The Crown-of-Thorns, or Euphorbia milii, is a unique and widely recognized plant belonging to the large and diverse family Euphorbiaceae. While it's admired globally for its vibrant and long-lasting flowers, it's also a plant with a complex history of both medicinal use in traditional folklore and a well-documented toxicity. The plant's name and cultural significance are often linked to a Christian legend, where it's believed the crown of thorns placed on Jesus' head during his crucifixion was made from this very plant.
Name in Different Countries & Terminology
Euphorbia milii is known by various names across different cultures and languages. Its common names almost universally reference its spiny stems and its religious association.
English: Crown-of-Thorns, Christ Plant, Christ Thorn
French: Couronne d'épines, Couronne du Christ, Épine du Christ
Spanish: Corona de Cristo, Gracia de Dios, Espina Santa
Portuguese: Coroa-de-Cristo, Coroa-de-espinho
Chinese: Tie Hai Tang (meaning "iron begonia," referencing its tough stem and leaves)
Malagasy: Songosongo (its native name from Madagascar)
Availability & External Look
The Crown-of-Thorns is a popular ornamental plant found globally, both as a houseplant and in gardens in warmer climates. Its availability is widespread due to its low-maintenance nature and ability to thrive in a variety of conditions.
Availability:
You can find Euphorbia milii at nurseries, garden centers, and even in many supermarkets. It's a common houseplant and a favorite for xeriscaping (gardening with little or no water) because of its drought resistance.
External Look: The plant is a woody, succulent shrub that can grow up to 6 feet tall in its native habitat, but it remains much smaller when grown indoors. Its most distinctive features are:
Stems: Thick, woody, and densely covered in sharp, straight spines up to an inch long.
Leaves: Fleshy, bright green leaves grow mainly on the new, upper growth of the stems. They are often oblong or oval-shaped and may drop off as the stem matures.
Flowers: The actual flowers are small and inconspicuous. What most people consider the "petals" are actually colorful, petal-like bracts that grow in pairs around the tiny flowers. These bracts are most commonly a vibrant red, but cultivars are available in pink, yellow, orange, and white.
Healing Properties & Advantages 💊 Despite its toxicity, Euphorbia milii has been used in traditional medicine for centuries, particularly in its native and adopted regions. Modern research is exploring the plant's phytochemicals to understand these traditional uses.
Healing Properties (Traditional & Research-backed)
Anticancer & Antitumor: Extracts from the plant, especially the latex and leaves, have shown significant cytotoxic (cell-killing) effects on cancer cells in laboratory studies. This has led to investigations into its potential as an anticancer agent.
Anti-inflammatory: Traditional medicine has used the plant to treat inflammatory conditions like arthritis. Scientific studies have shown that extracts may possess anti-inflammatory properties, potentially by blocking inflammatory pathways.
Antimicrobial: E. milii has demonstrated antibacterial and antifungal properties, which aligns with its historical use for treating skin infections, boils, and ringworm.
Wound Healing: The latex has been applied topically to wounds to help prevent infection and accelerate the healing process.
Other Traditional Uses: The plant has been used in folk medicine for a wide range of ailments, including intestinal parasites, respiratory infections, and even as a remedy for snake and scorpion bites.
Advantages as a Plant
Drought-Tolerant: As a succulent, it stores water in its thick stems, making it very resilient to dry conditions and ideal for low-maintenance gardening.
Long-lasting Blooms: One of its main attractions is its ability to bloom year-round under the right conditions, providing continuous color.
Pest and Deer Resistant: The sharp thorns and the toxic, bitter-tasting sap act as natural deterrents to pests and foraging animals.
Uses & Using Way
It is crucial to understand that despite its traditional medicinal uses, the entire plant is poisonous. The milky white latex (sap) contains phorbol esters, which are highly irritating and toxic. Due to this, the plant i s primarily cultivated for its ornamental value.
Primary Use: The main use of Euphorbia milii today is as an ornamental plant. It's a popular choice for home gardens, landscaping, and indoor containers.
Medicinal Use: The use of Euphorbia milii as a medicine is highly discouraged without professional medical guidance. The traditional methods often involve precise preparations and dosages that are not safe for general, at-home application.
How Not to Use: Never ingest any part of this plant. The sap is toxic and can cause severe symptoms like stomach pain, vomiting, and irritation of the mouth and throat. Avoid contact with the sap on your skin and especially your eyes. It can cause a rash and temporary blindness. If contact occurs, wash the area thoroughly with soap and water, and seek medical attention if irritation persists or if the sap gets into the eyes.
Conclusion
Euphorbia milii, with its striking thorns and beautiful bracts, is a fascinating plant with a dual identity. While it is celebrated globally as a hardy and attractive ornamental, its history as a medicinal plant is intertwined with significant toxicity. Its traditional healing properties for ailments like cancer and skin conditions are currently being researched, but the plant's poisonous nature makes its direct use as a remedy extremely dangerous. For this reason, it remains a plant best admired from a safe distance, a symbol of beauty and resilience with a cautionary tale of its own.
