OLEANDER BAN
Kerala has banned the use of Oleander flowers (Nerium Oleander) (locally known as Arali) in
temple offerings after a woman died from accidentally chewing poisonous oleander leaves.
■ Oleander, also called rosebay, is a widely cultivated plant found in tropical,
subtropical, and temperate regions around the world.
○ It is popular for its ability to withstand drought and is commonly
used for landscaping and ornamental purposes.
■ Oleander as a Traditional Medicine:
○ Ayurveda prescribes this for treating chronic and obstinate skin
diseases, including leprosy.
○ The Bhavaprakasha (a renowned treatise on Ayurveda) has
mentioned it as a poisonous plant and recommended its use in the
treatment of infected wounds, skin diseases, microbes and
parasites, and itching.
■ The plant contains cardiac glycosides (a type of chemical), including oleandrin,
folinerin, and digitoxigenin, which can have pharmacological effects on the
heart.
○ Symptoms of oleander toxicity include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting,
rashes, confusion, dizziness, irregular heartbeat, slow heartbeat,
and in extreme cases, death.
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.
● Charka [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.
What is Oleander?
● Nerium oleander, commonly known as oleander or rosebay, is a plant cultivated
worldwide in tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions.
● Known for its drought tolerance, the shrub is often used for ornamental and
landscaping purposes.
● In Kerala, it’s called arali or kanaveeram and is used for natural fencing along
highways and beaches.
● According to the IUCN Red List, Nerium oleander (Oleander) is classified as Least
Concern
Traditional Medicinal Uses:
● Termed as “desert rose” in ancient texts, oleander has been trusted with its
medicinal properties such as a hangover cure, in cancer treatments, and as an
antiviral.
● The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India mentions oleander, particularly the use of oil
from the root bark to treat skin diseases.
● oleander’s use in treating skin diseases, leprosy, wounds, itching, and parasites.
Toxicity of Oleander:
● Oleander is highly toxic due to cardiac glycosides present in all parts of the plant.
● Cardiac glycosides like oleandrin and digitoxigenin exert pharmacological effects on
the heart, leading to nausea, vomiting, irregular heartbeat, and, in severe cases,
death..
4. Traditional Medicinal Use: It is used in treatment of vrana (infected wounds), kustha
(skin diseases including leprosy), krimi (microbes and parasites), kandu (itching).
5. Why Oleander flowers Banned by Kerala temple boards?
Despite medicinal use, oleander is toxic.
i) 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.
ii) Cardiac glycosides have therapeutic value in heart conditions but have a narrow
therapeutic window, leading to frequent overdose and toxicity.
iii) Toxic effects include nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, confusion, irregular heartbeat, and,
in severe cases, death. Ingestion or inhalation of smoke from burning oleander can also be
intoxicating.
iv) Symptoms typically last for 1 to 3 days and may necessitate hospitalization. Fatalities are
uncommon.
Traditional medicine
API (Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India) mentions oleander root bark oil for skin diseases.
○ The plant has been “frequently described in Brihattrayi, Nighantus and other
classical Ayurvedic texts.
Charak Samhita: White flowered oleander leaves are prescribed externally for
chronic and severe skin diseases, including leprosy.
Bhavaprakasha: Describes oleander as “visha” (poison) but also indicates its use for:
○ Vrana (infected wounds)
○ Kustha (skin diseases including leprosy)
○ Krimi (microbes and parasites)
○ Kandu (itching)
Implications and Response
● In response to the tragic incident involving Surya Surendran, two Kerala
government-controlled temple boards, managing numerous temples in the state,
have banned the use of oleander flowers in temple offerings.
● This decision reflects the recognition of the plant’s inherent danger and the need to
prevent further incidents of accidental poisoning.
● The ban highlights the importance of public awareness regarding the toxicity of
certain plants and the potential risks associated with their consumption or use in
rituals.
