Lilacs smell pleasant, but there’s a very serious catch
It’s May, lilacs are blooming in courtyards, and your hand instinctively reaches to break off a branch and put it in a vase at home. But botanists warn that a bouquet of lilacs in the bedroom can seriously harm your health. Lilac flowers can cause agonizing headaches and even heart rhythm disruptions.
Why the Smell of Lilacs Is Dangerous in an Enclosed Space
The aroma of lilacs seems pleasant and harmless, but in an enclosed space it turns into a serious problem. As Tatyana Khrynova, deputy director of the botanical garden at Nizhny Novgorod State University, explained in a conversation with RIA Novosti, bouquets of lilacs should only be placed in well-ventilated rooms and never in the bedroom.
The issue is that the concentration of volatile compounds in the room’s air builds up quickly. If the windows are closed — and that’s how most people sleep — the person inhales these compounds all night long. The result can appear as early as the morning: severe headache, sleep disruption, and a general feeling of being worn out. Many people blame this on tiredness or stuffiness, never suspecting that the lilac branch on the nightstand is the real culprit.
What Is Syringin and Why Is It Dangerous for the Heart
The main culprit behind the unpleasant symptoms is syringin. This is a substance from the group of cardiac glycosides found in lilac leaves and blossoms. Cardiac glycosides are natural compounds capable of affecting the heart muscle. In small doses, some of them are even used in medicine, but with uncontrolled exposure they can be dangerous.
According to Tatyana Khrynova, syringin can cause arrhythmia, headaches, and sleep disruption. In severe cases, it can lead to vision impairment and a drop in platelet levels in the blood. Obviously, no one will be harmed by simply walking past a blooming bush. The danger begins when a person sits or sleeps for hours next to a bouquet in an unventilated room.
In simple terms, lilacs outdoors are one thing, but lilacs in an enclosed room are something else entirely. Outside, the concentration of volatile substances dissipates instantly, while in a bedroom they accumulate.
Lilac Allergies and Individual Sensitivity
Besides syringin, there’s another risk factor — allergic reactions. Sensitivity to lilacs varies greatly from person to person. Some can calmly keep a bouquet on the table all day, while others may experience nasal congestion, sneezing, watery eyes, or skin rashes within an hour.
Some people have a pronounced allergic reaction to lilacs
Those who already know they react to flower pollen should be especially careful. If you suffer from hay fever every spring, keeping lilacs at home is definitely not a good idea.
Who Is at Risk from Keeping Lilacs at Home
There is almost no clinical research on this topic, but based on the botanist’s explanations, it’s clear who is most at risk from having a bouquet of lilacs in the room:
- People with cardiovascular diseases — syringin affects heart rhythm, and for those already prone to arrhythmia, this is an additional risk;
- Allergy sufferers and asthmatics — the rich aroma and pollen can trigger an attack;
- Small children — their bodies are more susceptible to the effects of volatile substances;
- Elderly people — especially if they have blood pressure or sleep issues;
- People with chronic headaches and migraines — a strong floral scent often becomes a trigger for an attack.
It’s important to understand that this isn’t about lilacs being poisonous. It’s about prolonged exposure in an enclosed space, especially during sleep, when a person can’t ventilate the room or simply step outside.
Where Is the Best Place to Keep a Bouquet of Lilacs
You don’t have to give up lilacs entirely. Tatyana Khrynova offered simple recommendations that allow you to enjoy the flowers without harming your health.
The best places for a bouquet of lilacs are:
- A terrace or open veranda;
- A living room with an open window;
- A balcony or loggia.
The main principle is good ventilation. If air circulates freely in the room, the concentration of volatile substances stays at a safe level. However, the bedroom, a children’s room, or a small office without windows are places where it’s better not to keep lilacs.
On an open veranda, lilacs are both beautiful and safe
If you still want to place a bouquet in the room, at least take it out at night and keep the window slightly open. It’s not difficult, and the risk of waking up with a headache is significantly reduced.
Lilacs are one of the main symbols of spring, and it would be a shame to deprive yourself of their aroma. Just remember about syringin and a couple of simple rules: don’t place a bouquet at the head of your bed and ventilate often. Then only the good things about lilacs will remain — the very reason you bring them home in the first place.
