Fan Mu Bie
StarStrychnos nux-vomica L.
☯ TCM Properties
Unblocks the Channels and Alleviates Pain; Disperses Swelling and Dissipates Nodules; Strengthens the Sinews and Bones; Resolves Toxicity
Traditional Chinese Uses
Fan Mu Bie (momordica seed) is a warm herb used in Chinese medicine primarily as an external remedy for skin conditions — particularly inflammatory and heat-toxin conditions including carbuncles, abscesses, ulcers, and certain types of chronic non-healing sores. When processed and used internally in small doses, it has Blood-moving and toxin-resolving applications. Due to its toxicity, it is predominantly used topically and only administered internally under strict professional guidance.
Botanical Description
Strychnos nux-vomica is a medium-sized deciduous tree of the Loganiaceae family, reaching 10 to 25 m in height, with a short crooked trunk and a dense rounded crown. The bark is smooth, grey to yellowish. Leaves are opposite, ovate to broadly elliptic, 6 to 12 cm long, glossy, with three to five prominent palmate basal veins. Small greenish-white tubular flowers are borne in terminal cymes during the cool season and have an unpleasant odor. The fruit is a globose berry, 4 to 6 cm in diameter, ripening from green to bright orange, with a hard rind enclosing a bitter pulp and three to five disc-shaped seeds. The seeds are flat, grey-green, densely covered in silky hairs, intensely bitter, and contain the highly toxic indole alkaloids strychnine and brucine.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 6-15g | Daily | — | — | — |
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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