Description

Evergreen shrub growing to 10 ft (3 m), with lance-shaped leaves, white or purple flowers, and 4-seeded fruit.

Habitat & Cultivation

Evergreen shrub growing to 10 ft (3 m), with lance-shaped leaves, white or purple flowers, and 4-seeded fruit.

Parts Used

Leaves, root, flowers, fruit (nut).

Constituents

Malabar nut contains pyrroloquinoline alkaloids and an unidentified volatile oil.

History & Folklore

The highly bitter-tasting malabar nut is a traditional Ayurvedic remedy for chest problems.

Medicinal Actions & Uses

Due to its expectorant qualities, malabar nut is useful for bronchitis and other chest conditions. An Ayurvedic preparation that includes malabar flowers is used to treat tuberculosis. All parts of the plant are used to expel worms. A poultice of the fresh leaves is applied to wounds and to inflamed joints.

Caution

Do not take during pregnancy.