HERB - RECIPE: Juniper Berries in Oil

[Roberta R Comstock]

Karla,

You seem to have confused your almond oils.  Sweet almonds (_Prunus
amygdalus_ or _Amygdalus communis_) are the edible ones and the oil of
sweet almonds is also edible.  Bitter Almond (_P. amygdalus_ var.
_amara_)  is the toxic one.  The poison is cyanide.

'Natural oil of bitter almond contains 4% hydrogen cyanide, and
artificial oil of bitter almonds contains mandelonitrile.'  (_Handbook of
Poisoning_ by Dreisbach & Robertson)  

This reference also points out that cyanogenic glycosides that release
cyanide when digested are found in the seeds of apple (_Malus pumila_),
plum (_Prunus spp_), peach (_P. Persica_), apricot (_P armeniaca_), and
cherry (_Prunus spp_).  Five to 25 seeds could be fatal to a small child
if the seed capsule is broken (such as by chewing apple seeds or
intentionally cracking open the hard pits of drupe fruits).   They are
harmless if swallowed whole.  All of these plants are in the Rose family.
 

Hertha

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