What toxic resin was used on skin?

By Chelsie Vandaveer

June 9, 2003

Suggested Reading: Click here.

In The Herbal, John Gerard wrote of "Euphorbium, The poysonous gum Thistle". The plant is now known as Euphorbia resinifera Berger, a succulent native to Morocco. Euphorbia are known for their white latex, Gerard described it as "the colour and substance of the Creame of Milke..." Depending upon the species, Euphorbia latex left on the skin can cause mild to severe dermatitis.

Gerard warned that care should be taken during the preparation of dried latex, "a very hot...caustick or burning facultie....it burneth the mouth extremely,

advertisement

and the dust or pouder doth very much annoy the head and the parts thereabout, causing great and vehement sneesing...."

For all the problems, he recommended it as a topical pain-killer, "An emplaister (salve) made with the gumme Euphorbium, and twelve times so much oyle, and a little wax, is very singular against all aches of the joints, lamenesse, palsies, cramps, and shrinking of sinewes...mixed with oyle of Wall-floures, it quickly heateth...a remedie against old paines in the hucklebones (hip and thigh), called Sciatica."

The resin may well have had an antifungal use, Gerard stated, "Euphorbium mingled with oyle of Bay and Beares grease cureth the scurfe (dandruff) and scalds of the head (Tinea fungus)..." Knowing the resin was caustic and burning, Gerard saw no conflict recommending it to cure "pildnesse (baldness), causing the haire to grow againe..." nor advising women to use it for white and flawless skin, "mingled with vinegar and applied taketh away all foule and ill favored spots..."

The oil and Euphorbium mixture was believed a restorative, though today it would appear bordering on malpractice, "applied to the temples of such [as] are...troubled with the lethargie, doth awaken...their spirits....applied to the nape of the neck, it bringeth their speech...that hath lost it by reason of the Apoplexie (cerebral hemorrhage, stroke)."

Sukkulente Euphorbien has four great photographs of Euphorbia resinifera, both close-ups and overall growth habit. To view the photographs, click on the link:

http://www.euphorbia.de/e_resinifera.htm

Click on the thumbnails to enlarge the images.

This site has lots of information and photographs of other species of Euphorbia. To view the homepage, click on: http://www.euphorbia.de Select either German or English version.

Suggested Reading:

Who named Euphorbia? What's in a Name? - June 13, 2003
What toxic resin was used on skin? Herbal Folklore - June 9, 2003
Who was King Juba? What's in a Name? - June 14 2002
Euphorbia x lomi Plant of the Week 06/09/2003 - June 9, 2003

Succulents: The Illustrated Dictionary

ecampus.com

by Maurizio Sajeva and Mariangela Costanzo
This new book does not replace the original, which continues to be available, but rather supplements it in several ways. It includes certain of the same species that appeared in the first volume, with new photographs that illustrate other aspects of the plant, whether in its habitat or in cultivation, and includes hundreds of species not covered in the first volume. The format of both books remains similar, with brief descriptions accompanying the excellent color photographs.

		Simon and Schuster's Guide to Cacti and Succulents ecampus.com by Mariella Pizzetti This is a stunning reference to an intriguing class of plants. A thorough introduction describes the history of Cactaceae (the largest of the many plant families known as succulents because they store water in their leaves, stems, and roots), and provides general guidelines for their cultivation.
killerplants Recommended Book Stores
BACK TO TOP