6 Amazing Poinsettia Benefits You Should Know Instantly

An urban myth about Poinsettia is that it is highly poisonous, but in reality, it is mildly toxic and offers benefits.

Dig deeper till the end to learn more about the Poinsettia Plant and its benefits.

Poinsettia Plant Overview

Poinsettia plant (Euphorbia Pulcherrima), a native plant of Mexico, is the most popular holiday plant.

With its fiery red, white, and green leaves, the Poinsettia plant elevates your room decor while emitting positive vibes with its good luck charm.

Look at the overview table to get insights into Poinsettia.

6 Amazing Poinsettia Plant Benefits

The false myth about Poinsettia is slowly getting clear with the advancement of research studies, and its benefits are surfacing little by little.

So, without further ado, let’s learn about the benefits of the Poinsettia plant.

1. Poinsettia as Air Purifier

The Poinsettia plant has air-purifying properties as it cleanses air pollutants such as formaldehyde, benzene, and ammonia.

Its leaves are broad and green, which can absorb old air grains, and carbon dioxide, releasing oxygen and purifying the air.

So, Poinsettia plants are more valuable than just a festive decoration.

2. Poinsettia Enhances Interior Aesthetic

The vibrant, colorful large leaves of Poinsettia with yellow clustered buds in the center add essence to your room.

Interestingly, you can paint the color of the Poinsettia plant as per your requirement to match your holiday decor.

They are also famous as Christmas plants, for the Poinsettia flowers during the late fall, making them an ideal Christmas gift.

Also, Poinsettia is an easy-to-grow plant that can rebloom next year without dying as they are perennial, elevating your room decor the whole year.

3. Poinsettia Bring Good Luck

The Poinsettia is named after Dr. Joel Roberts Poinsett, who is the sole reason behind its popularity in the U.S.

He brought the Poinsettia plant and sent the flowers as a gift to his friends and family for good wishes.

If we look at the cultural significance of the Poinsettia plant, it is fascinating with different legends.

The red leaves were a reminder of the blood of Christ shed during his crucifixion, and the white leaves represented Christ’s purity.

So, there is a belief that the Poinsettia plant brings good luck to the keeper.

4. Hair Removal Agent

Generally, when the sap of the Poinsettia plant is kept on the skin for a considerably longer time, it results in hair loss in that area.

Additionally, the article suggests that the extracted sap from the Poinsettia plant can act as a hair removal cream.

However, the hair loss is not permanent, so don’t freak out if it accidentally gets on somewhere near the scalp, and wash it properly.

But don’t throw it away just yet to avoid risk since the sap is easily visible as it is milky white.

5. Traditional Benefits of Poinsettia

The Poinsettia plant is a native Mexican plant, and its use for medical purposes is traced back to the Aztec civilization and the Mayans.

A research article published in the Floral Notes newsletter mentioned Aztecs and Mayans had a variety of aesthetic, practical, and medical uses for the Poinsettia plant.

No recent clinical evidence supports specific Poinsettia dosing in a therapeutic context.

Here are some traditional uses of Poinsettia.

• Milky white sap boosts milk production by applying it to women’s breasts.
• Depilatory property of sap, i.e., hair removal.
• The Poinsettia plant has been used to treat various reproductive health issues, including gonorrhea, premature ejaculation, and impotence.
• Traditional healers use the sap to treat various skin issues, including pimples.
• Poinsettias have traditionally been used to treat diarrhea caused by microbes.
• Boiled bark and red bracts are medicine for obstetrical or gynecological hemorrhaging in women.
• Boiled root drinks relieved the adverse effects of snakebites.
• Poinsettia was used to treat arthritis, muscle or bone bruises, and other ailments.
• Traditional folks use Poinsettia to eliminate worms and other parasitic organisms from the Gastrointestinal tract.
• It was used to treat warts.
• Poinsettia infusions are thought to be beneficial for respiratory diseases such as colds, coughs, throat sores, bronchitis, and heart disease.
• Poinsettia latex has traditionally been used as a toothache remedy and an anti-vomiting agent.

6. Claimed Medicinal Benefits

The latest research studies on the health benefits of the Poinsettia plants’ are being analyzed because of their traditional popularity.

Also, a screening test of the Poinsettia plant brought to light its muscle relaxant properties and was found effective over time.

Additionally, the researchers studied the neuropharmacological profile of the Poinsettia plant and suggested its anticonvulsant properties.

It shows the potential use of the Poinsettia plant to treat or control convulsions, as in epilepsy.

In terms of its anti-parasitic property, the African Journal of Biotechnology had a paper stating its effectiveness as an anti-parasitic agent along with Euphorbia Milli.

The article published in the National Library of Medicine suggested anti-glycation and phosphodiesterase inhibitory activities.

It means that they protect your skin, so it maintains its elasticity and skin tone uniformity.

These important properties provide a solid scientific base for the traditional use of Poinsettia in the treatment of various diseases.

Health Considerations to Keep in Mind

There is an existing urban myth about the Poinsettia plant being highly poisonous.

In contrast, the study about the toxicity of Poinsettia showed that it is not deadly.

However, there is currently insufficient scientific evidence to determine an appropriate range of doses for Poinsettia.

Although Poinsettia may not have fatal side effects, one should be aware of them.

Poinsettia may harm children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and people with digestive disorders. If you have any of these conditions, avoid using them.

So, it is crucial to seek medical advice before consuming such plants.

According to recent studies, ASPCA suggests that Poinsettia is mildly toxic to pets irritating the mouth and stomach.

And in case of ingestion by our furry pets, the Poinsettia plant causes minor gastrointestinal irritation, including diarrhea, vomiting and hypersalivation.

Meanwhile, people with latex allergies may get rashes if they come in contact with the Poinsettia plant or its sap.

Even if the Poinsettia has no life-threatening effects, it’s still a better choice to keep them out of reach of children and pets.

Here are some immediate helpline numbers to contact if your pets ingest it and have a severe problem.

• Pet poison – (855) 764-7661
• American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) – (800) 222-1222
• The Animal Poison Control Center (ASPCA) – (800)426-4435

Where to Buy Poinsettia?

Being one of the ideal festive plants, the Poinsettia can be found in many stores. Some of them are listed below.