The fact that it belongs to the plant family Apocynaceae makes it clear: the small periwinkle (Vinca minor), like the large periwinkle Vinca major, contains toxins in not insignificant quantities.
Is Vinca minor poisonous?
The small periwinkle (Vinca minor) is poisonous because it contains over 40 different alkaloids in all parts of the plant, including vincamine and eburnamenine. It can cause he alth problems when ingested by humans and in pets such as dogs and cats.
The toxins contained in periwinkles
The periwinkle Vinca minor contains a total of more than 40 different alkaloids in all parts of the plant. Substances such as vincamine and the poison eburnamenine are mainly effective when absorbed into the body. Since 1987, preparations made from periwinkle have been largely banned in Germany because animal experiments showed blood damage. Certain homeopathy preparations and products are exempt from this ban. You should definitely refrain from carrying out your own experiments with the active ingredients of periwinkle.
The periwinkle as a medicinal plant – with severe restrictions
The evergreen Vinca minor used to be considered a medicinal plant with a soothing effect on, for example, the following complaints:
- tonsillitis
- Boils
- Stomach inflammation
- Circulatory problems
- High blood pressure
Today, substances extracted from periwinkle are still partly used in the treatment of leukemia. However, medicine accepts serious side effects of the plant, which is only slightly poisonous. Nowadays, periwinkle should no longer be considered as a medicinal plant in natural medicine, as the vincamine it contains reduces the number of leukocytes and therefore increases susceptibility to infections.
The danger to pets in the house and garden
Basically, periwinkle can also have a toxic effect on the organisms of dogs and cats. However, alongside many much more poisonous garden plants, it is rare for animals to ingest significant amounts of poisonous plant parts. This is only conceivable, for example, if the evergreen is cultivated as a pot plant in the house and, for example, a house cat has no cat grass at all. But at least be aware of the potential danger and be vigilant as a pet owner.
Tip
Due to the long and flexible shoots, parts of the evergreen are often used to make wreaths after they have been cut back. Since simply touching the parts of the plant usually does not have any negative effects, as with other care measures, no special protection against the toxic ingredients of the periwinkle is necessary.
