Strychnos Nux-Vomica

The Strychnos nux-vomica, also known as the Poison Nut Tree, Nux vomica, Snake-wood, and Quaker Buttons, is a deciduous tree native to India and Southeast Asia. It belongs to the Loganiaceae family. The tree usually grows in open areas and forests, especially in deciduous forests throughout India.

Family: Loganiaceae
Parts Used: Bark, Leaves, Seeds

Common Names

• English: Poison Nut tree, Snake-wood, Quaker button

• Hindi: Kuchla

• Malayalam: Kanjiram

• Odia: Kochila

• Sanskrit: Vishadruma, Kalakutaka, Vishatindukam

Description

This is a medium-sized tree with a short, thick, crooked trunk. The wood is hard and white, and the bark is smooth and ash-colored. The leaves are oval, shiny, and about 4 inches long.

The tree produces small, greenish-white, funnel-shaped flowers in the cold season, which have a strong unpleasant smell. The fruit is about the size of an apple, turning orange when ripe, and filled with soft white pulp. Inside are five hard seeds covered with silky hairs. These seeds are very bitter in taste and are used for medicinal purposes after being cleaned and dried.

Chemical Components

The main active substances in Nux vomica are two alkaloids:

• Strychnine

• Brucine

It also contains:

• A small amount of strychnicine

• Loganin (a glucoside)

• Some fatty matter

• Caffeotannic acid

• A trace of copper

The fruit pulp holds about 5% loganin and some strychnicine.

Medicinal Uses

In traditional herbal medicine:

• Used for digestive issues like upset stomach, vomiting, constipation, and abdominal pain.

• Given for hangovers, heartburn, insomnia, and nervous problems.

• Helpful for headaches, depression, menopause-related issues, and circulatory problems.

• In Chinese medicine, it's used to unblock body channels, reduce swelling, relieve pain, and treat abscesses and ulcers.

• Also used as an appetite booster in folk medicine.

Therapeutic Uses

The healing properties of Nux vomica come mainly from strychnine:

• Acts as a stimulant for the stomach, improving digestion and appetite.

• Helps in chronic constipation by increasing bowel movement when mixed with other laxatives.

• Used to treat gastric problems like indigestion.

• Stimulates the nervous system, improves breathing, and strengthens the heart.

However, strychnine is very poisonous in large doses and can cause violent convulsions, so it must be used carefully in very small, controlled amounts.

Brucine is similar to strychnine but less toxic and is sometimes used to treat itching (pruritus) and inflammations of the ear.

In homeopathy, Nux vomica is a popular remedy for:

• Digestive disorders

• Sensitivity to cold

• Irritability

• Enhancing sensory sharpness

• Strengthening the heart in cardiac issues

Historical Note

Dr. Mattei, a well-known doctor in natural medicine, included Nux vomica in his SCROFOLOSO No. 1 remedy because of its excellent results.