Some of Our Favorite Seasonal Decorations Are Actually Toxic

What would our Christmas time be without a holly wreath on the door, a poinsettia gracing the center of the dining room table, and a sprig of mistletoe hanging over the hallway entrance? These wonderful plants are by now a part of our heritage, key components of our house-decorating rituals every December. When the truth is known, however, many of our favorite wintertime houseplants can be poisonous and even deadly when ingested by humans and pets. With that in mind, once the holidays are over, it may be time to get rid of the risk at the earliest possible point.

Poinsettias. Years ago, our favorite Christmas star flowers were thought to be poisonous, as some child in Hawaii reportedly died after ingesting some poinsettia leaves. It turns out that the plant is far less dangerous that once believed, and that the risk to humans is probably not all that great. However, the plant does give off a milky sap, and can cause an itchy dermatitis reaction for many humans.

Holly. More concerns have to be associated with the presence of wreaths and greenery boughs that are made from English holly. The red berries are, in fact, mildly poisonous and can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and in rare cases these can be fatal. Obviously, this is a primary concern where infants and young children are in the house, as these unsuspecting victims can be fascinated enough by the color that the next natural move is to put the berries in their mouths. Even the holly boughs hanging a safe distance above the floor can be apt to drop leaves and berries, so those with small children should be vigilant about keeping the floor area clean.

English Ivy. Another common decorative Christmastime plant that is used is English Ivy. While it can be wonderful for draping across the front of a fireplace mantle, it also can cause skin irritation when contact is made with the sap, and can cause severe gastric pain if the leaves are ingested by either humans or pets.

Mistletoe. Most of us have used mistletoe for the purpose of stealing a holiday kiss at an opportune moment. This wonderful carry-over of a Druid custom has followed the Christmastime celebration down through the ages, and is still popular today. The practice of kissing is a derivative of the fact that the ancients considered mistletoe to be an aphrodisiac. It also had other supposed powers, including the ability to ward off ghosts from homes where it was hung over the door. In spite of all these qualities, however, the mistletoe plant is, in fact, quite dangerous for animals and humans. The white berries that grow in clusters along the length of a sprig of mistletoe are toxic, and can cause severe gastric problems, including nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. Like the holly wreaths, mistletoe berries can often drop to the floor where they can become a problem where children or pets are concerned.

Christmas trees. While live evergreen Christmas trees probably aren't quite as enticing to children and pets as it relates to accidental ingestion, some humans can be quite allergic to these plants, and can have both skin reactions and respiratory tract reactions.

Considering all of the risks that may be associated with the use of these decorations, it may be time to get rid of them now that the holidays are over. This is particularly true if young children or pets are in the house.