The easy-care winter jasmine, also known as yellow jasmine, is sold commercially as a non-toxic garden plant. It contains some substances that are toxic in higher concentrations. You should refrain from eating the egg-shaped fruits. They are not considered tasty.
Winter jasmine contains toxic substances
Winter jasmine usually blooms from January to around April. In a mild winter, however, the yellow flowers appear before Christmas. They are somewhat sensitive to frost, unlike the buds. These tolerate frost down to - 15 °C. It is therefore best to plant the pretty winter bloomer in a wind-protected location.
Winter jasmine in medicine
Yellow jasmine is native to East Asia, Mexico, Guatemala and the Atlantic coast of America. There, the Indians used winter jasmine for fishing because it contains active ingredients that cause paralysis in high doses, similar to curare. However, winter jasmine is not suitable for the self-treatment of complaints or diseases. Its medicinal use has been controversial for a long time.
As Gelsemium sempervirens, yellow jasmine or winter jasmine is used in homeopathy. It is used against various ailments. It is said to have a supportive effect in the treatment of migraines or spring fatigue. But it is also used for many colds or physical and mental exhaustion as well as dizziness and concentration disorders.
Areas of application of Gelsemium sempervirens:
- Headaches, e.g. with the flu
- migraine
- various colds
- (Spring) fatigue
- mental or physical exhaustion
- dizziness
- difficulty concentrating
tips
The winter jasmine usually blooms particularly well in a wind-protected place, because the flowers do not tolerate too much frost. Should they freeze to death, there are usually enough buds left.