While we know Oleander is supposed to be a poisonous plant, it's also considered a powerful healing remedy in some parts of the world.

Here's information I found coming from Cancer's Natural Enemy:Historical records show that the Mesopotamians in the 15th century BC believed in the healing properties of oleander. The Babylonians used a mixture of oleander and licorice to treat hangovers. Roman soldiers also regularly took an oleander extract for hangovers. Pliny, the Elder of ancient Greece, wrote about the appearance and properties of oleander. Arab physicians first used oleander as a cancer treatment in the 8th century AD.Centuries later, in the 1633 edition of "The Herbal, or General History of Plants", the author John Gerard says of oleander:"This tree being outwardly applied, as Galen saith, hath a digesting faculty; but if it be inwardly taken it is deadly and poisonsome, not only to men, but also to most kinds of beasts. The flowers and leaves kill dogs, asses, mules, and very many of other four footed beasts: but if men drink them in wine they are a remedy against the bitings of Serpents, and the rather if Rue be added. The weaker sort of cattle, as sheep and goats, if they drink the water wherein the leaves have been steeped, are sure to die."which indicates knowledge that the raw plant is poisonous, but that extracts of the plant were used medicinally. And, an oleander extract much like oleander soup is most likely the magic healing potion that led to the witchcraft accusation against Rebecca, the beautiful Jewish woman from the Holy Land, in Sir Walter Scott's "Ivanhoe".In recent centuries, oleander has continued to be used in folk remedies and in commercial preparations in the Middle East, Russia, China and the South American rain forest.Currently, a Brazilian manufacturer is distributing an amazing supplement called OPC Extract worldwide, and the formula includes oleander extract already added into the OPC. So effective is OPC that the government of South Africa has approved and endorsed its use for treatment of the HIV epidemic in that country. Dozens of universities and institutions in South Africa are joining together to treat many thousands of indigent HIV and cancer patients. The initial reports of success are heartwarming to all!