In the TV series "Empresses in the Palace", the Empress uses An Lingrong to "accidentally" remind Consort Qi that oleander pollen is toxic and pregnant women should stay away from it. Consort Qi then tries to cause Zhen Huan, who is pregnant at the time, to miscarry by giving her chestnut cake with a small amount of oleander pollen. Although Zhen Huan eventually realizes that the cake tastes strange and it doesn't cause a miscarriage or harm her health, Consort Qi is still punished and the custody of the third prince falls into the hands of the Empress. Is oleander really so toxic? Let's take a look together!
The original name of oleander should be "Jia Zi Tao", which is said to bear fruit once every 60 years. Because the fruit of Jia Zi Tao is extremely rare, it is sometimes mistakenly called "oleander". However, some places still use the name Jia Zi Tao. It is named after its leaves resembling bamboo and its flowers resembling peaches.
Oleander likes abundant sunlight and warm and humid climate conditions. Its leaves, bark, roots, flowers, and seeds contain various glycosides, which are highly toxic and can be fatal if ingested by humans or animals. The leaves and stem bark can be used to make cardiac stimulants, but caution is required due to their toxicity.
The symptoms of oleander poisoning include nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, and irregular heartbeat. In severe cases, unconsciousness or death may occur. Therefore, when faced with oleander, it is best to appreciate it and not touch it!
Oleander is one of the most poisonous plants, containing various toxins, some of which are even lethal. The most abundant toxin is cardiac glycosides such as oleandrin and neriine. Cardiac glycosides are natural plant or animal toxins that have both positive and toxic effects on the heart. These toxins can be found in various parts of the oleander plant, with the highest concentration in the sap, which can cause paralysis when in contact with the skin.
The toxicity of oleander remains even after it has dried, and the smoke produced by burning oleander is highly toxic. A small amount or 10-20 leaves can have adverse effects on adults, and a single leaf can be fatal to infants. For animals, as little as 0.5 milligrams of oleander per kilogram of body weight can be lethal. Most animals have adverse or fatal reactions to oleander.
According to the report of the Toxic Exposure Surveillance System of the American Association of Poison Control Centers, there were 847 cases of oleander poisoning in the United States in 2002. There have been several cases in India where people committed suicide by eating oleander. There have been cases in Hong Kong where people died from using oleander branches in cooking or stirring porridge. In Taiwan, there have also been tragic cases of people using oleander branches as chopsticks and being poisoned by the toxic sap.
From the above, we can see that the tree, bark, leaves, and flowers of oleander are all highly toxic and can cause uterine contractions, leading to miscarriage. In "Empresses in the Palace", the chestnut cake sent by Consort Qi did not contain a large amount of oleander pollen. Instead, it was the addition of Guizhi soup, which was sent along with the cake, that acted as a catalyst. Guizhi soup is known for its warming and sweating effects, and it can treat colds caused by exposure to cold. However, the dispersing effect of Guizhi soup can exacerbate the toxicity of oleander. Therefore, a small amount of oleander pollen is enough to cause Zhen Huan to miscarry.
Here, I would like to remind everyone that although oleander flowers are beautiful, they are highly toxic. Whether you are pregnant or not, it is best to stay away from them!
