Burning cherry laurel - cyanide?

[sasha.p]

I told a friend this as I knew the leaves were used in the olden days for more sinister purposes he didnt believe me when I told him to be carefull with that stuff but from what I understand if your chipping the laurel its the leaves that contain it once they are cut they release the gas also it will not take affect straight away it builds up in your system in just the same way an anti biotic does so if you were doing a job one day you wouldnt be so bad but if you spent a whole week chipping the stuff it may make you suffer bad head sickness etc from prolonged exposure to the smell as others have said if your burning it just dont go sticking you head in the smoke use a bit of common sense:001_smile:

[Devonseano]

Thanks all

 

Useful comments as always!

[Al Cormack]

I remember chipping a few monster Laurels a few years back, hopped into the back of the boxed in lorry to shovel the chips forward, 10 mins later I had a pounding headache that would not shift, I swear it was the laurel.

 

I love the smell of chipped laurel........

 

Always reminds me of marzipan and Christmas cakes!