Holistic Health Herbal Medicine The Health Benefits of Nux Vomica Used in homeopathy, the seeds of this plant have toxic properties By Cathy Wong facebook twitter Cathy Wong is a nutritionist and wellness expert. Her work is regularly featured in media such as First For Women, Woman's World, and Natural Health. Learn about our editorial process Cathy Wong Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Arno Kroner, DAOM, LAc on December 05, 2020 facebook twitter linkedin Arno Kroner, DAOM, LAc, is a board-certified acupuncturist, as well as an herbalist and integrative medicine doctor. He operates a private practice in Santa Monica, California. Learn about our Medical Review Board Arno Kroner, DAOM, LAc Updated on February 18, 2021 Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Health Benefits Possible Side Effects Selection, Preparation, & Storage Common Questions Nux vomica is a plant sourced from an evergreen tree named Strychnos nux-vomica. It is used in homeopathy and is said to help with a variety of concerns including excessive consumption of alcohol, smoking cessation, allergies, headaches, constipation, and more. Since the seeds of the Strychnos nux-vomica contain certain toxic chemicals (including strychnine), nux vomica should not be ingested on its own. Nux vomica is available in pellets and tinctures that, like all homepathic remedies, are diluted to the point that no or very few molecules of the original plant remain. Even so, there are notable potential risks of using these preparations, making the use of nux vomica ill-advised. Health Benefits In addition to the uses mentioned above, nux vomica is purported to be helpful for: Back painThe common coldDigestive troublesFlu HangoversHemorrhoids Menstrual problems Stress But so far, very few studies have looked into the potential health benefits of homeopathic preparations of nux vomica. Due to this, it's too soon to recommend nux vomica as a treatment for any health condition. If you're considering using it despite this, talk with your primary care provider first. Self-treating a condition and avoiding or delaying standard care may have serious consequences. Alcoholism The available research on nux vomica's effects as a homeopathic remedy includes a preliminary study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine in 2001, which found that nux vomica shows promise in the treatment of alcohol use disorder. In an experiment involving rats, the study's authors observed that animals treated with a highly diluted preparation of nux vomica experienced a significant decrease in their voluntary intake of alcohol. However, to date, there have been no human trials of patients with alcoholism. More research is needed before recommending nux vomica for the treatment of alcohol use disorder. Cancer Several preliminary studies on cell cultures indicate that nux vomica may fight cancer, possibly by inducing apoptosis—a type of programmed cell death essential for stopping the proliferation of cancer cells. However, a great deal more research is needed before nux vomica can be recommended in the treatment or prevention of any form of cancer. Possible Side Effects Because Strychnos nux-vomica seeds contain strychnine, medical practitioners recommend avoiding consumption of herbal preparations of nux vomica. When used in small doses in homeopathy, nux vomica may cause side effects including dizziness, muscle cramps, pain, and tenderness. Even when consumed in very small amounts, strychnine can accumulate in the body and cause severe health problems, including resulting in death. Signs of strychnine poisoning include: AnxietyConvulsionsExhaustion Respiratory problems (including difficulty breathing)Restlessness People with liver disease should not use nux vomica as it may cause liver damage. People with epilepsy should also avoid using nux vomica. A 2012 study in the journal Seizure found the homeopathic remedy may induce epileptic seizures. Supplements haven't been tested for safety and due to the fact that dietary supplements are largely unregulated, the content of some products may differ from what is specified on the product label. Also keep in mind that the safety of supplements in pregnant women, nursing mothers, children, and those with medical conditions or who are taking medications has not been established. While licensed medical doctors (MDs), doctors of naturopathy (NDs), doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs), TCM practitioners (LAc, OMDs), and doctors of chiropractic (DCs) may add homeopathy training to their education, homeopathy itself is not a licensed area of health care. Homeopathy counselors have studied homeopathy, but they are non-medical practitioners who can only offer lifestyle advice—not diagnose or treat conditions.If you choose to use nux vomica despite these concerns, it is best that you do so under the care of a licensed healthcare practitioner trained in homeopathy so that you can be properly monitored for side effects. Selection, Preparation, & Storage Homeopathic preparations containing nux vomica are available in many natural-food stores, stores specializing in dietary supplements, and online. While there is no standard dose for nux vomica, it is typically sold as 30X, 30C, or IM. You may encounter differing opinions on the use of and recommended dosing for nux vomica depending on who you consult with, which is why it is always best to trust that advice of a medical doctor over, say, a supplement website or store clerk. Some homeopathic preparations are made with lactose. People who are lactose intolerant should check the label for lactose-free formulations. Homeopathic preparations can last for up to three years when stored properly (in a tightly closed container kept in a cool, dark place). What Is the Definition of Homeopathic Medicine? Common Questions What does the X or C next to the number in the dose of nux vomica mean? In homeopathy, potency is indicated by an X, C, or M, which indicates the dilution ratio. X is a ratio of 1 to 9, C is a ratio of 1 to 99, and M is a ratio of 1 to 999. While it may seem that 10X is a stronger dose than 10C, each time the medicine is diluted, it becomes stronger and the larger the dilution ratio, the greater the potency. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Maji AK, Banerji P. Strychnos nux-vomica: A Poisonous Plant with Various Aspects of Therapeutic Significance. J Basic Clin Pharma 2017;8:S087-S103. Bhati R, Singh A, Saharan VA, Ram V, Bhandari A. Strychnos nux-vomica seeds: Pharmacognostical standardization, extraction, and antidiabetic activity. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2012;3(2):80–84. doi:10.4103/0975-9476.96523 Sukul NC, Ghosh S, Sinhababu SP, Sukul A. Strychnos nux-vomica Extract and Its Ultra-High Dilution Reduce Voluntary Ethanol Intake in Rats. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2001;7(2):187-193. doi:10.1089/107555301750164280 Otter J, D'Orazio JL. Strychnine Toxicity. [Updated 2019 Mar 26]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2019 Jan-. Bell IR, Boyer NN. Homeopathic medications as clinical alternatives for symptomatic care of acute otitis media and upper respiratory infections in children. Glob Adv Health Med. 2013;2(1):32–43. doi:10.7453/gahmj.2013.2.1.007 Additional Reading Deng X, Yin F, Lu X, Cai B, Yin W. The apoptotic effect of brucine from the seed of Strychnos nux-vomica on human hepatoma cells is mediated via Bcl-2 and Ca2+ involved mitochondrial pathway. Toxicol Sci. 2006;91(1):59-69. doi:10.1093/toxsci/kfj114 Deng XK, Yin W, Li WD, et al. The anti-tumor effects of alkaloids from the seeds of Strychnos nux-vomica on HepG2 cells and its possible mechanism. J Ethnopharmacol. 2006;106(2):179-86. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2005.12.021 Yin W, Deng XK, Yin FZ, Zhang XC, Cai BC. The cytotoxicity induced by brucine from the seed of Strychnos nux-vomica proceeds via apoptosis and is mediated by cyclooxygenase 2 and caspase 3 in SMMC 7221 cells. Food Chem Toxicol. 2007;45(9):1700-8. doi:10.1016/j.fct.2007.03.004