Western Herbalism
Nux Vomica
Strychnos nux-vomica
Also known as Ma Qian Zi, Poison Nut, Quaker Buttons, Vomit nut, Dog Button, Nux vomica seed, Poison nut (Semen nucis vomicae).
As a rule nux vomica is more largely used in disorders of the gastro-hepatic tract than is strychnine; while strychnine is more generally preferred for nervous, sexual, and bladder disorders. For cardiac and respiratory dyspnea, shock, and other emergencies, strychnine, hypodermatically administered is by far the quicker and better procedure.
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Indications what the tradition reached for it in
- Facial paralysis and Bell's palsy
- Hemiplegia and post-stroke sequelae
- Myasthenia and muscle weakness
- Musculoskeletal, rheumatoid and arthritic pain
- Trauma with swelling
- Numbness, tingling and neuralgia
- Nerve injury and neuropathy
- (microdose, Eclectic) atonic dyspepsia, gastric atony, anorexia, sluggish peristalsis and constipation of atonic bowel, debility with poor tone
- Hypotonic digestive states
Safety
Recognised toxicity. This plant carries a toxicity flag in the record; it is for trained practitioners only.
Low dose botanical. Used in drop doses in the classical practice; not a plant to dose freely.
Breastfeeding: Pregnancy and lactation (absolute)
The record lists 10 contraindications; open the plate in the library to read them in full.
Dosing as the sources wrote it
| Preparation | As written | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| TCM dose 0.3-0.6 g/day in prepared pills or powder, never decocted raw | 300-600 mg | |
| Extractum Nucis Vomicae, Extract of Nux Vomica | Dose, from one-eighth to one grain. | 8.1-64.8 mg |
| Tinctura Nucis Vomicae | Dose, from two to fifteen minims. | 0.12-0.92 mL |
| Extractum Nucis Vomicae Fluidum, Fluid Extract of Nux Vomica | Dose, from one to five "minims. | |
| Specific Medicine Nux Vomica | Dose, from one-tenth to two minims. | 0.01-0.12 mL |
| A larger dose causes violent tetanic convulsions, with brief intermissions, acute sensibility, and death may result in five minutes and usually within six hours. |
Doses are reproduced from the sources for practitioners and are not a recommendation for any person.
From the sources
Therapy. As a rule nux vomica is more largely used in disorders of the gastro-hepatic tract than is strychnine; while strychnine is more generally preferred for nervous, sexual, and bladder disorders. For cardiac and respiratory dyspnea, shock, and other emergencies, strychnine, hypodermatically administered is by far the quicker and better procedure.
Therapy. This condition is sometimes induced by reflex influence, apparent in the persistent vomiting of pregnancy, the vomiting or regurgitation of food present in hysteria, and in the vomiting of phthisis pulmonalis, especially occurring in these latter cases after coughing.
Therapy. In impotence due to exhaustion, to relaxation or atony of the erectile tissue of the sexual apparatus, strychnine in small doses persistently used is an advantageous remedy. The extract of nux vomica may be given, but will not work as promptly as the alkaloid.
Therapy. The phosphate of strychnine given in doses of from 1/180 to the 1/80 of a grain combines the stimulating properties of the strychnine with the nerve building properties of the phosphorus. It is a combination that should be of much value in conditions where it is desired to retain the high point gained by a nerve stimulant, and make the condition thus gained permanent.
Drawn from King's American Dispensatory, 18th edition (Felter and Lloyd); Ellingwood's American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy; Felter's Eclectic Materia Medica, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, and the Bountiful Herbs editorial.
In formulas
Nux Vomica stands in 12 documented formulas in the library, among them sàn yu hé sháng tǎng.
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OkraHibiscus EsculentusThe whole plate is in the library. The compass, Compare, the Sky of eleven hundred plants and the formulary open with an email address and a password, free, with the formula builder and its safety engine. Herbert without limit, his formulating, clients, the handouts and the labels are the paid room.
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