Strychnos Nux Vomica

Description

Strychnos nux-vomica is a medium-sized tree with a short, thick trunk. The wood is dense, hard white, and close-grained. The branches are irregular and are covered with a smooth ashen bark. The young shoots are a deep green colour with a shiny coat. The leaves have an opposite decussate arrangement (each opposing pair of leaves at right angles to the next pair along the stem), are short stalked and oval shaped, have a shiny coat, and are smooth on both sides. The leaves are about 10 centimetres (4 inches) long and 7.6 cm (3 in) wide. The flowers are small with a pale green colour and a funnel shape. They bloom in the cold season and have a foul smell. The fruit are about the size of a large apple with a smooth and hard shell that when ripened is a mild shade of orange in colour. The flesh of the fruit is soft and white with a jelly-like pulp containing five seeds covered with a soft, woolly substance.
The seeds have the shape of a flattened disk completely covered with hairs radiating from the center of the sides. This gives the seeds a very characteristic sheen. The seeds are very hard, with a dark gray horny endosperm where the small embryo is housed that gives off no odor but possesses a very bitter taste.

Uses

The strychnine-containing seeds have been used in arrow poison.[4] The use of strychnine is highly regulated in many countries, and it is mostly used in baits to kill feral mammals. Most accidental poisoning is caused by breathing in the powder or by absorption through the skin.
Strychnos is promoted within alternative medicine as a treatment for many conditions, but the claims are not supported by medical evidence.

What does nux vomica treat?

Nux vomica is used to treat many different conditions. These include:

•  digestive problems such as constipation, bloating, heartburn, and nausea
• male infertility and impotence
• colds and flus, particularly in the early stages of the virus
• allergies
• back pain
• irritability, impatience, and high sensitivity to stimuli, caused by stress or mental strain
• headaches and migraines symptoms such as a sore scalp, frontal pain, light sensitivity, or stomach problems
• hangovers
• menstrual problems
• insomnia