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Nux Vomica
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Nux Vomica
ative Photo: Pravin Kawale
Common name: Nux Vomica, Poison Nut, Quaker Buttons, Semen Strychnos, Snake-wood, Strychnine tree • Assamese: কুচিলা তিতা Kuchila Tita, মেকুৰী কেন্দু Makuri Kendu • Bengali: কুচিলা Kuchila • Dogri: कुचला Kuchla • Gujarati: ઝેર કોચલુ Jher Kochalu • Hindi: जहर Jahar, कजरा Kajara, कुचला Kuchala, मैनफल Mainphal • Kannada: ಹೆಮ್ಮುಷ್ಟಿ Hemmushti, ಇಟ್ಟಿ Itti, ಕಾಡಿಟ್ಟಿ Kaaditti, ಕಾಸರ್ಕ Kasarka, ಮುಷ್ಟಿ ಮರ Mushti Mara, ನಂಜಿನಕೊರಡು Nanjinakoradu, ವಿಷಮುಷ್ಟಿ Vishamushti, ಕಾಜವಾರ Kaajavaara, ಕಾಜಿವಾರ Kaajivaara, ಕಾರ್ಯಾ ರೂಕು Karya Ruku • Konkani: काजरो Kajro • Malayalam: കാഞ്ഞിരം Kaanjiram • Marathi: काजरा Kajara, कुचला Kuchala • Odia: ବିଷମୁଷ୍ଟି Bishamushti, ବିଷତରୁ Bishataru, ବିଷତିନ୍ଦୁ Bishatindu, ଜଳଜ Jalaja, କିମ୍ପାକ Kimpaka, କୋଚିଲା Kochila, କୁଚେଳକ Kuchelaka, କୁଳକ Kulaka, ମର୍କଟେନ୍ଦୁ Markatendu, ରଣମୁଷ୍ଟି Ranamushti • Punjabi: ਕੁਚਲਾ Kuchla • Sanskrit: गरद्रुम Garadruma, कारस्करः Karaskarah, किम्पाक Kimpaka, कुपाक Kupaka, रम्यफल Ramyaphala, तिन्दु Tindu, वरम्बरा Varambara, विषमुष्टि Vishamusti, विषतिन्दु Vishatindu • Tamil: அக்கு Akku, எட்டி மரம் Etti-Maram, காகோடி Kakodi, கருங்காலி Karu-N-Kali, கடுமரம் Katu-Maram • Telugu: ముష్టిగంగ Mooshtiganga, ముష్టి Mushti, ముషిడి Musidi, ముష్టివిత్తులు Mushti-Vittulu, విష ముష్టి Vishamushti • Tibetan: ཀོ་བྱི་ལ Ko-Byi-La • Tulu: ಕಾಯೆರ್ ಮರ Kayeru Mara • Urdu: کچلا Kuchala, مين پهل Mainphal Source: Names of Plants in India
Botanical name: Strychnos nux-vomica    Family: Loganiaceae (Logania family)

Nux Vomica is a medium-sized tree with a short, crooked, thick trunk. The wood is white hard, close grained, durable. Branches are irregular, covered with a smooth ash-coloured bark. Young shoots are deep green, shiny. Oppostely arranged short stalked leaves are elliptic, shiny, smooth on both sides, about 4 inches long and 3 broad. Flowers are small, greenish-white, funnel shaped, borne in small clusters at the end of branches They have a disagreeable smell. Fruit is about the size of a large apple with a smooth hard shell which when ripe is orange colored, filled with a soft white jelly-like pulp containing five seeds. The seeds are like flattened disks densely covered with closely appressed satiny hairs, radiating from the centre of the flattened sides and giving to the seeds a characteristic sheen.
Medicinal uses: Nux Vomica is recommended for upset stomach, vomiting, abdominal pain, constipation, intestinal irritation, hangovers, heartburn, insomnia, certain heart diseases, circulatory problems, eye diseases, depression, migraine headaches, nervous conditions, problems related to menopause, and respiratory diseases in the elderly. In folk medicine, it is used as a healing tonic and appetite stimulant. Nux vomica is a common homeopathic medicine prescribed for digestive problems, sensitivity to cold, and irritability.

Identification credit: N. S. Dungriyal, Pravin Kawale Photographed in Alibag, Maharashtra & Kinnarsani, Andhra Pradesh.

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