Two Kerala government-controlled temple boards have banned use of oleander in temple offerings after a 24-year old woman died after accidentally chewing some oleander leaves.
About Oleander flowers:
Nerium oleander, commonly known as oleander or rosebay, is a plant cultivated worldwide in tropical, subtropical and temperate regions.
It is known for its drought tolerance, the shrub is often used for ornamental and landscaping purposes.
In Kerala, the plant is known by the names of arali and kanaveeram, and is grown along highways and beaches as a natural, green fencing.
There are different varieties of oleander, each with a flower of a different colour. The plant has been frequently described in Brihattrayi, Nighantus and other classical Ayurvedic texts.
Charaka [Charak Samhita] has prescribed the leaves of white flowered variety externally in chronic and obstinate skin diseases of serious nature including leprosy.
According to Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API) an oil prepared from the root bark can be used to treat skin diseases.
Oleander’s toxicity
Ingestion or inhalation of smoke from burning oleander can be intoxicating.
This is due to the properties of cardiac glycosides (a type of chemical) including oleandrin, folinerin, and digitoxigenin, which are present in all parts of the plant.
Effects of oleander toxicity include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, rashes, confusion, dizziness, irregular heartbeat, slow heartbeat, and, in extreme cases, death.
Dear Student,
You have still not entered your mailing address. Please enter the address where all the study materials will be sent to you. (If applicable).
