Fan Mu Bie
StarStrychnos nux-vomica L.
Traditionally used for
- Skin
Cautions & contraindications
- Pregnancy
- Liver conditions
- Kidney conditions
- Toxic — professional use only
☯ 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.
Relationships
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| powder | 0.3–0.6 g | — | — | — | ChP 2025. 炮制后入丸散用 — processed, in pills or powder only. Contraindicated in pregnancy; not to be taken in large amounts or over a long period, and not used raw; caution in athletes (strychnine is a prohibited substance). Toxic constituents are absorbed through skin — do not apply externally over a large area. Corrected from a generic 'As needed' poultice filler value generated from tcm_category. |
⚠ Safety & Contraindications
- Pregnancy
- Liver conditions
- Kidney conditions
- Toxic — professional use only
Contraindications
Contraindicated in pregnancy, in the weak or depleted, and in hepatic or renal impairment.
Safety Warnings
- Used only after processing and only at Pharmacopoeia doses.
- This record and Ma Qian Zi denote the same drug, Semen Strychni; doses must not be combined.
⚠ Rule-Based Cautions
These entries come from the deterministic rule tables that gate Verscienta's formula tools — classical pair prohibitions, pregnancy and lactation contraindications, and dose ceilings.
Breastfeeding
Caution large amounts may reduce milk supply
Continuous use
No published day limit; prolonged use cautioned — “不宜多服久服及生用 — not to be taken in large amounts, over a long period, or unprocessed”
孕妇禁用；运动员慎用 — contraindicated in pregnancy; caution for athletes. ChP dose 0.3–0.6 g, processed, in pills or powders. Source: 《中华人民共和国药典》2020年版一部 — 马钱子 【注意】(p. 52). Pending clinical review.
A patient's own days on this herb are counted on their patient page (practitioners only).
⚠ Toxicity Information
Muscular stiffness, tetanic convulsions and respiratory arrest, as for Ma Qian Zi — the same drug (Semen Strychni) under a second name in this catalogue.
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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