With seductively scented flowers, juicy leaves and promising fruits, the angel's trumpet invites you to snack. Anyone who allows themselves to be tempted to eat it is taking a life-threatening risk. This is what happens when people eat angel trumpet.
Is angel trumpet edible?
Eating angel trumpets is extremely dangerous because all parts of the plant contain toxic substances such as alkaloids. Even consuming small amounts can lead to severe symptoms of poisoning such as hallucinations, respiratory paralysis and, in the worst case, death.
Can you eat an angel trumpet?
The angel's trumpet (Brugmansia) is one of the most poisonous ornamental plants that can be found in gardens, winter gardens and living spaces. All parts of the plant contain a dangerous cocktail of toxic substances. These include various alkaloids, which, even in small quantities, can cause serious symptoms of poisoning with fatal consequences. The highest concentration of poison is in the seeds and roots.
To absorb the toxins, just touching an angel trumpet or sniffing the fragrant flowers is enough. The most serious he alth consequences occur when adults, children or animals eat the flowers, leaves and fruits of an angel's trumpet.
What effect does eating angel trumpet have?
With its sensually scented flowers, the angel's trumpet belies its treacherous poison content. Unfortunately, the flowers, fruits and seeds taste aromatic to sweet. There is a great danger that children or ignorant adults will eat an angel's trumpet and have to pay for it with this effect:
- First signs: dilated pupils, speech problems, difficulty swallowing, skin redness.
- Symptoms of poisoning: nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, racing heart.
- From 2 hours after consumption: hallucinations, fits of rage, frenzy, self-mutilation.
- After an overdose: unconsciousness, coma, respiratory paralysis, cardiac arrest, death.
- Lethal dose for children: 15 to 20 seeds.
What to do if you are poisoned by angel trumpet?
If the first symptoms of angel trumpet poisoning appear, there is an urgent need for action. Try to remove as many plant parts as possible from your mouth. Give the patient a glass of still water to drink, but not milk or s alt water. Never try to induce vomiting. Please place an unconscious patient in the stable side position.
Inform the rescue service/emergency doctor. Describe “Who?” About what? How? How much? When?” ate. To ensure that the treating doctors can clearly identify the cause of the poisoning, give the rescue workers bagged plant parts.
What does the angel trumpet look like?
Despite their strong toxicity, the cultivation of angel trumpets as ornamental plants is not prohibited. For this reason, concerned parents and pet owners familiarize themselves with the appearance of the poisonous plant. Brugmansia can be easily recognized by these characteristics:
The angel's trumpet is a South American nightshade plant with furious flowers from July to October. In Central Europe, the frost-sensitive plant thrives as a 2 m to 3 m high, broadly spreading large shrub. The plant name refers to the hanging calyx flowers, which are up to 45 cm long and come in a variety of colors. The up to 25 cm large, egg-shaped or elliptical leaves are striking.
Tip
Intensive care unit instead of angel trumpet frenzy
A couple in Aschaffenburg expected a veritable high from a home-brewed tea made from angel trumpet flowers. Instead of the hoped-for mood high, hallucinations, delusions and loss of consciousness occurred after drinking tea. The hellish trip led the reckless drug users straight to the hospital.
