Possible? but currently no data

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antiasthmatic  Antidote  Antihaemorrhoidal  Antirheumatic  Antitumor  Cancer  Emetic  Epilepsy  
Laxative  Odontalgic  Parasiticide  Poultice  Purgative  Rubefacient  Skin  
Stimulant  Stings  Vesicant

Caution should be observed in making medicinal preparations of this plant due to its high toxicity[ 303 ]. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the risks of a lethal overdose are high, particularly when treating children[ 299 ]. Various studies have shown the presence of a range of active compounds in the plant:- Euphorbon, which is isolated from the needles, contains 4% caoutchouc[ 360 ]. The latex yielded 75 to 82 percent resin, and 14 to 15 percent caoutchouc[ 360 ]. The latex is rich in terpenes, including ingenol and phorbol esters[ 360 ]. The latter, which is highly irritating, has been shown to be tumour-promoting[ 360 ]. Six terpenes have been isolated from the plant:- cyclotirucaneol; cycloeuphordenol; tirucalicine; tirucaligine; euphorginol; and euphorcinol[ 360 ]. The latex showed great similarity in composition and activity to the highly poisonous croton seed oil from Croton tiglium[ 360 ]. The young branches can be roasted then chewed to relieve a sore throat[ 303 ]. Ash from the burned branches and stems is used to treat whooping cough[ 299 ]. The pulped twigs are applied externally to treat oedema of the legs[ 299 ]. Ash from the burned branches and stems is applied externally as a caustic to treat open abscesses[ 299 ]. Poultices from the stem are applied to heal broken bones[ 303 , 360 ]. Based on the Theory of Signatures, the jointed nature of the plant-stems lead to the use of the plant in SE Asia in a belief that it will assist the healing of broken bones[ 332 ]. A root and bud decoction is taken as a laxative, and to treat coughs and pectoral pain[ 299 ]. A poultice of the roots or stems has been applied to ulceration of the nose, haemorrhoids and swellings[ 303 , 360 ]. A root-decoction, combined with other drug-plants, is taken in in the treatment of schistosomiasis and gonorrhoea[ 299 , 332 ]. The boiled root juice acts as an emetic in cases of snake bite, and is also used for sterility in women[ 303 ]. Heated root scrapings, mixed with coconut oil, are applied externally to the stomach to relieve stomach-ache[ 303 , 360 ]. The caustic latex is vesicant, rubefacient and counter irritant. It is purgative in small doses, emetic in larger quantities[ 332 , 360 ]. Two or three drops at a time are given to adults with their food, whilst a dose of 3 - 4 drops is used as a purge to treat ascites and generalised oedemas[ 332 ]. The potent purgative and emetic properties are employed in Africa in order to treat stomach complaints, constipation, intestinal worms, headache, asthma, epilepsy and palpitations. A few drops of latex are reportedly sufficient to cause vomiting, and are taken in milk as an antidote to poisoning or snakebites[ 299 ]. Heated branches are chewed and the latex is swallowed to relieve a sore throat and dry cough, but also to induce labour during childbirth[ 299 ]. The latex is taken in the treatment of sexual impotence and sterility in East Africa, and elsewhere as a sexual stimulant. It is also said to promote breast enlargement[ 299 ]. The latex is used externally to treat skin-complaints, itches, insect bites, rheumatism, toothache, earache, to raise blisters on syphilitic nodes, and to remove warts, tumours, cancers, etc[ 299 , 332 , 360 ]. It is also used for wound healing[ 299 , 360 ]. The latex is widely used in Brazil to treat cancer, but in some areas where it is commonly used, tumours of the nose are prevalent and thought to be related to this use[ 299 ].

Alcohol  Biomass  Charcoal  Fencing  Fuel  Hedge  Insecticide  Latex  Parasiticide  Resin  Soil reclamation  Soil stabilization

Seaside, Small flowering tree/shrub, Accent, Large planter, Bonsai, Civic centre, Xerophytic. Agroforestry Uses: It is planted to protect sand dunes and bare soil in dry areas from wind and water erosion[ 299 , 303 ]. E. Tirucalli fences can act as erosion breaks[ 303 ]. It is unsuitable for intercropping since it suppresses undergrowth, including crops[ 299 ]. An effective plant for land reclamation programmes, it is very drought resistant and efficient in photosynthesis because of its unique photosynthetic physiology combining both the Crassulacean acid metabolism and the C3 pathways. During humid spells when leaves are present, this combination allows high CO2 uptake and, thus, elevated growth rates[ 299 , 303 ]. Plantations have succeeded in some instances at more than 5,000 ppm in arsenic mine spoil mounds[ 303 ]. An extensively used hedge plant in rural areas of East Africa[ 303 ]. Its dense growth and caustic, irritant sap combine to make an effective deterrent to small animals and human marauders from forcing a passage[ 299 , 332 ]. The latex must also protect it from browsing animals though sheep and the omnivorous goat are said to eat it in some areas[ 332 ]. The hedge can be easily established with cuttings planted in situ[ 392 ]. Other Uses: A potential biomass crop[ 303 ]. Its use as a source of hydrocarbons has been investigated by a number of authors, the latex hydrocarbon is largely a C30 triterpenoid which on cracking yields high octane gasoline. It is estimated that 1-2 t of crude oil can be obtained per ha per year from E. Tirucalli. The gross energy value of E. Tirucalli biomass is 17 600 kJ/kg. The biomass can be converted into gas, liquid fuels and solid fuels such as pellets, briquettes and charcoal[ 303 ]. The sap evidently has strong fixative power: mixed with animal hair it is used for fastening knife-blades to wood handles and spear-heads to shafts[ 299 , 303 , 332 ]. The latex is piscicidal and insecticidal[ 303 ]. It showed strong activity against Colletotrichum capsici, Fusarium pallidoroseum, Botryodiplodia theobromae, Alternaria alternata, Penicillium citrinum, Phomopsis caricae-papayae and Aspergillus niger[ 303 ]. The latex is highly toxic to the parasitic nematodes. Hoplolaimus indicus, Helicotylenchus indicus and Tylenchus filiformis[ 303 ]. The plant is also used as an effective repellent for mosquitoes and ants[ 299 , 392 ]. The latex is an emulsion of about 30% (principally euphol) terpenes in water. During the Second World War the latex was used in South Africa in the development of a rubber substitute, but this proved to be unstable and unprofitable due to the high latex resin content[ 299 , 303 ]. Euphorbia latex contains a mixture of light hydrocarbons of molecular weight around 20,000, and after removal of the water the residue is a liquid oil[ 332 ]. Triterpenic alcohols have also been identified in the latex[ 332 ]. A form of rubber is obtained from the latex which contains a high proportion of resin: 14.3 - 15.7% caoutchouc, 75.8 - 82.1% resin, dry weight, in material from S Africa. The resin can be used in varnishes for certain purposes in the absence of better materials, but only at a high cost[ 332 ]. Steam-distillation results in a better product which has found some favour in India in linseed-oil varnishes giving a tack-free glossy finish[ 332 ]. An oil obtained from the latex was formerly used in linoleum, oilskin, and leather cloth industries[ 303 ]. Methane can be produced by anaerobic fermentation of the latex[ 303 ]. The wood is white, close grained and fairly hard. It is rarely attacked by insects. It is used for toys, rafters and veneers[ 299 , 303 , 332 ]. The wood is used for fuel when better options are unavailable, and it gives a charcoal suitable for gun-powder, and for the manufacture of fireworks[ 299 , 303 , 332 ]. Dynamic accumulator.

Special Uses

Carbon Farming  Coppice  Dynamic accumulator  Hedge