Presentation
(It was present in Britain in previous interglacials but did not re-colonise after the last glacial period.) Rhododendron spreads by layering and copious seed production (over 1m seeds per bush). [gccv.org.uk]
Some of the mentioned species may also contain the toxic glycoside, " Arbutin " also present mainly in the Rose family ( Rosaceae ). [chm.bris.ac.uk]
Mad honey intoxication is diagnosed with honey intake history before the appearance of the signs and symptoms (clinical presentation), and the treatment is symptomatic. [pubs.rsc.org]
The Honey Man — Second Degree Heart Block after Honey Intoxication International Journal of Cardiology, Published Online 19 December 2008 In October 2007, a 70-year-old Turkish patient presented to the emergency department of a Viennese state hospital [apitherapy.blogspot.com]
[…] weak; they suffered from the cold, and one dried(sic) from pneumonia; they also developed a mild condition of rickets, but did not exhibit symptoms of poisoning by the toxic principle of the laurel and rhododendron. some evidence of rickets was also present [accessdata.fda.gov]
Entire Body System
- Pain
[…] plant genus in the family Ericaceae; contains andromedotoxin which causes a syndrome of repeated swallowing, bloat, vomiting, abdominal pain and frequent defecation. [medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com]
Poisonous Parts: All Symptoms: burning in the mouth, salivation, watery eyes and nose, vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, difficulty breathing, weakness, abdominal pain and progressive paralysis of arms and legs. [thespruce.com]
Chomping on some rhododendron can lead to stomach irritation and abdominal pain. Even worse, it might cause an abnormal heart rate, convulsions, coma and perhaps death [source: The Flower Expert ]. [adventure.howstuffworks.com]
The initial signs of poisoning are headache, confusion, dizziness, vomiting or stomach pain. Later, effects on heart rate and blood pressure occur. Examples of plants which contain cardiac glycosides: Foxglove Lily-of-the-Valley Oleander Squill [chop.edu]
When ingested, clinical signs include gastrointestinal signs (e.g., drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, inappetance), cardiovascular (e.g., abnormal heart rate, heart arrhythmias, weakness, hypotension), and central nervous system signs (e.g [outdoors.stackexchange.com]
- Falling
Marie Iannotti What would fall be without mums? For the most part, mums are not dangerous. However, those garden mums we see on every garden shelf in fall can be a severe skin irritant, for some people. [thespruce.com]
All of them were heavily pruned last fall. Some of their thick, woody stems were sawn off, and the bushes were considerably reduced in size. The biggest and most vigorous bush is recovering nicely. [dengarden.com]
Although beekeepers reported sweet nectar falling in large drops from the rose-shaped flowers, they claimed that honey bees ignored the plant. Bumblebees, however, were seen working it. [badbeekeepingblog.com]
One falls unconscious after overdosing on the honey. [adventuresinbeeland.com]
Within one to two minutes the pleasantly sweet tasting nectar produced a tingling "pins and needles" feeling in fingers and toes, accompanied by the numbness and lack of control that occurs when a limb, deprived of blood circulation, "falls asleep." [scholar.lib.vt.edu]
Gastrointestinal
- Vomiting
Hyacinth Hyacinth Bulbs Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. May be fatal. Narcissus Narcissus Bulbs Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. May be fatal. Oleander Nerium Leaves, branches Extremely poisonous. [provenwinners.com]
Two to three hours later, other signs of poisoning may occur, including nausea, vomiting, sweating, confusion, and slowing of the heart rate. There have been reports of seizures with severe overdoses. [chop.edu]
Symptoms: Headache, stomachache, vomiting, diarrhea, low temperature, dilated pupils, breathing problems and numbness. Marie Iannotti What would fall be without mums? For the most part, mums are not dangerous. [thespruce.com]
According to Wikipedia, symptoms include salivation, perspiration, vomiting, dizziness, and low blood pressure. The condition is rarely fatal and usually abates within 24 hours. [honeybeesuite.com]
- Nausea
Hyacinth Hyacinth Bulbs Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. May be fatal. Narcissus Narcissus Bulbs Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. May be fatal. Oleander Nerium Leaves, branches Extremely poisonous. [provenwinners.com]
Two to three hours later, other signs of poisoning may occur, including nausea, vomiting, sweating, confusion, and slowing of the heart rate. There have been reports of seizures with severe overdoses. [chop.edu]
Poisonous Parts: All Symptoms: burning in the mouth, salivation, watery eyes and nose, vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, difficulty breathing, weakness, abdominal pain and progressive paralysis of arms and legs. [thespruce.com]
However, consumption of enough foilage (especially the leaves), berries of flowers can give symptoms of vomiting and stomach upset, very reduced blood pressure and nausea six hours afterwards. [chm.bris.ac.uk]
Patients may also exhibit any one symptom out of or combination of dizziness, blurred vision, diplopia, nausea, vomiting, vertigo, headache, sweating/excessive perspiration, extremity paresthesia, impaired consciousness, convulsion, hypersalivation, ataxia [pubs.rsc.org]
- Diarrhea
Symptoms: Headache, stomachache, vomiting, diarrhea, low temperature, dilated pupils, breathing problems and numbness. Marie Iannotti What would fall be without mums? For the most part, mums are not dangerous. [thespruce.com]
Unripe tomatoes and the green "eyes" of potatoes contain solanine that can cause moderate nausea, vomiting, headache and diarrhea. Eating large quantities can cause drowsiness, sweating, and changes in blood pressure and heart rate. [chop.edu]
Hyacinth Hyacinth Bulbs Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. May be fatal. Narcissus Narcissus Bulbs Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. May be fatal. Oleander Nerium Leaves, branches Extremely poisonous. [provenwinners.com]
When ingested, clinical signs include gastrointestinal signs (e.g., drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, inappetance), cardiovascular (e.g., abnormal heart rate, heart arrhythmias, weakness, hypotension), and central nervous system signs (e.g [outdoors.stackexchange.com]
Cardiovascular
- Hypotension
Prompt treatment includes intravenous infusions of atropine sulfate and fluids (saline infusions or simultaneous infusion of saline with atropine sulfate) if the patient presents bradycardia and severe hypotension. [pubs.rsc.org]
This report describes our experience treating a patient admitted to our emergency department with symptoms of dizziness, hypotension, and bradycardia, which resulted from consuming azalea blossoms. [springerlink.com]
Diagnostic Considerations In the differential diagnosis, consider entities in which GI upset is associated with hypotension, dysrhythmias (eg, bradycardias, tachycardias), or altered mental status; these are described by the acronym TIPS AEIOU, as follows [emedicine.medscape.com]
When ingested, clinical signs include gastrointestinal signs (e.g., drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, inappetance), cardiovascular (e.g., abnormal heart rate, heart arrhythmias, weakness, hypotension), and central nervous system signs (e.g [outdoors.stackexchange.com]
During a toxic episode patients may experience bradycardia (low heart rate) and hypotension (low blood pressure), which explains the multiple reports of fainting. [naturespoisons.com]
- Hypertension
Mad honey has been commonly used as an aphrodisiac (sexual stimulant), in alternative therapy for gastrointestinal disorders (peptic ulcer disease, dyspepsia, and gastritis), and for hypertension for a long time. [pubs.rsc.org]
Jaw & Teeth
- Hypersalivation
Patients may also exhibit any one symptom out of or combination of dizziness, blurred vision, diplopia, nausea, vomiting, vertigo, headache, sweating/excessive perspiration, extremity paresthesia, impaired consciousness, convulsion, hypersalivation, ataxia [pubs.rsc.org]
Neurologic
- Dizziness
This report describes our experience treating a patient admitted to our emergency department with symptoms of dizziness, hypotension, and bradycardia, which resulted from consuming azalea blossoms. [springerlink.com]
According to Wikipedia, symptoms include salivation, perspiration, vomiting, dizziness, and low blood pressure. The condition is rarely fatal and usually abates within 24 hours. [honeybeesuite.com]
The initial signs of poisoning are headache, confusion, dizziness, vomiting or stomach pain. Later, effects on heart rate and blood pressure occur. Examples of plants which contain cardiac glycosides: Foxglove Lily-of-the-Valley Oleander Squill [chop.edu]
Patients may also exhibit any one symptom out of or combination of dizziness, blurred vision, diplopia, nausea, vomiting, vertigo, headache, sweating/excessive perspiration, extremity paresthesia, impaired consciousness, convulsion, hypersalivation, ataxia [pubs.rsc.org]
- Seizure
There have been reports of seizures with severe overdoses. Azalea leaves are particularly dangerous; swallowing three or more leaves is cause for concern. [chop.edu]
[…] differential diagnosis, consider entities in which GI upset is associated with hypotension, dysrhythmias (eg, bradycardias, tachycardias), or altered mental status; these are described by the acronym TIPS AEIOU, as follows: Trauma Infection Psychogenic causes Seizure [emedicine.medscape.com]
[…] gastrointestinal signs (e.g., drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, inappetance), cardiovascular (e.g., abnormal heart rate, heart arrhythmias, weakness, hypotension), and central nervous system signs (e.g., depression, tremors, transient blindness, seizures [outdoors.stackexchange.com]
This causes a range of symptoms based on where the activated cells are located, such as muscle weakness, vomiting, sweating, salivation, seizures, and either dangerously slow or dangerously fast heartbeat, depending on the dose. [aschoonerofscience.com]
- Irritability
As a skin irritant, it only causes mild and short-term irritation, so you might not even have noticed that it bothered you. However, if the berries are ingested, it is highly toxic and possibly fatal. [thespruce.com]
Dumb Cane) Dieffenbachia All parts Intense burning and irritation of the mouth and tongue. Death can occur if base of the tongue swells enough to block the air passage of the throat. [provenwinners.com]
Chomping on some rhododendron can lead to stomach irritation and abdominal pain. Even worse, it might cause an abnormal heart rate, convulsions, coma and perhaps death [source: The Flower Expert ]. [adventure.howstuffworks.com]
Generally, only mild symptoms such as mouth irritation, nausea, and vomiting are expected from such cases. [poison.org]
- Confusion
Two to three hours later, other signs of poisoning may occur, including nausea, vomiting, sweating, confusion, and slowing of the heart rate. There have been reports of seizures with severe overdoses. [chop.edu]
The Roman soldiers were reported to be confused and vomiting and subsequently defeated in battle after eating the honey. We now believe that they were given honey made from the nectar of the flowering plant Rhododendron luteum. [poison.org]
Lily-of-the-Valley Convallaria majalis Leaves, flowers Irregular heart beat and pulse, usually accompanied by digestive upset and mental confusion. Monkshood Aconitum Fleshy roots Digestive upset and nervous excitement. [provenwinners.com]
To save much head-scratching and possible confusion, when you sow, stick a label in all pots with the variety name and the date. [telegraph.co.uk]
- Tingling
Eating or chewing on leaves of this plant group — including azaleas and rhododendrons — can cause burning, numbness and tingling of the mouth. [chop.edu]
Within one to two minutes the pleasantly sweet tasting nectar produced a tingling "pins and needles" feeling in fingers and toes, accompanied by the numbness and lack of control that occurs when a limb, deprived of blood circulation, "falls asleep." [scholar.lib.vt.edu]
Treatment
Mad honey intoxication is diagnosed with honey intake history before the appearance of the signs and symptoms (clinical presentation), and the treatment is symptomatic. [pubs.rsc.org]
The authors offer first aid recommendations and discuss advanced medical treatment based on the latest published literature. [books.google.com]
The overall prognosis is fair with treatment. When burned the gryanotoxin is destroyed at temperatures of 150 degrees Celsius and above, and no evidence of toxicity has been found in the smoke or coals of the rhododendron plant. [outdoors.stackexchange.com]
The leaves are waxy and herbicide treatment must include a chemical additive to help break this surface down. [brickfieldspark.org]
The gathering of this information was originally undertaken because of interest in an extract for the possible treatment of high blood pressure. [scholar.lib.vt.edu]
Prognosis
This article provides a brief introduction to honey, mad honey and its uses, the effects of mad honey intoxication/poisoning, and its diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. [pubs.rsc.org]
The overall prognosis is fair with treatment. When burned the gryanotoxin is destroyed at temperatures of 150 degrees Celsius and above, and no evidence of toxicity has been found in the smoke or coals of the rhododendron plant. [outdoors.stackexchange.com]
Prevention
However, it is best to tackle rhododendron before it becomes entrenched, because the toxic leaf litter can prevent re-establishment of native plants for years after a stand has been removed. [gccv.org.uk]
It binds to specific sodium ion channels in cell membranes (which I’ve talked about before ) and prevents inactivation, causing persistent activation of muscle and nerve cells. [aschoonerofscience.com]
The researchers suggested that some flowering plants used chemical defenses to prevent all their pollen being used by the bees to feed their larvae, rather than to pollinate the flower. [missapismellifera.com]
Mechanical removal of Rhododendron will still leave a thick toxic humus layer and where this has built up over a number of years the resulting thick mat prevents natural regeneration, reinfestation can easily occur from the seed bank produced over the [brickfieldspark.org]
Grayanotoxins exert their toxicity by binding to sodium ion channels on cell membranes and preventing them from closing quickly, like aconitine. [naturespoisons.com]