The vlogger had set out to emphasize the numerous advantages of aloe vera and went to great lengths to showcase its benefits. In an attempt to demonstrate her commitment, she took a daring bite out of a plant. Unfortunately, what she didn't realize at the time was that the plant she was chomping on was not aloe vera, but rather the toxic Agave Americana plant.
As a result, her well-intentioned act took an unexpected and dangerous turn, leading her to seek immediate medical attention.
From IFL Science:
In the video, she is recorded as saying "this is great", but shortly afterward her mouth went numb, her throat felt like it was on fire, and she was forced to go to the hospital.
After eating the plant, Ms Zhang noticed a bitter taste, according to Motherboard. After the video ended, she was taken to the hospital with burns and sores in her mouth. There, she had her stomach pumped and is now in stable condition.
The supposed health benefits of Aloe vera are actually not that clear. "There’s not enough evidence to show whether aloe vera is helpful for most of the purposes for which people use it," according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.
Agave Americana is cultivated in Mexico and North America, and is commonly referred to as American aloe due to its resemblance to Aloe vera. They are typically used as ornamental plants, even though they are toxic.
"Agave americana has several toxic compounds, not all of which have been positively identified," according to Cornell University’s department of animal science. "It contains the incredibly irritating calcium oxalate raphides (microscopic daggers of crystalline oxalate) as well as some other really irritating oils in the sap."
While the video failed to prove the health benefits of Aloe vera as planned, she did demonstrate the dangers of eating plants without being entirely sure of what you're eating.
So the takeaway from this incident is that if you're planning to record yourself consuming a plant, it's crucial to double-check that you're dealing with the non-toxic variety you intended to discuss.
Needless to say, it seems unlikely that this woman's YouTube channel will gain much traction in the near future.
