[Toxicity]
The entire plant is highly toxic, especially the roots and young leaves. This plant has been classified as a poisonous substance in traditional Chinese medicine and is known to be highly toxic, even causing rapid death. It is generally not used for medicinal purposes, but some regions still use it to treat difficult conditions such as rheumatism and pain.
Ingesting a small amount of leaves mixed with vegetables or accidental overdose of medicinal use, as well as suicide attempts, often result in death within hours. Ingesting 10g of fresh stem and leaves (2-12 leaves), 2-8g of root, or 10-38 young shoots can cause poisoning. There have been cases reported where ingesting 3g of root or 7 young shoots brewed in water or swallowed has led to death. There have also been reports of death occurring within an hour after consuming approximately 30 drops of the stem and leaf juice.
According to individuals who have harvested large tea medicine roots, the fresh roots initially have a seemingly aromatic taste, followed by a feeling of dizziness, and then a sense of fear that cannot be avoided. In one case of poisoning in Yunnan, China, four individuals who consumed stems and leaves of the plant exhibited symptoms such as inability to open their eyes, blurred vision, and general weakness, and fell into a deep sleep for 2-3 days.
The pollen of the large tea medicine plant is also highly toxic. Consuming honey containing the pollen can lead to severe poisoning symptoms, and even death.
The large tea medicine plant has a strong effect on the nervous system. The main symptoms include dizziness, slurred speech, muscle weakness and relaxation, difficulty swallowing, respiratory muscle paralysis, ataxia, coma, and even diplopia, mydriasis, ptosis, and deep sleep. Additionally, digestive system symptoms may include burning pain in the mouth and throat, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea or constipation, and abdominal distension. Symptoms related to the circulatory and respiratory systems may include flushing, slow heart rate in the early stages, rapid and deep breathing, followed by increased heart rate, shallow and irregular breathing, respiratory distress, paralysis, decreased body temperature and blood pressure, cold limbs, pale complexion, collapse, and ultimately respiratory paralysis and death. The speed at which these poisoning symptoms appear depends on the method of ingestion, but not significantly on the dosage. Ingesting boiled root water or fresh shoots usually leads to immediate symptoms and death within 1-8 hours.
In China, a folk remedy for poisoning is to ingest fresh sheep blood while it is still warm, and this has been clinically proven to be effective. It is also used in many rural areas to kill pests. Pigs and sheep can eat the leaves without any toxicity, and it can even improve their fur, promote weight gain, and prevent disease.
In the book "Compendium of Materia Medica," it is mentioned that humans who mistakenly eat the leaves of the large tea medicine plant can die, while sheep can eat it and become fat. However, further research is needed to determine if sheep blood contains any chemical substances that can counteract or neutralize the toxicity of the plant.
Legend has it that when Shennong tasted various herbs, he died after tasting the large tea medicine plant.
[Accidental Poisoning]
People often mistake the large tea medicine plant for honeysuckle and consume it by accident. In late 2005, three students from a vocational college in Qujiang District, Shaoguan City, Guangdong Province, picked a bunch of fresh "honeysuckle" while hiking. When they returned to their dormitory, they brewed the "honeysuckle" with boiling water and invited their roommates to taste it. After about 10 minutes, 9 students who drank the "honeysuckle" water began to experience symptoms of poisoning. Although they were promptly taken to the hospital for treatment, one person died. It was later confirmed that the "honeysuckle" they ingested was actually the large tea medicine plant.
