Brug toxicity question

If any part of the brug (or datura, for that matter) is ingested, how much is a "lethal" dose? I realize this is a really broad question, but the subject came up on another group I'm in. I know oleander is REALLY toxic, and so are the brugs and dats. Like, if someone gnawed on a leaf..............would that be enough to kill you? And what is it that makes them toxic? Time for a chemistry lesson, eh?

Same question. I didn't realize that they were so poisonous till I read something yesterday. I have moved them out of our inside yard where the dogs are. Don't want to take a chance on our crazy grass grazers accidentally ingesting any part of one.

Do a search on the internet, there are all kinds of articles on their toxic levels. My dogs and cats run around everywhere, on our property. I don't worry about them, but I sure keep the chickens and ducks away.

Happygarden, thank you. that is good to know. Taters55 sent me some that I have been babying and then read all this info on Google about the Brugs.

I did Google it.............just wondered if anyone had some first-hand information on it.

Brugs are used by some teens to get high. Depending on how much they inhale there are known cases where they became very sick. A small number of people have reported slight skin reactions from handling brugs without gloves.

I grew up in yards with brugs, including our cats and dogs and we never had problems. Now I also have feral cats, semi-feral cats, frequent dog visitors, raccoons, and squirrels. No problems yet.

Thank you Shorty.

I have had Brugs for almost 20 years. Not sure that I ever had a problem. Except.... I had been on a long airline flight. Soon after I got home I walked through my garden and broke off some yellow leaves from the Brugs. Within minutes one of my eyes was burning and then vision looked like fireworks going off. I called my doctor and he said it was an emergency and sent me to a retina specialist. He said I had a Retinal detachment. I told him about handling the flowers and the airline flight. He said could be but he didn't know. I had surgery that day. I have since been very careful with the sap from brugs and never had another problem. As the Doctor said He didn't know if it was caused from handling the Brugs. I NEVER let children handle the plants.



This message was edited Jul 25, 2014 6:19 AM

This message was edited Jul 25, 2014 6:20 AM

Anna_Z ~ I think the level of toxicity is individual. One would have to factor in age, hight, weight and tolerance. Seems like most do well without gloves handling the plant including myself. None of my animals have had an adverse reaction to being near them. This site suggest that they are toxic in large quantities. I am a Earl Gray kind of girl so I don't think I will be trying a cup of brug tea!! LOL

http://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/all/brugmansia-spp-datura-spp/

Family:
Solanaceae
Origin:
South America
Poison Part:
Flowers, leaves, seeds
Poison Delivery Mode:
Ingestion, inhalation of flowers
Symptoms:
Hallucinations, dry mouth, muscle weakness, increased blood pressure and pulse, fever, dilated pupils, paralysis
Toxic Principle:
Atropine, scopolamine, and hyoscyamine
Severity:
TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN