Euphorbia Cyparissias Drug Interactions, Uses, Effectiveness, Safety & More

Euphorbia cyparissias, often called cypress spurge, is a low-growing wild plant in the spurge family. It has narrow, needle-like leaves and yellow-green flower clusters, which is why it can look a bit like a small cypress shrub. It grows across Europe and has spread to parts of North America, where it is often considered a weed.

Like other spurges, it contains a sticky, milky white sap (called latex) that oozes out when the plant is broken. In traditional folk medicine, this plant and its sap were used as a strong laxative and applied to the skin to remove warts or growths. Today it has no accepted role in modern medicine, and it is mainly of interest as a wild plant rather than a supplement.

The milky latex of spurge plants contains compounds called diterpene esters (such as those in the phorbol family), along with other irritating substances. These compounds can strongly irritate the skin, eyes, and lining of the gut. This irritation is likely what produced the old "purgative" effect — the plant essentially forced the bowels to empty by irritating them.

Some of these diterpene-type compounds have been studied in the laboratory for their effects on cells, but this research is early and does not show that the plant is useful or safe as a medicine. Importantly, certain compounds in spurge latex are known to be tumor-promoting in lab settings, which is one reason these plants are treated with caution. Most of this information comes from test-tube and animal research, not from studies in people.

Euphorbia cyparissias should be considered toxic and not safe for self-treatment. The milky latex is a known skin and eye irritant. Getting the sap on the skin can cause burning, redness, and blistering, and contact with the eyes can cause severe pain and even damage to vision. Swallowing the plant can cause mouth and throat irritation, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

People with sensitive skin, eye conditions, or digestive disorders are at higher risk of harm. Children and pets should be kept away from the plant. Pregnant and breastfeeding people should avoid it entirely because it can irritate and stimulate the gut and may be toxic; its safety has not been established.

If sap gets in the eyes or causes a serious skin reaction, or if any part of the plant is swallowed, seek medical care or contact a poison control center. Always talk to a pharmacist or doctor before using any product containing spurge.

Reported and expected problems mostly come from the irritating latex and include:

• Skin reactions — burning, redness, rash, and blistering where the sap touches the skin.
• Eye injury — severe pain, swelling, and inflammation if sap reaches the eyes, sometimes lasting for days.
• Digestive upset — mouth and throat burning, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea if swallowed.

More serious reactions are possible with larger exposures, and eye contact in particular can be a medical emergency. Because of these risks, this plant is not recommended for medicinal use.

There is no established or safe dose for Euphorbia cyparissias. It is not a standardized supplement, and because the plant is toxic, we do not recommend taking it. Homeopathic products are extremely diluted, but their safety and effectiveness are also not well studied.

If you come across any product containing this plant, do not guess at an amount. Follow the product label only after checking with a pharmacist or doctor, and never apply the raw sap to your skin or take the plant by mouth on your own.