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DISCLAIMER: These pages are presented solely as a source of INFORMATION and ENTERTAINMENT and to provide stern warnings against use where appropriate. No claims are made for the efficacy of any herb nor for any historical herbal treatment. In no way can the information provided here take the place of the standard, legal, medical practice of any country. Additionally, some of these plants are extremely toxic and should be used only by licensed professionals who have the means to process them properly into appropriate pharmaceuticals. One final note: many plants were used for a wide range of illnesses in the past, but be aware that many of the historical uses have proven to be ineffective for the problems to which they were applied.




BRUCEA
SIMAROUBACEAE
aka Java Brucea, Kusam Seeds
(Brucea javanica)
[ya-tan-tzu]
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CAUTION!!
GASTROINTESTINAL IRRITANT!

DRUG INTERACTION: NOT with chloroquine diphosphate.

CONTRAINDICATED: NOT taken where there is digestive weakness, nausea, vomiting, pregnancy, and NOT given to children.

CONTAINS: Seeds contain: Bitter alkaloid glycosides, brucamarin, dosamine, formic acid.

Deciduous shrub with downy branches native to China, East Indies, and the Malay Archipelago. Leaves are pinnate with 4 to 6 pairs of leaflets. Flowers are small, purple, 4 petaled, appearing in axillary panicles in summer. Fruit is a black berry containing a single, flat seed.

Has been used for more than 2 centuries in Chinese medicine.



PROPAGATION: By seed in spring; by ripewood cuttings in sand.
NEEDS: Well drained soil in sun or part shade. Hardy to 60º F.
HARVEST: Seeds when ripe (hard outer covering is removed).
PART USED: Seeds

USES

MEDICINAL:
Bitter, febrifuge, antibiotic, antifungal, astringent, anthelmintic, mild laxative, tonic, vermifuge. Affects colon.
Has been used internally for malaria, amebic dysentary, diarrhea, piles, chronic dysentary, nematodes, tapeworm, , and vaginal thrush.
Has been used externally for warts and corns. Seeds are split open and taped to the offending growth.

DOSE: TRADITIONAL DOSAGES FOR PROFESSIONAL NOTE ONLY!
!All others buy commercial preparations and follow directions carefully!
7 to 15 seeds with shell removed.





©2004 by Ernestina Parziale, CH

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