- Region
- Asia
- Origin
- Asia (South and Southeast Asia)
- Sanskrit
- Jayapala
- Traditions
- Ayurveda, Chinese medical traditions
Asia · Herb · № 474
Croton tiglium
Herb · Asia
Purging croton
Croton tiglium
Traditionally attributed effects: drastically laxative, irritant, skin-irritant; for stroke, insanity, convulsions, stubborn constipation, worms, ascites, oedema, colic, gout; wood in small doses induces sweating.
Safety notes
Poisonous or risky: only under expert supervision. No dosage is given here on purpose. Highly poisonous. Traditional use is no proof of effectiveness; if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or have a medical condition, consult a doctor or pharmacist.
Cautions by tradition (2)
- Ayurvedic materia medica: Highly poisonous. Poisonous or risky: only under expert supervision. No dosage is given here on purpose.
- Chinese materia medica: Highly toxic: croton oil is fatal even in small amounts. Do not use yourself, not during pregnancy. Of historical interest only.
Preparation
Poisonous or risky: only under expert supervision. No dosage is given here on purpose.
Use in traditions
Described in the Ayurvedic materia medica. Sanskrit name: Jayapala. Croton oil is one of the strongest laxatives that exist and highly irritating; just a few drops can be dangerous. In Chinese medicine (ba dou) and Ayurveda (jayapala) the seeds are used only defatted and purified. It was also used as a fish poison.
Applications
Use by tradition
How different herbal traditions describe this herb. Amounts are traditional guidelines checked for obvious errors; they are not medical advice. For poisonous plants no dosage is given on purpose.
Ayurvedic materia medica
Attributed effects
Drastically laxative, irritant, skin-irritant; for stroke, insanity, convulsions, stubborn constipation, worms, ascites, oedema, colic, gout; wood in small doses induces sweating.
Preparation and amount
Traditionally used forms: powder, oil, liniment.
Caution: Highly poisonous. Poisonous or risky: only under expert supervision. No dosage is given here on purpose.
Chinese materia medica
- Nature and taste
- pungent, hot
- Meridians
- stomach, large intestine
Attributed effects
The seed (ba dou) was used as a very powerful purgative in accumulation from cold, oedema and phlegm blocking the throat or chest.
Preparation and amount
Deliberately no dosage is given here: only under the supervision of a qualified therapist.
Caution: Highly toxic: croton oil is fatal even in small amounts. Do not use yourself, not during pregnancy. Of historical interest only.
- Ways to prepare herbs
- Salve and balmPowder and kitchen