, life-threatening problems within hours of consumption.
Lily of the valley contains saponins, which can cause harm to pets like dogs and cats, as well as humans, if consumed. Unlike other lilies, lilies of the valley do not cause kidney damage. Nonetheless, lily of the valley is still one of the most toxic flowering plants that are commonly found in gardens. Hence, it is advised to keep the lily of the valley away from the reach of kids and pets for safety purposes.
Symptoms of Lily of the Valley Poisoning
Lily of the valley, being a poisonous plant, causes skin and eye irritation. The following are some of the common symptoms to keep an eye on after coming into contact with the plant:
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Tightness in the chest
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Diarrhoea
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Cardiac arrhythmia
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Visual Disturbances
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Dizziness
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Nausea
If any part of the plant is eaten accidentally, it becomes risky and requires quick medical attention. The person can have high blood pressure, a high pulse rate and later on, they may experience low blood pressure and difficulty in breathing. The heart will stop working if not treated on time.
How to Treat Poisonous Lily of the Valley?
Treatment for humans
Doctors and nurses will carefully monitor pulse rate and blood pressure to check the condition of patients. For human treatment, doctors may give activated charcoal to soak up the poison in the stomach and will give medicines to assist in moving through the digestive system faster. Patients may also get IV fluids to keep their bodies hydrated and other medications that will reduce the harmful effects of the toxins.
Patients with symptoms like an irregular heartbeat may get specific medicines from the doctor to bring their heart rhythm back to normal. The symptoms may persist for three days; hence, it is suggested to stay back in the hospital for better monitoring. The chances of death decrease and recovery increases with quick and proper treatment.
Pet Treatment
It is very crucial to take your pet to the vet immediately if they consume lily of the valley. The vet will make the pet vomit to remove the toxins from their body if it’s been only a few hours since the pet ate the plant. Pets are prescribed nausea medicine, activated charcoal and IV fluids too. The vet will also assess the heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature of the vet to figure out the condition and assist with the best treatment.
Seek Medical Help!
Lily of the valley is beautiful, but fatal. The fragrance and charm of this plant can be enjoyed safely as long as it is not touched or consumed by humans or animals. In case of even minor contact with the plant, immediately reach out to nearby hospitals for immediate treatment. As a precautionary measure, keep yourself away from the lily plant to avoid any fatal health problems.
