Euphorbia helioscopia

Madwoman's Milk

an annual member of the Euphorbia genus in the family Euphorbiaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Family: Euphorbiaceae
Genus: Euphorbia
Life cycle: annual
Fertility: Flies
Flower type: hermaphrodite
Pollinators: Flies

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

The sap contains a latex which is toxic on ingestion and highly irritant externally, causing photosensitive skin reactions and severe inflammation, especially on contact with eyes or open cuts. The toxicity can remain high even in dried plant material^[7]. Prolonged and regular contact with the sap is inadvisable because of its carcinogenic nature^[8].

Edible uses

Young stems - cooked^[3]^[5]^[6]. Caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity. Young leaves are used as a tea substitute^[3]^[6].

Plant part: Stem
Preparation: Cooked

Plant part: Leaves
Product or use: Tea

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

Antiperiodic^[4]. The leaves and stems are febrifuge and vermifuge^[9]. The root is anthelmintic^[11]. The plant is cathartic^[11]. It has anticancer properties^[9]. The milky sap is applied externally to skin eruptions^[11]. The seeds, mixed with roasted pepper, have been used in the treatment of cholera^[11]. The oil from the seeds has purgative properties^[11].

Plant part: Roots
Product or use: Anthelmintic

Plant part: Plant
Product or use: Antiperiodic

Plant part: Plant
Product or use: Antitumoral

Plant part: Plant
Product or use: Cathartic

Plant part: Leaves, Stems
Product or use: Febrifuge, Vermifuge

Plant part: Sap
Product or use: Antipruritic

Plant part: Seeds
Product or use: Anticholeric

Plant part: Seeds
Preparation: Oil
Product or use: Purgative

Environment

Range: Europe, including Britain, south to the Mediterranean and east to central Asia.
Habitat: Common in cultivated ground throughout Britain to an altitude of 450 metres^[2].
Light: full sun
Shade tolerance: no shade
Water: moderate
Soil textures: sandy, loamy
Soil pH: acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage: well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil: False
Drought: intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring or late summer in situ. Germination usually takes place within 2 - 3 weeks at 20°c.

Cultivation