Chinese HerbsQianjinzi Euphorbia Lathyris L. A native of Europe and Northwest Africa, one of the Chinese herbs qianjinzi is used as a purgative.
USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions. Vol. 2: 471.
千金子 pronounced "Qian-jin-zi" is poisonous according to Wikipedia, "All parts of the plant, including the seeds and roots are poisonous. Handling may may cause skin irritation as the plant produces latex. While poisonous to humans and most livestock, goats sometimes eat it and are immune to the toxin. However, the toxin can be passed through the goat's milk." Some smart beggars rub the milky juice from the succulent stems on their bodies to cause a blistering rash. This way, they can solicit more sympathy. The milky juice which runs down to the roots are believed to act as a kind of repellent against moles. Therefore the common English name mole plant. Mole plant is also called caper spurge for the reason that the seeds were once used to substitute expensive Mediterranean imported capers, it must have caused a lot of surprising purging to unsuspecting users, ha ha.
It maybe regarded as an invasive weed in regions out of its native lands, but I doubted the Chinese would regard it as a weed as its seeds are collected in summer and prescribed as a constipation relief.
Seeds of qianjinzi contain very high in oleic acid, used in producing soaps, detergents, lubricants, paints, cosmetics and a substitute for diesel fuel.
According to The Medico-Chirurgical Review,( 1825) oil from the seeds of caper spurge " ...seems to combine all the good qualities of croton oil, without any of its repulsive properties...The oil is so inodorous that it may be give to children on sugar or other, without their suspecting psychic-no mean advantage." However notes Chambers's Encyclopaedia ( 1862), "It is good for use only when recently extracted."
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