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Do Morning Glory Seeds Affect Your Liver?

The ancient Central and South American cultures have used morning glory seeds for religious and medicinal purposes for hundreds of years. The Chinese used morning glory as a laxative, and ancient Japanese society cultivated the seeds into decorative flowers. Humans should never consume morning glory seeds, however, because they can cause liver problems, among other potential health issues.

  1. Identification

    • According to DrugSafetySite.com, people with pre-existing liver conditions, such as jaundice or hepatitis, should refrain from consuming morning glory seeds because they can exacerbate these conditions. In addition, morning glory seeds are naturally toxic so can have other side effects, such as nausea and stomach cramps.

    Considerations

    • Some companies that produce morning glory seeds treat them with irritating chemicals--that water cannot wash off-- that bond to the seeds to prevent their use as a hallucinogen, according to DrugSafetySite.com. These chemicals cause additional liver problems, nauseating effects and abdominal cramping.

    Methyl-mercury

    • Some agricultural producers use a compound known as methyl-mercury on morning glory seeds to prevent rotting, according to Chico Unified School District. Methyl-mercury may damage the liver and harm the brain and nerves. The National Institute of Health reports that methyl-mercury poisoning sufferers often display the same characteristics as people with cerebral palsy, which causes tremors and flailing limbs.

    Prevention/Solution

    • Morning glory seeds are not meant for human consumption. So people should avoid eating them altogether in order to prevent potential liver complications. Fortunately, studies suggest that morning glory seeds are not addictive, and most types of seeds in the morning glory family have little, if any, true hallucinogenic properties, according to "The Encyclopedia of Addictive Drugs."

    Warning

    • As of 2010, morning glory seeds themselves are legal and often sold at botanical shops, but they contain a drug known as LSA that U.S. law considers a Schedule III drug. Extracting LSA from morning glory seeds may result in a fine of up to $250,000 and no more than five years of jail time on the first offense, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

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