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Strychnos nux vomica L.
Family: Loganiaceae
THE PLANT AND ITS DISTRIBUTION
The tree grows wild in tropical and semi-evergreen forests of central India.
It is a deciduous tree with short spines and thin, grey, smooth bark. Leaves are 7.5-15 cm long, 5—7.5 cm broad, elliptic (Fig. 23A), with numerous greenish white flowers. The fruit is globose, 2.5—7.5 cm and orange when ripe. The seed is (Fig. 23B) discoid concave on one side, convex on the other, up to 2.5 cm in diameter and covered with brown grey, silky hair, radiating from the centre. The seed is leathery and very difficult to powder.
USES IN FOLKLORE AND AYURVEDA
Mitigation of seed
The seed is very bitter and highly poisonous but some people get addicted to it and tolerate the lethal dose. For use in Ayurvedic preparations, it is partially detoxified by any of the following methods:
1
By boiling in equal quantities of milk and water, removing emerging cotyledons (said to be poisonous) when soft. The hot soft kernel turns hard on cooling, so these seed are boiled again until soft enough to pulverize.
2
Cow’s urine is used in place of water and the seed is allowed to remain in it for a number of days until soft enough for crushing.
3
The seed is put in clean clay soil and allowed to remain in it until soft.
4
The easiest method for powdering the seed is to heat it in ghee in an iron pan over a mild heat until the outer skin of the seed turns red brown. Remove the outer skin and powder the kernel.
5
The seed is turned into dust-like powder using iron files.
6
In south India (Shanvaskhan, 1997) seed are boiled with rice and water for three hours. When they are cooked, after removal of seed coat, they are chopped into small pieces and immersed in the juice of Chenopodium ambrosiodes for 3 hours and finally boiled in a decoction of Semecarpus anacardium seed.
These mitigation treatments deplete the alkaloid concentration (Agrawal and Joshi, 1977), without changing their composition (Bhanu and Vasudevan, 1977).
A dose of 30–60 mg of mitigated nux vomica is commonly given, sometimes it may be increased to 125 mg, but it may stimulate the heart at this dose and may be lethal.
The major uses of processed nux vomica are:
As an antidote to poisons
It is an antidote to lead poison, rabid dog bites, snakebites and opium overdose.
For wasting diseases
For wasting diseases in infants and children, mitigated nux vomica is given along with powder of dry liver and kuchla oil.
As a general stimulant
In Ayurveda, it is considered hot in effect and a stimulant for intellectuals and students, etc. It stimulates the respiratory system, neuromuscular system and makes the heart strong. It also helps lethargy of generative organs.
For the digestive system
For indigestion due to physiological weakness and for constipation, it is a drug of choice. It is used in obesity, as it burns fat from the liver. Nux vomica helps cases of acute gastric disturbance, when the patient’s stools are watery, the patient has acute thirst, the stool is blood coloured (as in piles) or if the urge to pass stools and urine persists but regular movement is not there. It strengthens the stomach and digestive system by contractions of the alimentary canal.
For gynaecological problems
It relieves backache, delayed menstruation, dysmenorrhoea and leucorrhoea, when accompanied by yellow, foetid vaginal discharge.
Contraindications
It should be given in the minimum dose to people who live in solitude and get angry easily, and also to patients who have hyperacidity, acute flatulence, urinary incontinence, inflammation of the urethra, burning urination and nasal haemorrhages.
Toxicity
In the case of toxic symptoms, a leaf paste of Abrus precatorius along with gruel of arrow root (Maranta arundinacea) powder is given.
Ayurvedic preparations
Kuchla oil
Method
Heat 15 g nux vomica seed in 100 ml of sesame oil until seed turns brown, filter and use the oil.
Use
For external application in paralysis and wasting diseases of children. For migraines, make a paste of this oil with equal quantities of cinnamon, or Piper longum root, add cow’s urine and apply.
Navjovan rasa
Method
Macerate 25 g processed nux vomica, 25 g processed iron, 5 g each of ras sindur (red sulphide of mercury), black pepper, long pepper and ginger in ginger juice and make pills of 60 mg each.
Use
It is said to rejuvenate the body. It increases gastric juices so food is digested properly and provides strength to the body, nervous system, and stomach. It helps gastric problems, memory, chronic constipation, migraines or pain in any part of the body.
Laxmivillas ras
Method
Take 75 g processed nux vomica, 75 g borax, 75 g black pepper, 50 g processed iron, 25 g purified sulphur and 12 g purified mercury. Triturate mercury and sulphur, add the powders of all other ingredients along with juice of ginger, followed by the juices of Asparagus, Phyllanthus niruri and Eclipta to saturate the mixture. Dry, repeat this process three times and make pills of 60 mg each.
Use
As a rejuvenator it helps convalescence, wasting diseases, loss of vitality and spermatic liquid. It is a spermatogenic, makes skin look young and healthy and cures indigestion.
THERAPEUTIC INDICATIONS AND PHARMACOLOGICAL
STUDIES
Strychnine stimulates respiratory and vasomotor centres. It has selective action on the central nervous system (CNS), more particularly on bone marrow. Small doses produce vasodilation. By its action on the cerebral cortex and peripheral nerves, it exhibits marked hyperactivity. It remains in the alimentary tract for a long time and exerts its influence on digestive system by gradual absorption.
Furukawa et al. (1985) observed that strychnine has direct depressant effect on the heart and inhibits the release of acetylcholine.
Panda and Panda (1993) tested its anti-gastric and anti-ulcer activity and found its effect equivalent to that of cimetidine.
Chemical studies
The seed has 1.8 to 2 per cent of total alkaloids, 42 per cent fatty oil and α-amyrin. The seed ratio of strychnine to brucine varies from 2 : 1 to 1 : 1. It is said that during germination or during treatments with aqueous fluids (mitigation), strychnine disappears whilst brucine, which occurs in the outer cells of the endosperm, is gradually converted into strychnine.
Toxicological studies
Large doses of nux vomica cause tetanic convulsions and eventually death results. Even with safe doses there may be some mental derangement.
References
Agrawal, V.K., Joshi, D. (1977) Effect of purification (Shodhna) on the alkaloidal concentration of kuchla seeds (Strychnos nux-vomica Linn). Journal of Research in Indian Medicine Yoga and Homoeopathy, 12, 43–45.
Bhanu, M.N., Vasudevan, T.N. (1989) Studies on sodhna of nux-vomica, Indian Drugs, 26, 150–152.
Furukawa, Y., Saegusa, K., Chiba, S. (1985) Suppression of strychnine on the two chronotropic and inotropic effects in the isolated blood perfused canine atrium. Japanese Journal of Pharmacology, 38, 439–441.
Panda, P.K., Panda, D.P. (1993) Anti-ulcer activity of nux vomica and its comparison with cimetidine in Shay rat. Indian Drugs, 30, 53–56.
Shanavaskhan, A.E., Binu, S., Unnithan, M.D., Santhoshkumar, E.S., Pushpagandan, P. (1997) Detoxification techniques of traditional physicians of Kerala, India on some toxic herbal drugs. Fitoterapia, 68, 69–74.
Rasayana: Ayurvedic Herbs for Longevity and Rejuvenation. H. S. Puri, 2002, Taylor & Francis. ISBN: 9780203216569. 31. Kuchla (Strychnos nux vomica), pgs. 175–179
Family: Loganiaceae
THE PLANT AND ITS DISTRIBUTION
The tree grows wild in tropical and semi-evergreen forests of central India.
It is a deciduous tree with short spines and thin, grey, smooth bark. Leaves are 7.5-15 cm long, 5—7.5 cm broad, elliptic (Fig. 23A), with numerous greenish white flowers. The fruit is globose, 2.5—7.5 cm and orange when ripe. The seed is (Fig. 23B) discoid concave on one side, convex on the other, up to 2.5 cm in diameter and covered with brown grey, silky hair, radiating from the centre. The seed is leathery and very difficult to powder.
USES IN FOLKLORE AND AYURVEDA
Mitigation of seed
The seed is very bitter and highly poisonous but some people get addicted to it and tolerate the lethal dose. For use in Ayurvedic preparations, it is partially detoxified by any of the following methods:
1
2
3
4
5
6
These mitigation treatments deplete the alkaloid concentration (Agrawal and Joshi, 1977), without changing their composition (Bhanu and Vasudevan, 1977).
A dose of 30–60 mg of mitigated nux vomica is commonly given, sometimes it may be increased to 125 mg, but it may stimulate the heart at this dose and may be lethal.
The major uses of processed nux vomica are:
As an antidote to poisons
It is an antidote to lead poison, rabid dog bites, snakebites and opium overdose.
For wasting diseases
For wasting diseases in infants and children, mitigated nux vomica is given along with powder of dry liver and kuchla oil.
As a general stimulant
In Ayurveda, it is considered hot in effect and a stimulant for intellectuals and students, etc. It stimulates the respiratory system, neuromuscular system and makes the heart strong. It also helps lethargy of generative organs.
For the digestive system
For indigestion due to physiological weakness and for constipation, it is a drug of choice. It is used in obesity, as it burns fat from the liver. Nux vomica helps cases of acute gastric disturbance, when the patient’s stools are watery, the patient has acute thirst, the stool is blood coloured (as in piles) or if the urge to pass stools and urine persists but regular movement is not there. It strengthens the stomach and digestive system by contractions of the alimentary canal.
For gynaecological problems
It relieves backache, delayed menstruation, dysmenorrhoea and leucorrhoea, when accompanied by yellow, foetid vaginal discharge.
Contraindications
It should be given in the minimum dose to people who live in solitude and get angry easily, and also to patients who have hyperacidity, acute flatulence, urinary incontinence, inflammation of the urethra, burning urination and nasal haemorrhages.
Toxicity
In the case of toxic symptoms, a leaf paste of Abrus precatorius along with gruel of arrow root (Maranta arundinacea) powder is given.
Ayurvedic preparations
Kuchla oil
Method
Use
Navjovan rasa
Method
Use
Laxmivillas ras
Method
Use
THERAPEUTIC INDICATIONS AND PHARMACOLOGICAL
STUDIES
Strychnine stimulates respiratory and vasomotor centres. It has selective action on the central nervous system (CNS), more particularly on bone marrow. Small doses produce vasodilation. By its action on the cerebral cortex and peripheral nerves, it exhibits marked hyperactivity. It remains in the alimentary tract for a long time and exerts its influence on digestive system by gradual absorption.
Furukawa et al. (1985) observed that strychnine has direct depressant effect on the heart and inhibits the release of acetylcholine.
Panda and Panda (1993) tested its anti-gastric and anti-ulcer activity and found its effect equivalent to that of cimetidine.
Chemical studies
The seed has 1.8 to 2 per cent of total alkaloids, 42 per cent fatty oil and α-amyrin. The seed ratio of strychnine to brucine varies from 2 : 1 to 1 : 1. It is said that during germination or during treatments with aqueous fluids (mitigation), strychnine disappears whilst brucine, which occurs in the outer cells of the endosperm, is gradually converted into strychnine.
Toxicological studies
Large doses of nux vomica cause tetanic convulsions and eventually death results. Even with safe doses there may be some mental derangement.
References
Agrawal, V.K., Joshi, D. (1977) Effect of purification (Shodhna) on the alkaloidal concentration of kuchla seeds (Strychnos nux-vomica Linn). Journal of Research in Indian Medicine Yoga and Homoeopathy, 12, 43–45.
Bhanu, M.N., Vasudevan, T.N. (1989) Studies on sodhna of nux-vomica, Indian Drugs, 26, 150–152.
Furukawa, Y., Saegusa, K., Chiba, S. (1985) Suppression of strychnine on the two chronotropic and inotropic effects in the isolated blood perfused canine atrium. Japanese Journal of Pharmacology, 38, 439–441.
Panda, P.K., Panda, D.P. (1993) Anti-ulcer activity of nux vomica and its comparison with cimetidine in Shay rat. Indian Drugs, 30, 53–56.
Shanavaskhan, A.E., Binu, S., Unnithan, M.D., Santhoshkumar, E.S., Pushpagandan, P. (1997) Detoxification techniques of traditional physicians of Kerala, India on some toxic herbal drugs. Fitoterapia, 68, 69–74.
Rasayana: Ayurvedic Herbs for Longevity and Rejuvenation. H. S. Puri, 2002, Taylor & Francis. ISBN: 9780203216569. 31. Kuchla (Strychnos nux vomica), pgs. 175–179
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