There are multiple stories about Beethoven’s now-famous last words. One report said he stated, “I will hear in Heaven.” Another report attributed “Plaudite, amici, comedia finita est” to the famed composer (“Applaud, friends, the comedy is finished”). And yet another story says someone brought him a dozen bottles of wine, to which he replied: “Pity, pity, too late.”
When it comes to nature, the general rule of thumb is this: The dangerous stuff looks scary, and the harmless stuff looks beautiful (or, at the very least, unassuming). So it might be a surprise, then, to learn that plants and flowers—often beautiful, always unassuming—rank among the most dangerous things on the planet. And no, we’re not just talking about the exotic blooms hiding in the Amazon—we’re referring to the very plants and herbs that grow in your own backyard. Read on to find out which dangerous plants might be lurking just a few feet away.
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Known for its striking flowers in the summertime, the oleander plant also holds a deadly secret: every part of it is highly toxic. According to a 2010 study published in Heart Views, parts of the oleander plant contain cardiac glycosides, compounds that can cause acute cardiac toxicity and digestive issues. Those who ingest the plant can also suffer symptoms that range from an erratic pulse to a coma.
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Native to tropical areas and often found in Florida, the rosary pea is considered one of the most invasive—and one of the most dangerous—plant species. According to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the plant’s seeds contain the poison abrin. And it turns out, there’s enough abrin in just one seed to kill you if swallowed.
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Ageratina altissima, or white snakeroot, is a poisonous herb found in North America that contains a toxic alcohol called tremetol. But just how poisonous is this plant? Well, back when explorers were first settling Indiana and Ohio in the early 19th century, it’s estimated that up to half of their deaths—including that of Abraham Lincoln’s mother, Nancy Hanks Lincoln—were caused by indirectly ingesting white snakeroot. Cattle and other livestock in the area would eat the seemingly benign herb and pass the poisonous tremetol to humans via their milk. The illness was known as fatal milk sickness.
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American pokeweed is found in almost every area in the U.S., save for a few states in the northwestern region. And while the plant does produce a purple-black berry known as a pokeberry, the last thing you’d ever want to do is eat one. According to the National Capital Poison Center (NCPC), consuming these can cause everything from nausea and vomiting to low blood pressure. If you have children, make sure to monitor them when they’re playing in your yard, as the NCPC notes that youngsters often mistake these berries for grapes.
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Unsurprisingly, the deadly nightshade plant is, well, deadly. Due to the alkaloids in its stems, leaves, berries, and roots, the plant is incredibly poisonous to the body. Even rubbing up against it can cause irritation to the skin, according to the Royal Horticultural Society. It would take just two berries from this plant to kill a child and between 10 and 20 to kill an adult.
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If you know anything about water hemlock, then it’s likely that you’re familiar with the plant’s claim to fame: killing Socrates. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), this plant contains the toxin cicutoxin, which, when ingested, acts directly on the central nervous system. In the most extreme cases, that could result in grand mal seizures and death.
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This perennial outdoor ornamental herb, a popular staple of outdoor gardens everywhere, can actually be incredibly toxic, according to the Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility (CBIF). Its toxicity comes from the cardiac glycosides and saponins present in the plants, which can affect the heart if eaten. Lily of the valley is so toxic, in fact, that the CBIF notes cases where both people and animals have fallen ill by merely drinking water the plant was in.
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Sure, it’s great in rhubarb pie, but ingesting large amounts of this plant’s leaves can kill you, according to the BBC. Because it contains deadly oxalic acid, ingesting too many rhubarb leaves can cause kidney failure. Thankfully, experts at the University of California, Santa Clara note that you’d have to eat some 12 pounds of rhubarb to really get sick.
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The foxglove plant produces digoxin, an active ingredient in medications that prevent heart failure. According to the NCPC, by ingesting foxglove, you’re essentially “taking an unregulated dose of heart medicine,” which can, ironically, cause heart failure. As such, you should keep this plant far, far away from children and animals.
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When it comes to dangerous plants in your backyard, wisteria is one of the worst ones there is. According to one case study from the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, the wisteria plant can cause headaches, gastroenteritis, hematemesis, dizziness, confusion, diaphoresis, and, frighteningly, syncopal episodes (or temporary drops in blood flow to the brain that result in a loss of consciousness and control of the muscles). These symptoms typically last for five to seven days after eating more than a few berries from the plant—if they don’t kill you, that is.
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When it comes to dieffenbachia, it’s small children and pets that you should be concerned about. Why? Well, both your animals and your youngsters can’t differentiate a dangerous backyard plant from a snack, and they are therefore the most likely to take a big bite out of a dieffenbachia leaf. If your pet or small child does ingest a dieffenbachia leaf containing insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, they will experience excessive drooling, oral pain, vomiting, and a decreased appetite.
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If you seek help quickly, ingesting daffodils won’t kill you. However, according to the NCPC, ingestion can be fatal to small children and pets if left untreated. And while all parts of a daffodil contain the toxic chemical lycorine, it’s the oxalates—or toxic chemicals found in the plant’s bulb—that do the most damage to your body. If you experience throat pain, difficulty swallowing, and severe drooling that persists for several hours, get thee to a doctor, stat.
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As far as the poisonous nature of the popular hydrangea plant is concerned, only the flower buds are truly harmful when ingested, according to the Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility. If consumed, humans can experience an upset stomach, skin irritation, and, in more serious cases, convulsions and coma.
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The honey produced (and sometimes eaten) from the common rhododendron plant is also called “mad honey”—and for good reason. According to the NCPC, the toxins found in the plant cause confusion in those who ingest it, along with dangerously low blood pressure and sometimes even death. (Fun fact: The earliest case of rhododendron poisoning is said to have occurred in the first century B.C.E. when Roman troops were allegedly poisoned with its honey. The day after they were poisoned, they were so confused that they lost a battle.)
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In ancient cultures, yew is also called the “tree of death,” as it was once used as an offering to the gods of death. And there’s a reason why: According to Cornell University’s Department of Animal Science, the yew plant, found in all corners of the world, is dangerously toxic. No matter how you consume the plant, its toxins have the potential to cause cardiac arrhythmia and stop your heart entirely. Animals that eat the plant are often found deceased next to it just 24 to 48 hours after consumption.
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Due to the relatively minimal care required to maintain philodendron plants, they’re commonly found in backyards all over the country. However, as reported by ABC News, they contain a toxin in their leaves called calcium oxalate that can cause inflammation of the mucous membranes in the mouth and throat when ingested. Though it’s not deadly in most cases of ingestion by humans, it can prove fatal to smaller children and pets—and the more they eat, the worse off they are.
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Just a few years ago, a gardener died after simply brushing up against a devil’s helmet plant. And believe it or not, the plant’s exterior isn’t even its most poisonous part. As poison expert John Robertson told BBC News, the most poisonous part of the plant is actually its roots, as ingestion of this specific part causes heart failure. Most fatalities, he says, occur within the first few hours of eating the plant’s roots.
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Tulips might make your garden shine, but they also have the potential to poison your pet. According to the ASPCA, this plant is toxic to dogs, cats, and horses in its bulb especially, and symptoms of ingestion range from vomiting and diarrhea to hypersalivation and depression.
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As its name suggests, poison ivy is, well, poisonous. Found all over the United States, this plant contains a resin called urushiol that causes an epidermal allergic reaction characterized by redness, itching, and swelling. If the plant sets on fire and you inhale the smoke, it can also affect your breathing.
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Angel’s trumpet is a tropical plant known for its Bugle-shaped flowers. And while it’s aesthetically pleasing, the last thing you’d ever want to do is find out what it tastes like: As one 2008 case report published in Paediatrics & Child Health notes, ingestion can cause dangerous hallucinogenic symptoms like loss of consciousness and delirium
Though they’re the place where we clean dishes and silverware, sinks are among the dirtiest places in the home. In fact, a 2017 study published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology reveals that many sinks—even those in hospitals—are crawling with drug-resistant bacteria. Not to mention that the constant wear-and-tear we put on our sinks often means they look less-than-clean, even after they’ve been disinfected.
So, what’s the solution? After sanitizing your sink with an antibacterial cleanser, polish your faucets and tap handles with some wax paper. Not only will this help remove water spots, but the wax will also help prevent future stain
Though they often go ignored during the cleaning process, your vents accumulate a surprising amount of dust and debris, especially during the summer and winter when they’re most in use. But all you need to get them looking good as new is a little bit of Turtle Wax.
According to Stephanie Dulgarian, the blogger behind Somewhat Simple, this wax “works great and makes the vents easy to clean because the dust just wipes right off.”
Cleaning a blender is a perilous activity at best. The tedious task essentially involves sticking your hand into a bowl full of knives and hoping for the best every time you try to remove the remnants of that kale smoothie from your blades.
But it’s actually easy to remove that stuck-on gunk by pouring some warm water, a little baking soda, and a little dish soap in your blender and pulsing it for a few seconds. Afterward, just give it a good rinse or pop it in the dishwasher to get it looking like brand new once again. And when you want to make your home spotless from the ground up
Never, ever spray chemicals like Windex or even water directly onto your sensitive TV screen. Instead, “gently wipe the screen with a dry cloth to remove dust and other debris, but don’t press too hard,” suggests John Walsh, a photographer with Consumer Reports who cleans 250-plus televisions a year. For those tougher stains, you can use a slightly dampened cloth—but again, do not apply water directly to the screen lest you want to damage the television.
Nobody wants to load and unload two rounds of dishes in the dishwasher when they could just shove all of their dirty plates and silverware into one. However, cramming everything into one load will result in dirtier dishes in the long run. That’s according to a 2015 study published in the Chemical Engineering Journal, which found that overloaded dishwashers resulted in less effective cleanings. Better to save yourself the frustration of unloading unclean dishes and do things right the first time.
Cleaning wipes are both cost-effective and time-saving, but only when used properly. So what is the right way to use a cleaning wipe? Well, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), you should let a disinfected surface remain wet for approximately 3 to 5 minutes before patting it dry in order to ensure the proper removal of germs. And though it’s convenient to use a single wipe all over the house, you should only use one wipe per surface so as to avoid cross-contamination
Carpet stains are all too common, especially in households with lots of little ones. Luckily, all you need is some vinegar, some water, and a steam iron in order to eliminate any unsightly spots. Just mix vinegar and water in a 1:3 ratio, apply it to the stain, and then cover the stain with a wet cloth before steaming it for 30 seconds or so. This should have your carpet looking good as new in mere minutes
You’d be amazed by how much bacteria lives on your computer keyboard. One 2018 study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health tested various keyboards both before and after cleaning them and found that prior to the disinfecting process, they contained strains of everything from Bacillus (which can cause a host of diseases) to Staphylococcus aureus (which can cause an upper respiratory tract infection).
Though adding your keyboard to your list of things to clean might be the last thing you want to do, the good news is that it’s relatively easy to cross this task off your to-do list. All you have to do is dip a toothbrush in a half vinegar/half water solution and scrub-a-dub-dub both on and between those keyboard keys to eliminate any germs.
Your baby’s pacifier is going to need cleaning every now and again. However, if your preferred pacifier cleaning method is with soap and water, you might want to rethink your process. One 2018 study presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Annual Scientific Meeting interviewed 128 mothers over the course of 18 months and found that the children of mothers who cleaned pacifiers via their own saliva (as compared to hand-washing them and sterilizing them) had lower IgE levels, which are linked to allergic responses. “We believe the effect may be due to the transfer of health-promoting microbes from the parent’s mouth,” study author and allergist Edward Zoratti explained in a press release.
The bad news: Your pillows are teeming with everything from bacteria to dead skin to dust mites. The good news: Keeping them clean isn’t that hard. In addition to washing your pillowcases once a week and washing the pillows themselves on a monthly basis, buying antimicrobial zippered pillow protectors can help keep your bed free of any unwanted microscopic guests
When and Where People, by MwsR
When newness starts
Stagnation, leaves
Where hope abides
People will believe.
Limitless is the imagination
On this planet we live
Where we strive
People start to give.
Forward,often hoping to make the change
In a desperate world,
When survival often kicks in
People start acting strange.
Everyone looking only at tragedy
Right before their very eyes
When compassion comes in
People stop thinking just about their selves
If simple was the life we were meant to have or possess
The difficult would have no purpose
When it gets hard
People grow and tend to think of themselves less.
Let’s all take a second or two,
Take time to reflect
Where mind is over matters
People will shine true.
Sometimes, aspects of things in our lives can be looked at like a pressure washer.
Some things have to be handled immediately or it might create a permanent stain.
Sometimes, parts of our lives need swift firm handling, that we can give.
On the other hand, not everything needs that, some things can’t take it.
Also ,without the right components,we cannot achieve our task at hand.
LESSON…
All too often, we fail to stand back, take notice, and adjust things. We often go “full blast” and by doing so tear away the “protective coating” or cause damage.
By Michelle
While low-dose aspirin can help prevent heart attack, other painkillers in the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug family (NSAIDs)—which include ibuprofen—have been associated with an increase in the chance for heart attack or stroke. A 2017 British Medical Journal study reported a 20 to 50 percent elevated risk of heart attack among people who used NSAIDs daily for a week or more. The increased risk associated with ibuprofen could be as high as 75 percent. The greatest danger occurred within the first month of NSAID use and at high doses. Those with heart disease or at risk for heart disease should be especially mindful of these findings, though the elevated risk affects everyone, says Catherine Sherwin, PhD, chair of the clinical pharmacology track at the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists PharmSci 360 Meeting. If you’re taking blood-pressure medication, be especially cautious—NSAIDs could make them less effective. Talk to your doctor about alternative medications to treat your pain, whether it’s, say, a Tylenol for a headache or physical therapy for back pain.
Anticoagulants (such as Warfarin) and antiplatelets (such as Plavix) prevent blood from clotting easily. Anticoagulants are typically prescribed for people at high risk for stroke (such as those with atrial fibrillation or artificial heart valves), or those who’ve suffered from a pulmonary embolism; antiplatelets are usually advised for those who’ve already suffered a heart attack or stroke, as a way to prevent it from happening again. The problem? ‘The combination of these drugs with ibuprofen could significantly increase the risk for bleeding complications,’ says David Craig, PharmD, pharmacist lead at the Moffitt Cancer Center and American Pain Society E-News editor. So instead, discuss other options with your doctor; for instance, you may consider celecoxib, which may be less likely to induce bleeding.
NSAIDs not only irritate the lining of the stomach and intestines, but they can also reduce blood flow in the area and impair its ability to fix itself. So if you already have digestive issues, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), you probably wouldn’t want to pop an Advil or Motrin or any other NSAID. They’re not effective for pain associated with IBD and, in the cases where you’re suffering from other achy issues, you’re better off talking to your doctor about alternative treatments. Acetaminophen may be a good option for headache pain, for instance. According to Venkata Yellepeddi, Ph.D., adjunct assistant professor in pharmaceutical chemistry at the University of Utah, if you have trouble with menstrual cramping, birth control pills could help
NSAIDs have been found to harm the fetus, raising the risk of miscarriage in early pregnancy and heart defects in the third trimester. What’s more, a recent Human Reproduction study on fetal tissue suggests an association between women who have taken ibuprofen during their first trimester and a subsequent reduction in egg development in the fetal ovaries—which could compromise a daughter’s future fertility. Ibuprofen is also not a good idea during labor and delivery since it could lead to prolonged bleeding. If you’re in need of pain relief at some point over the course of your pregnancy, check with your doctor.
A few years ago, researchers reported that NSAIDs may be useful for treating urinary tract infections. Besides possibly soothing pain, they may reduce recurrence, as well as help curb the use of antibiotics—a good thing, given the threat of antibiotic resistance. The hitch? NSAIDs might actually not do any of that: ‘There’s conflicting evidence in the literature on the effectiveness of ibuprofen, and it’s dependent on the antibiotic with which it’s compared,’ says Sherwin. In addition, a PLOS Medicine study reports that women who took ibuprofen only to treat a UTI took an average of three days longer to heal than those on antibiotics, and they had a slightly higher risk of complications.
Arthritis sufferers have long taken ibuprofen and other NSAIDs for arthritis pain. But because of its negative effects on the gastrointestinal and cardiovascular system, certain patients—particularly if they had a history of stomach or heart issues—should probably think twice before popping an ibuprofen.
A 2017 European Heart Journal paper compared the blood pressure effects of different types of NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen, and celecoxib) on osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis patients. The verdict? All the drugs were associated with an increased risk of hypertension—and ibuprofen had the worst impact, with 23.2 percent of patients on the drug going from normal to hypertensive, compared to 19 percent for naproxen and 10.3 percent for celecoxib.
What’s more, for those with rheumatoid arthritis, NSAIDs are not able to control the inflammation enough to prevent further joint damage. What can? Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) as well as biologic response modifiers (or simply, biologics). Non-drug options—like exercise, physical therapy, and warm baths—can also offer some pain relief.
We’ve been there. You’ve got plans to meet a friend for drinks, and you’ve got an awful headache. But think twice before popping an Advil just before running out for that cocktail. Alcohol can irritate the stomach and so can NSAIDs. Put the two together, and you just compounded your chances of damaging your tummy. ‘Alcohol should be avoided due to increased risk of stomach ulcers,’ says Sherwin, who is also division chief of pediatric clinical pharmacology at the University of Utah School of Medicine. Making matters worse, the one-two punch can also up your risk of liver damage.
Die-hard athletes sometimes take an Advil before, say, a long run. But that may be, at best, a waste of time and potentially harmful at worst. ‘Painkillers are a chemical Band-Aid,’ says Lillie Rosenthal, DO, a medical advisory board member at MedShadow Foundation, a nonprofit group that educates patients on long-term drug safety and efficacy. ‘You have to listen to the body and figure out the cause,’ says Dr. Rosenthal, who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation.
With ibuprofen muting the pain, you may not know if you’re overexerting yourself, or it may prevent you from slowing down or getting help when it’s needed. What’s more, if you’re working out extremely hard—as in ultramarathon hard—taking ibuprofen can exacerbate the kidney damage that’s sparked by rigorous exercise.
In a 2017 BMJ Emergency Medicine paper, ultramarathoners who took ibuprofen over the course of 50 miles (for a total of 1200 mg) were about 18 percent more likely to experience acute kidney injury than those who took a placebo. Extreme workouts tax the kidneys by drawing blood to the muscles for a prolonged period of time; taking ibuprofen—which reduces prostaglandins, which then, in turn, diverts blood flow from the kidney—exerts a double whammy on the kidneys. Also, an ibuprofen may not even be that helpful. In a small 2015 study published in the Journal of Athletic Training, researchers rounded up experienced runners, had them do a baseline workout, and then induced muscle pain in their legs through strenuous exercise (ouch!). Later, the subjects were either given ibuprofen or placebo and then told to do a follow-up workout. The difference? Essentially, none. One possible reason, say the researchers, may be that the drug’s effect on the heart may compromise oxygen uptake and negate any gains in pain reduction.
Ibuprofen and other NSAIDs quell inflammation by inhibiting an enzyme that reduces the production of substances called prostaglandins, which help with healing. The issue is that interfering with prostaglandins could exacerbate asthma. That’s why the insert in your ibuprofen packages warns asthma sufferers to exercise caution, says Marilyn E. Morris, PhD, SUNY Buffalo distinguished professor and chair of the department of pharmaceutical sciences. ‘Asthmatics who have a demonstrated sensitivity to NSAIDs, like ibuprofen, could have a life-threatening bronchospasm event,’ explains Craig. ‘These patients should talk to their doctors about alternative options to manage pain.’
Published in 1921, Monday or Tuesday was one of eight short stories in her collection with the same title.
[Photo by Chris Harshaw, Tricolor heron fishing, 2008]
LAZY AND INDIFFERENT, shaking space easily from his wings, knowing his way, the heron passes over the church beneath the sky. White and distant, absorbed in itself, endlessly the sky covers and uncovers, moves and remains. A lake? Blot the shores of it out! A mountain? Oh, perfect the sun gold on its slopes. Down that falls. Ferns then, or white feathers, for ever and ever–
Desiring truth, awaiting it, laboriously distilling a few words, for ever desiring—(a cry starts to the left, another to the right. Wheels strike divergently. Omnibuses conglomerate in conflict)—for ever desiring—(the clock asseverates with twelve distinct strokes that it is midday; light sheds gold scales; children swarm)—for ever desiring truth. Red is the dome; coins hang on the trees; smoke trails from the chimneys; bark, shout, cry “Iron for sale”—and truth?
Radiating to a point men’s feet and women’s feet, black or gold-encrusted—(This foggy weather—Sugar? No, thank you—The commonwealth of the future)—the firelight darting and making the room red, save for the black figures and their bright eyes, while outside a van discharges, Miss Thingummy drinks tea at her desk, and plate-glass preserves fur coats——
Flaunted, leaf-light, drifting at corners, blown across the wheels, silver-splashed, home or not home, gathered, scattered, squandered in separate scales, swept up, down, torn, sunk, assembled– and truth?
Now to recollect by the fireside on the white square of marble. From ivory depths words rising shed their blackness, blossom and penetrate. Fallen the book; in the flame, in the smoke, in the momentary sparks– or now voyaging, the marble square pendant, minarets beneath and the Indian seas, while space rushes blue and stars glint truth? Or now, content with closeness?
Lazy and indifferent the heron returns; the sky veils her stars; then bares them.
Mws R Writings 