Content
- Vinca minor and its ingredients: caution toxic
- The toxins contained in periwinkle
- The periwinkle as a medicinal plant - with severe limitations
- The danger to pets in the house and garden
- Tips
Vinca Minor is poisonous, but also has healing properties
Vinca minor and its ingredients: caution toxic
Already the affiliation to the plant family of the dog poisonous plants (Apocynaceae) makes it clear: The small periwinkle (Vinca minor) contains like the large periwinkle Vinca major toxins in not insignificant amount.
Next article Vinca minor as an easy-care groundcover plantThe toxins contained in periwinkle
The periwinkle Vinca minor contains more than 40 different alkaloids in all parts of the plant. Mainly substances such as vincamine and the venom eburnamenin become effective when absorbed into the body. Since the year 1987 preparations from periwinkle are forbidden in Germany as far as possible, as showed blood damage in animal experiments. Certain homeopathic preparations and products are exempted from this prohibition. In any case you should refrain from your own experiments with the active ingredients of periwinkle.
The periwinkle as a medicinal plant - with severe limitations
In the past, the Immergün Vinca minor was used as a medicinal plant with a soothing effect on, for example, the following complaints:
Today, extracted from the evergreen substances are still partially used in the treatment of leukemia. However, serious side effects of the plant, which in itself is only slightly toxic, are accepted by the medical profession. As a medicinal plant of natural medicine, periwinkle should no longer be considered nowadays, since the number of leucocytes is reduced by the contained vincamine and thus a higher susceptibility to infections.
The danger to pets in the house and garden
In principle, periwinkle can also be toxic to the organism of dogs and cats. However, in addition to many much more poisonous garden plants, it is rare for animals to absorb significant amounts of toxic parts of plants. This is for example only possible if the periwinkle is cultivated as a potted plant in the house and, for example, a cat domestic cat no cat grass available. But at least be aware of the potential danger and be vigilant as a pet owner.
Tips
Due to the long and flexible shoots parts of the evergreen are used after a pruning like for winding wreaths. Since the mere contact of the plant parts usually has no negative effects, this is as with other care measures no special protection against the toxic ingredients of periwinkle necessary.