Strychnos potatorum L.f.

DeFilipps, Robert A. & Krupnick, Gary A., 2018, The medicinal plants of Myanmar, PhytoKeys 102, pp. 1-341 : 106-107

Strychnos potatorum L.f.

Names.

Myanmar: khabaung yay-kyi, mango-taukpa-tit (Mon). English: clearing nut tree, water-filter nut.

Range.

Tropical Africa, tropical Asia, especially eastern India and eastern Myanmar. Found growing naturally not only in evergreen tropical forests, but also elsewhere around the country.

Uses.

Note: This plant can cause blindness; caution is required to avoid contact with the eyes when using it to treat eye disorders and other conditions.

Seed: Astringent and sweet, the easily digestible seeds are known to clarify water (similar to alum) and to relieve thirst and heat, neutralize poison, alleviate eye infections, and kill germs. A paste made from the ground seeds is applied topically in a circle around the eyes to treat eye disorders, improve vision, and clear blood spotting from the whites of the eyes; combined with honey it is applied topically in a circle around the eyes for cataracts. A mixture of seed paste with liquid yogurt taken for seven days is considered a cure for chronic, treatment-resistant diarrhea. A mixture of milk and seed paste is given as a remedy for gonorrhea. A mixture of seed ash and sugar is taken to alleviate bleeding hemorrhoids. The paste made with distilled water is used to treat excessive urination. Powdered seed coats are used to induce vomiting and treat dysentery.

Note.

In India a paste made from the root is applied locally to painful areas (mainly due to internal injury); the seed is used for a tonic, demulcent, stomachic, sedative, emetic and also for diarrhea, dysentery, gonorrhea, and eye troubles ( Jain and DeFilipps 1991).

Reference.

Agricultural Corporation (1980).