Are Poinsettias Poisonous?

Poinsettias are very common during the Christmas season. They adorn our homes as decorations. Some use plastics but there are those who prefer the real live poinsettia plants. I have heard though not only from common people but in fact from the news anchor themselves that this plant is poisonous so I have been avoiding this plant since I heard that. But if it were true, why are they use as Christmas ornaments?

So I went through some readings and found out the real truth and why poinsettias were considered poisonous. The myth about it being poisonous started in 1919 when a two-year old died and the mother claimed that child ingested the poinsettia leaf.

However, in order for poinsettias to be toxic you need to ingest about 500 to 600 leaves and according to the American Medical Association's Handbook, ingesting poinsettia leaves can only cause occasional vomiting. And no death has been recorded due to ingesting poinsettia leaves since that death in 1919 and no other case reported regarding poinsettia poisoning at all.

So this coming holiday season I won't hold myself back from using these plants to adorn my home. The photo attached is a poinsettia plant from my father-in-law's garden.