Privet is a popular hedge plant - and yet it contains a certain amount of toxins. Here you can find out how poisonous the plant is and what the harmful substances in privet can lead to.
Is privet poisonous?
Privet is slightly toxic and can cause symptoms of poisoning such as diarrhea, nausea, rapid heartbeat or seizures if consumed in large quantities. Pets and children in particular should be discouraged.
How poisonous is privet?
Privet islowly toxic Poisoning from this popular hedge plant is therefore rare. Symptoms of poisoning can only occur if large quantities of privet are ingested or small pets or children eat the plant. These toxins contain plant parts of privet:
- Syringin
- Ligustroside
- Oleuropein
Since the concentration of these substances is not very high, privet is still used as a food source by some wild animals. Apparently poisoning only occurs above a certain amount.
What are symptoms of privet poisoning?
Poisoning by privet (Ligustrum) can manifest itself in the form of diarrhea ornauseabut can also trigger a racing heart or aseizure. The olive tree plant with its beautiful leaves and fragrant white flowers is not something to be trifled with. If you have a smaller organism or consume large quantities, privet can cause circulatory problems. Pets such as cats or dogs usually avoid poisonous privet on their own. The slightly poisonous privet is also not suitable food for horses.
How do I help a person who has eaten privet berries?
If poisoning with privet, contact adoctorand give the person plenty of stillwater to drink. In principle, you can always take this precautionary measure, regardless of whether there is actually poisoning. By consuming water you dilute the toxic substances. In this way, if in doubt, you can weaken the effect of the toxins somewhat. The person may also vomit on their own due to the bitter substances contained in the plant.
Tip
Wear protective gloves when cutting
Privet plant juices contain toxic substances that can cause irritation if they come into contact with the skin. For this reason, you should, if possible, wear protective gloves (€9.00 on Amazon) when cutting a large privet hedge.