This silent white pit bull suddenly wasn't herself the other day. MedicineNet does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. better for her , also how long it will take before she is free of By clicking "Submit," I agree to the MedicineNet Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. However, it is important to recognize that there are similar-looking plants from the euphorbia family that are poisonous and are often mistaken for cactus plants. When doing this you will find that there is a thick layer just below the skin that will also come away as you peel the skin off. It can help to wear protective clothing, gloves, etc., as well as be cautious when near or working with thorny plants. Goats and sheep eat the plant more often than cattle and are poisoned more often. Heres live footage of the 2016 Agave Junction Cantina stabbing aftermath, which includes shots of the police and the bar in the background: When dealing with Agave plants, you should take the necessary precautions in order to avoid injuries and to have a successful replanting process. Consumers should consider the pros and cons of Agave and replace it with natural sweeteners like honey, maple syrup, or dates when making healthy food choices. The plant thorn fragments cause a localized inflammation reaction in the joint lining tissue that leads to swelling, stiffness, loss of range of motion, and pain. Turns out there is a 7mm peice of the agave tip stuck in my quadriceps muscle. There are over 100 types of arthritis, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, lupus, gout, and pseudogout. A more common symptom of exposure to agave plants is skin irritation, or dermatitis. This should progressively move the needle towards the entry point of the wound. Agave americana blooms only once in its lifetime. All varieties of agave are truly low maintenance, although potted agaves may need a little extra attention to keep them healthy. University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources characterizes agave as being mildly toxic. Same for introduced animals. What is the prognosis of plant thorn arthritis? See additional information. Provide plants with optimal irrigation and well-draining soil to avoid this problem. Physical therapy rehabilitation exercises can be helpful to restore normal joint function. Be aware that many animals will dig into and under the root system, where the soil is relatively loose, and stay there during the day, shaded and relatively cool. Are Cactus Poisonous? Agave cactus leaves are toothed along the edges and have needle-like points at the ends. Unfortunately, this is a natural process that cannot be stopped, but cutting the bloom stalks from a plant as soon as they begin to grow can be done. According to North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension, small agave varieties, such as Parry's agave (Agave parryi) need only 1 to 3 feet of space, while larger varieties, such as the American century plant (Agave americana), needs up to 10 feet of space, as described by Missouri Botanical Garden. Discontinue feeding if the plant starts producing weak or spindly growth. The stalk can then be discarded, or it can be used as a source of fiber for crafts or other projects. An Agave plant stabs you in the heart, causing inflammatory arthritis similar to septic arthritis. Agave stalk removal is a necessary step for keeping the plant healthy, as the stalks can become overgrown, which can cause the plant to become unstable. Despite the fact that Agave may be a better alternative to refined sugar, it is not the healthiest choice. http://mezcalphd.com/2013/03/how-many-varieties-of-agave-can-be-used-to-make-mezcal-take-2/. While explaining my toxicity suspicions to Clark Moorten, he agreed that there's something about yucca. Alternatively, you can treat the plant with an herbicide, but this should only be used as a last resort as it can harm other plants in the area. Agave syrup predominantly consists of fructose and some glucose, along with water, as well as small amounts of other carbohydrates, fat, polyols and vitamins and minerals. Many health-conscious consumers consider Agave sweetener to be a natural and healthy alternative to refined sugar. As dead agave blades die and dry out atop them, a sinewy mulch results. I started with a shovel on one four-foot specimen behind the house. The Encyclopedia of Gardening; The American Horticultural Society; 1993. It is important to recognize that puncturing a joint with foreign material, such as a plant thorn, can lead to bacterial infection (septic arthritis) or fungal infection (fungal arthritis) of the joint. Hummingbirds and bats love this pollen trove. Finally, an experienced landscaper suggested I wrap a chain or towing strap around the plants base, attach it to a trailer hitch or truck axle and pull it out by its tap-root. This will remove all the small spines. Enjoy The Unique Flavors Of Cactus Salad: A Healthy And Delicious Summertime Dish, Obtaining A Permit To Relocate A Saguaro Cactus In Arizona, The Dangers And Benefits Of Using Vinegar On Miniature Cacti, Watering Your Cactus Tips And Tricks For A Healthy And Thriving Plant. Once you have successfully removed all the needles from the wound the area should be cleaned and disinfected before applying an antibiotic ointment to ensure that there are no bacterial infections. Gopher tortoises, and as many as hundreds of other animals will share the burrow. The gnarly agave colony fended me off, aggressively protecting its mama with their intertwined roots and serrated leaves. Mealy Blue Sage wins 2023 Unofficial Pollinator Plant of the Year. Consumers should be aware of the high fructose content of Agave and make informed health decisions about their consumption. Is The Agave Poisonous or Toxic? The joint lining tissue is called the synovium. The closer the fruit is to a red color the riper it is. Joints that are commonly affected by plant thorn synovitis include the small joints of the hands (metacarpophalangeal joints, proximal interphalangeal joints), feet, elbows, knees, and ankles. As a gesture of my respect for this plant, weve allowed two specimens to remain on site. The length of a healthy piece of stem should be at least 10 cm and the cut should be cleanly handled with scissors. Im all over trying to help with the Monarchs captivating mine and the youngsters attentions. You are making me thirsty! It demands no supplemental water, no fertilizer, no pruning, noprissing. To get the job done, dig around the Agave and use a shovel to reach a depth of 8-12 inches. My in-laws planted three on my backyard slope now its full of them. Patients with heart pacemakers, metal implants, or metal chips or clips in or around the eyes cannot be scanned with MRI because of the effect of the magnet. They do have a lot of pups but so many other great attributes. Fill in the planting hole around the stems outer edge with existing soil and dig a new one right into it. When the 35 ft stock was dry enough to cut, I had it removed. Many references describe using it for a shampoo that makes black hair lustrous. There are some gorgeous agaves that can rival Agave Blue Glow but I personally grow tired of cutting out the suckers or runners from those plants. This may help determine the causes of joint swelling or arthritis. Left to its own devices, the plant dominates, its rhizomes and pups forming dense communities around the mother plant. interchangeable wedding ring set Likes. Another positive some might find is that Agave Blue Glow has no other spines past the colorful terminal spine. Photo by Monika Maeckle. Needless to say I'm spending the winter nipping all the sharp tips at Lotus height or below to avoid future problems. I pray not! This can happen when a person is pricked by the sharp spines or if. This is how I solved the mystery of why a yucca stick made Lotus so sick. Fortunately, agave plants don't require much interaction once they are planted in a suitable site. The prickly pear fruit is a cactus that can be eaten raw as it is very sweet flesh provided that it is ripe. Also, wear heavy gardening gloves, long sleeves and eye protection when planting them to protect your skin and eyes. Plant thorn arthritis is suspected in a patient who presents with a single joint that is inflamed after it has been punctured by a plant thorn. The toxin's in the plant This process involves carefully cutting the thick, fibrous stalk of the plant at its base, as close to the ground as possible. Related posts: Like what youre reading? Doctors who perform operative treatments include orthopedic surgeons and plastic surgeons. Thank you for this advice similar tale at our place. Using tweezers, remove the largest spines from the injured area. The Mayo Clinic explains how. The puncture holes close immediately and rarely bleed either, so it's hard to find them until they finally scab over. Potted agaves need regular watering during the summer months regardless of their age due to their low soil volume. On the side along the front, where my husband or grandchildren may get poked, I cut the thorns off with scissors that are on the ends. It is a wound so we watch for signs of infection. So when this does happen is there any danger of a cactus creating any problems for your children or pets? This is the time to plant the pups from the Agave and start your own Agave garden, or to share the pups with others. Have you ever asked Are agave plants toxic or poisonous. (smaller scale & not quite so hard on the body). Often they don't bleed either. This is a cultivar of the main Sansevieria trifasciata and gets its name from the slightly silvery hue on its green leaves. 1996-2022 MedicineNet, Inc. All rights reserved. A shovel cannot penetrate the fibrous mass. These forms of arthritis require urgent antibiotic treatment. They will freeze on occasion, even in the ground. Risk factors for plant thorn arthritis include: Plant thorn arthritis typically affects only a single joint -- the joint that was pierced by the plant thorn. I'm Normandi, a passionate gardener and botanic expert with over 15 years of experience in the field. It lives a dramatic semelparous lifethat is, it enjoys a singular episode of reproduction. In a reasonable attempt to better the lives of my daughter, Cara, and But since we only visit the property every other weekend, some times less, my agaves became a nuisance. The joint Depending on the species of agave, parts of the plant are dangerous and should be avoided. The sharp tip of an Agave leaf quickly penetrates the skin and instantly releases irritants that cause sudden discomfort and pain. This seemed like a brilliant idea. Joint aspiration (arthrocentesis) is a procedure where fluid is drained from a joint with a needle and syringe for laboratory analysis. Some of the fleshy leaves approach a half-foot girth at their base. WebA thorn stabbed my knuckle on my thumb and I pulled the thorn out almost immediately. Ive been digging up the babies and throwing them out. Inflammation of this tissue is medically referred to as synovitis. The juice from the agave lechuguilla plant contains saponin, which is poisonous to sheep, cattle and goats, according to the United States Department of They are a natural barrier (much like the Osage Orange trees, Locust trees, roses, and other thorny plants once were), so fences may not be needed to keep animals, including people, out. gas and the agave released its grip on the rocks and earth holding it in place. Yet when I study all my botany books there's never a reference to this toxicity whatsoever except for one line: "Recognizing the effectiveness of saponins as hemolytic compound, the Ramah Navajo used the sap from leaves as arrow-tip poison" (Vestal 1952). Cactus plants are popular plants that are used widely in many different types of gardens.