Pedilanthus Tithymaloides

Occurrence

Native to tropical America.

Economical utilization

The plant is used as a natural green fence or hedge as well as an ornamental for its variegated leaves. Certain arrow poisons are made of the latex.

Medicinal uses

A decoction of the entire plant had a temporal reputation as a remedy against syphilis. It is now applied as a plant to promote menstrual flow. The plant is also used against toothache. A decoction of the entire plant is vomitive and purgative.

The caustic latex may cause severe blistering and vomiting. The latex of Pedilanthus is largely known as a drastic purgative and emetic. In some places, the milky sap is used externally to remove callosities and rough spots in the skin.

Ingestion of the seeds causes violently vomiting.

In Cuba, the root is used as an abortifacient.

The main properties of the plant are purgative, emetic, keratolytic, abortifacient, narcotic and promotes menstruation.

In northern Peru, a hallucinogenic drink of San Pedro cactus called "cimora" is prepared from 6 plants, one of which is Pedilanthus Tithymaloides.

Toxicity

The latex is toxic and caustic and causes severe dermal injuries. The plant should be used with much caution.

"Slipper flowers beginning to bloom (Pedilanthus tithymaloides)" by Joel Abroad is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.