Chinese herbal medicine Bitter Sandalwood has the effect of promoting blood circulation and reducing swelling when applied externally, and it can treat bruises and injuries. When taken internally, it can treat malnutrition and excessive sweating in children. What are the precautions for using Bitter Sandalwood?
【Identification of Bitter Sandalwood】
Dry seeds, slightly kidney-shaped and flat round when attached to the ends of the pod; flat and round on one side and flat on the other when located in the middle of the pod; about 4 cm long and 3 cm thick.
The surface is reddish-brown to blackish-brown, shiny, or with a thin grayish-white film. The hilum is located in the middle waist depression. There are two cotyledons, thick and horny, easily longitudinally fissured; irregular protrusions around the hilum make the cotyledons fissured and uneven.
It has a mild aroma and a mild taste followed by a tingling sensation. It is best to use those with reddish-brown skin, large size, and no insect damage.
【Toxicity of Bitter Sandalwood】
It is highly toxic. This species is a toxic plant recorded in the Chinese Plant Database, and its toxicity lies in the seeds and roots. The symptoms of poisoning are similar to those of Croton tiglium. There may be vomiting, abdominal pain, dizziness, dry mucous membranes, rapid breathing, and confusion.
Mice injected with 1g/kg extract intraperitoneally showed prostration and increased respiration, while 5g/kg resulted in respiratory distress, convulsions, and death. In rural areas where it is produced, it is used to poison fish and kill insects, and its toxicity to insect larvae is equivalent to arsenic.
Bitter Sandalwood should be used with caution when taken internally. Overdose can cause poisoning, resulting in symptoms such as vomiting, abdominal pain, dizziness, dry mucous membranes, rapid breathing, and confusion. It can cause initial excitement and subsequent paralysis of the nervous system.
【Usage of Bitter Sandalwood】
1. Treatment of parasitic skin diseases: Bitter Sandalwood, Sichuan pepper, Bitter Sophora Root, Amaranth, Coptis chinensis, and Datura. Grind them together and mix with fragrant oil for topical application. (Sichuan Traditional Chinese Medicine)
2. Treatment of pain caused by qi stagnation: Grind Bitter Sandalwood into powder, take three to five minutes each time, and drink with boiling water. (Guizhou Folk Medicine)
3. Treatment of malnutrition in children: Take five minutes of Bitter Sandalwood fruit (calcined). Eat with steamed chicken liver or grind it into water for consumption. (Guizhou Folk Medicine)
