Toxic Herbs and Plant Poisoning: What to Know and Whom to Call
Whom to call first for plant or herb poisoning, which plants and herbal products sources describe as toxic (awareness only), and how toxic herbs differ from products that cause harm over time.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Safety first. Supplements can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read mushroom safety and interactions before you use any mushroom product.
If someone may have swallowed a plant, herb or herbal product, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US) right away. MedlinePlus says to call your local poison control center at that number right away if you suspect poisoning. [1] America's Poison Centers describes the service as free, expert and confidential, with an online tool as well as the phone line. [2] If the person collapses, has a seizure, has trouble breathing or cannot be awakened, call 911 now. [2] Outside the US, see Poison help by country. Do not make a person vomit unless poison control or a health care provider tells you to. [3]
This page is awareness only. It does not tell you how to identify a plant, prepare a plant or treat a poisoning at home. For look-alike worries, contact poison help and a local expert such as a botanist or extension service; a photo is not a reliable way to decide (see Plant and mushroom poisoning).
What to have ready when you call
MedlinePlus lists what to gather: the person's age, weight and condition; the time it was swallowed; the amount; and the name and part of the plant eaten, if known. [3] See What to tell Poison Help when you call and Poisoning: what to do first. For a child, see A child swallowed a supplement or natural product. Pets have separate animal poison lines: Pet and animal poisoning.Plants that MedlinePlus describes as poisonous (awareness only)
Plants are among the things MedlinePlus lists as possible poisons. [1] Examples from its Medical Encyclopedia:| Plant | What the source says | Where the poison is |
|---|---|---|
| Pokeweed, Phytolacca americana | All parts are toxic to humans; symptoms can include seizures, bloody diarrhea, low blood pressure and slow or difficult breathing. [3] | Highest amounts in roots, leaves and stems |
| Foxglove, Digitalis purpurea | Poisoning most often occurs from sucking the flowers or eating the seeds, stems or leaves; symptoms include irregular or slow heartbeat and low blood pressure. [4] It can also occur from taking more than the recommended amounts of medicines made from foxglove. [4] | Flowers, leaves, stems and seeds |
| Oleander, Nerium oleander | Occurs when someone eats the flowers or chews the leaves or stems; symptoms include irregular or slow heartbeat. [5] | All parts |
| Jimsonweed, Datura stramonium | The poison is found in all parts, especially leaves and seeds; symptoms include dilated pupils, hallucinations, seizures, fever and coma. [6] | All parts |
These names are examples, not a complete list. Many other plants are poisonous, and the absence of a plant from this table does not mean it is safe. Each MedlinePlus page says it is for information only and must not be used to treat or manage an actual poison exposure. [3]
Herbal products that have caused poisoning or serious harm
Some harms come from a single dose; others build up over weeks or months. Both matter.- Comfrey taken by mouth. NIH LiverTox says comfrey contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids and, when taken orally, can cause sinusoidal obstruction syndrome and severe liver injury. [7] See pyrrolizidine alkaloids and comfrey.
- Pennyroyal oil taken by mouth. LiverTox says it is highly toxic and has been linked to toxic liver injury and death. [8] Essential oils should not be swallowed; see Swallowing essential oils: what poison centers say.
- Plants containing aristolochic acid. The National Cancer Institute advises: do not use herbal products that contain aristolochic acids. [9] See Aristolochic acid and herbal nephropathy.
- Star anise confusion. A 2004 case series reported 7 infants with neurologic reactions after star anise tea and found evidence that Chinese star anise (Illicium verum) had been contaminated with Japanese star anise (Illicium anisatum), which has documented neurologic and gastrointestinal toxicity; the authors said star anise tea should no longer be given to infants. [10]
- Aconite-containing herbal medicines. A 2026 report says the potent alkaloid aconitine, from plants in the genus Aconitum, can cause severe heart and nerve toxicity, and that inadequate processing or improper clinical use can lead to accidental poisoning, with one of the two reported patients dying. [11]
- Jimsonweed tea and foxglove medicines. The MedlinePlus pages above describe poisoning from leaf tea and from medicines made from the plant. [6][4]
- Liver-toxic herbs. See Herbs and liver injury and chaparral, germander and other liver-toxic herbs.
Why "natural" and "traditional" do not settle safety
Several plants above have been used in traditional medicine, and the aconite report notes that properly processed Aconitum herbs are prescribed in Chinese herbal medicine. [11] Traditional use is a record of human history, not a safety test, and lack of a documented poisoning in a source is not proof of safety. Sources read for this page do not give a safe amount for any toxic plant, so none is given. A clinician or pharmacist decides what is right for a person. See Why "natural" does not mean safe.Children, pregnancy and older adults
The star anise cases involved infants. [10] For other groups, the sources read for this page do not give plant-by-plant guidance, so call Poison Help and see Babies and infants and Pregnancy and breastfeeding.Where harm is slower
If you notice yellow skin or eyes, dark urine or fatigue after using a herbal product, tell a clinician. [12][13] See the warning signs on Herbs and liver injury.Frequently asked questions
Who do I call if my child ate a plant?
Call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 right away; call 911 if the child collapses, has a seizure, has trouble breathing or cannot be awakened. [1][2]
Should I make them vomit?
No, unless poison control or a health care provider tells you to. [3]
What should I tell Poison Help?
Age, weight and condition, when it was swallowed, how much, and the name and part of the plant if known. [3]
Which herbs are poisonous?
MedlinePlus describes pokeweed, foxglove, oleander and jimsonweed among others. [3][4][5][6] Herbal products such as comfrey taken by mouth and oral pennyroyal oil have documented liver toxicity. [7][8]
Can I tell by looking whether a plant is safe?
Not reliably. Contact poison help and a local expert; see Plant and mushroom poisoning.
References
- MedlinePlus (US National Library of Medicine), Poisoning. Read 2026-10-23.
- America's Poison Centers, Poison Control home page. Read 2026-10-23.
- MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia, Pokeweed poisoning. Read 2026-10-23.
- MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia, Foxglove poisoning. Read 2026-10-23.
- MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia, Oleander poisoning. Read 2026-10-23.
- MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia, Jimsonweed poisoning. Read 2026-10-23.
- NIH LiverTox, Comfrey (PubMed record of the LiverTox entry). Read 2026-10-23.
- NIH LiverTox, Pennyroyal Oil (PubMed record of the LiverTox entry). Read 2026-10-23.
- National Cancer Institute (US), Aristolochic Acids. Read 2026-10-23.
- Neurotoxicities in infants seen with the consumption of star anise tea, case series, 2004 (PubMed abstract). Read 2026-10-23.
- Aconitine accidental poisoning: two case reports and literature review, 2026 (PubMed abstract). Read 2026-10-23.
- MedlinePlus (US National Library of Medicine), Jaundice. Read 2026-10-23.
- NCCIH (US), Turmeric. Read 2026-10-23.