Photo credit: Vinayaraj
Hello Friends! This is the second in the Sacred Plants series where I share some of the historical and mythological roots of some of the plant based homeopathic remedies. You can read the first in the series on Wolfsbane here. Let’s get started learning a little about the extremely useful Nux vomica.
Nux vomica, or poison nut, are the bitter seeds from the truncate tree and are native the tropical areas of Asia. The seeds contain various alkaloids, the foremost being strychnine. The poison manifests primarily with excitation of the central nervous system, stimulating the circulatory and respiratory systems and can cause painful muscle spasms. Death usually occurs due to respiratory paralysis. I’m certainly grateful we have the ability to turn this poisonous nut into an amazingly effective and healing homeopathic remedy!
The tree has been cultivated since ancient times and the poisons were used for making poison arrows and as poisons in harmful magic. In The Dictionary of Sacred and Magical Plants by Dr. Christian Ratsch states:
“An effective antidote to nux vomica or strychnine poisonings is Kava-Kava.”
Interestingly, the seeds in smaller doses are an effective aphrodisiac and were used along with other ingredients in aphrodisiac beverages and in love magic.
Arabian physicians of the Middle Ages reveal some of the first reports of the seed and by 17th century it was used in England for poisoning nuisance animals.
As a homeopathic preparation, nux vomica is one of the most important, widely used remedies available. It can be indicated for people who have overused drugs or stimulants, those with digestive problems, or insomnia. As a chronic remedy, it very much suits our current culture’s proclivity to impatience, irritation, and lack of adaptive ability.
Bene vale!
Christina
The information is this post was partially obtained from The Dictionary of Sacred and Magical Plants by Dr. Christian Ratsch and Nux Vomica by Peter Hamalcik, MD ~ Biological Therapy/ Vol. IX/ No. 3 1991.
