We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Are the Medical Uses of Euphorbia Lathyris?

By Britt Archer
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 8,341
References
Share

Euphorbia lathyris, commonly known as the mole plant or gopher plant, is an herb that can be a perennial, a biennial or an annual depending on the geographic location where it grows. The herb is indigenous to the Mediterranean but has been introduced to other areas of the world, and it readily self-seeds. Folk medicine in France prescribes the seeds as a laxative or purgative and also as an emetic to cause vomiting. The plant’s roots can be used for similar purposes. Folk medicine also advocates using a milky substance produced by the plant, latex, to treat warts and cancer.

Today, euphorbia lathyris is known to be toxic, but folk remedies in the past have used the plant for the treatment of corns, skin problems, sore throats, diarrhea and gangrene. Oil produced by the seeds has been used to treat burns, and the seeds themselves have been used in homeopathic medicine in the treatment of rheumatism, paralysis and a streptococcal infection called erysipelas. Both the plant’s latex and leaves can cause blisters, and enterprising beggars in years past purposely created blisters on their skin to elicit pity and enhance their entreaties. Euphorbia lathyris is reportedly also used as a diuretic and an antiseptic.

Oil from the seeds of euphorbia lathyris is poisonous. Overdoses can cause cramps, delirium, an unsteady pulse, collapse, dilated pupils, burning in the mouth, diarrhea, and nausea. The plant, also known as caper spurge, has been known to be present in the milk of goats that eat the plant, not harming the goat but making the milk unsafe for humans to drink. A common misunderstanding — confusing the plant’s seeds with capers — has occasionally led to cases of poisoning. Solutions that contain euphorbia lathyris are also extremely toxic to fish and amphibians. These extracts can kill frogs, but even if the contact does not result in death, the frogs may experience problems with development and metamorphosis. Livestock deaths have also been recorded. The ingestion of a few seeds can reputedly lead to the termination of a pregnancy.

The herb’s seeds also possess an anti-tumor property, useful against certain leukemias. In the past, it has been used to treat snakebite, amenorrhea and scabies. Euphorbia lathyris also possesses antiseptic properties.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Link to Sources

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-are-the-medical-uses-of-euphorbia-lathyris.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.