Mistletoe And Holly Bring Holiday Cheer — And A Word of Caution
Holiday decorations often include classic plants like poinsettias, mistletoe and holly, but not all of them are as harmless as they look.
Despite their reputation, poinsettias aren’t nearly as dangerous as many believe. An expert says a person would have to eat hundreds of leaves before getting sick. Mistletoe and holly, however, are a different story.
Janna Day, a nurse and education and outreach manager with the Iowa Poison Control Center, says both plants can cause problems if eaten by people or pets.
“The berries on holly and mistletoe can upset the stomach,” Day says. “We see symptoms like nausea, vomiting, cramping and diarrhea, especially in children.”
Day says those symptoms can appear quickly and may last a day or more.
If a child or pet gets into holiday greenery, Day encourages people to call the poison center rather than wait it out.
“We can help determine how much may have been swallowed and talk through what steps to take next,” she says.
Mistletoe is often hung in doorways as part of a holiday tradition, but Day says the entire plant can be toxic and should be kept out of reach.
“The leaves and flowers are actually more toxic than the berries,” Day says. “Even so, we tend to get more calls about berries because they’re more tempting.”
The Iowa Poison Control Center, based in Sioux City, is available 24/7. Anyone with questions or concerns about possible poison exposures can call 1-800-222-1222.
