Nux Vomica – 1 lb (454 g)

Nux Vomica, known in Chinese as 马钱子 (Mǎqiánzǐ) and scientifically as Semen Strychni, is a valued herb in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). This TCM herb has been traditionally used to support natural wellness, maintain vitality, and encourage holistic balance. At TCMforyou.com, we provide premium-quality Nux Vomica carefully sourced to preserve its therapeutic properties.

As a herbal supplement, Nux Vomica helps promote overall well-being and supports natural energy, immunity, and balance. Integrating this herb into your wellness routine offers a gentle, time-tested approach to enhancing daily health. Whether brewed as tea, added to herbal remedies, or taken as part of a TCM formula, Nux Vomica provides a safe, natural way to experience the benefits of traditional Chinese medicine.

Trusted for centuries, Nux Vomica has been used in TCM to harmonize the body and encourage optimal functioning of key systems. At TCMforyou, we prioritize authenticity and quality. Each batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure purity and potency, delivering an herbal product aligned with traditional practices.

Experience the natural support of Nux Vomica, promoting immune health, vitality, and holistic well-being. Embrace the wisdom of TCM and incorporate this gentle, effective herbal remedy into your daily wellness journey.

[Overview] This herb is also known as Fan Mubie, Kushí, and Maqianzi. It is the mature seed of Strychnos nux-vomica L., a plant of the Loganiaceae family. It is mainly produced in Fujian, Taiwan, Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi, and Yunnan provinces. The seeds are harvested when the fruit ripens in autumn, the seeds are extracted, washed clean of adhering pulp, and sun-dried.

[Properties] Bitter in taste, cold in nature, highly toxic. Enters the liver and spleen meridians.

[Actions] Dispels wind-dampness, unblocks the channels and collaterals, reduces swelling and relieves pain.

[Applications]
1. Used for stubborn wind-damp painful obstruction, channel spasms, and hemiplegia. For joint soreness and channel spasms, often combined with Qiang Huo, Chuan Wu Tou, and Ru Xiang; for limb numbness and paralysis, often combined with Ren Shen, Dang Gui, Bai Zhu, Mo Yao, and Wu Gong. Currently commonly used to treat rheumatic and rheumatoid arthritis, sciatica, facial paralysis, poliomyelitis sequelae in children, and myasthenia gravis.
2. Used for traumatic swelling and bruising, and fractures. For traumatic swelling and bruising, can be combined with Ru Xiang and Mo Yao for internal or external use, such as in the formula Shenxiao Jiufen San; for fracture swelling and bruising, can be combined with San Qi, Ru Xiang, Mo Yao, Di Si Bie Chong, and Zi Ran Tong decocted for oral administration, while applying the residue externally to the affected area.
3. Used for carbuncles and toxic swellings, sore throat and throat obstruction, toothache, and stubborn tinea. Maqianzi is often made into pills for internal use, and externally applied as a concentrated water-ground juice or mixed paste. For sore throat and swelling, it can be combined with Shan Dou Gen and Qing Mu Qu Feng Xiang, ground into powder and blown into the throat. Recent reports indicate Maqianzi has certain efficacy in treating various malignant tumors, trigeminal neuralgia, and sciatica.

[Dosage and Administration] Internal use: 0.3–0.6 g, processed and incorporated into pills or powders. External use: appropriate amount, ground into powder and sprinkled; decocted in oil and applied topically; boiled into a paste and applied as a compress.

[Cautions] Not suitable for raw ingestion, overdose, or long-term use. Contraindicated in weak constitution and pregnant women. Use with caution in patients with hypertension, heart disease, or impaired liver and kidney function.

[Modern Research]
1. Chemical Constituents: The mature seeds contain multiple alkaloids, primarily strychnine and brucine, as well as isostrychnine, isobrucine, strychnine N-oxide, brucine N-oxide, β-colubrine, and others including pseudo-strychnine and pseudo-brucine.
2. Pharmacological Actions: The main component strychnine has a strong central nervous system stimulant effect, initially exciting spinal reflexes, then stimulating the medullary respiratory and vasomotor centers, and enhancing sensory cortex function. Brucine exhibits notable antitussive, expectorant, analgesic, and sedative effects. Due to its bitterness, Maqianzi reflexively increases gastric juice secretion. Its aqueous decoction inhibits Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Moraxella catarrhalis, and Trichophyton species to varying degrees. Maqianzi is highly toxic; early strychnine poisoning symptoms include masticatory and neck muscle spasms, difficulty swallowing, general discomfort, followed by simultaneous extreme contraction of extensor and flexor muscles causing tonic convulsions.
3. Clinical Reports:
1) Chronic Rheumatoid Arthritis: 30 g of Maqianzi (peeled seed kernels) fried in sesame oil until dark yellow, then mixed with 120 g of bloodstone flower and ground into fine powder, divided into 80 packets. Taken twice daily with boiling water. Among 150 cases treated, 126 cured, 15 markedly effective, 9 ineffective. [Shaanxi Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1985,(4):62]
2) Facial Paralysis: 500 g Maqianzi decocted with 500 ml water for 30 minutes, peeled while hot, sliced, dried over low heat on tile (not scorched), ground into fine powder, mixed with 40% vinegar into a paste, applied to affected facial area, changed every 24 hours. Among 224 cases, 189 cured, 8 improved, 27 ineffective. [Shaanxi Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1985,(5):222]
3) Tinea of Hands and Feet: Raw Maqianzi fried in sesame oil until puffed, filtered to remove medicinal oil. The affected area is washed and dried, then the medicinal oil is applied while rubbing and warmed with fire, once daily for 5 days per course. Among 64 cases, 60 cured, 4 improved. [Shaanxi Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1986,(4):174]
4) Lower Limb Ulcers: 20 g Maqianzi, 30 g Cinnabar, and 150 ml sesame oil made into Maqianzi ointment. Applied to ulcer surface, covered with oiled paper or gauze, changed every 3 days. Among 22 cases, 19 cured, 2 markedly improved, 1 improved. [Shaanxi Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1987,8(1):35]
5) Urinary Retention: Maqianzi dehaired and gently roasted until puffed, ground into powder, 0.6 g swallowed twice daily. Among 20 cases of urinary retention caused by prostatic hypertrophy, hernia repair, postpartum, and ligation surgery, 19 had smooth urination and symptom relief, 1 ineffective. [Zhejiang Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1984,19(9):397]

Additional Preparation: Maqianzi Powder (Maqianzifen) is a processed product of Maqianzi. Its properties, actions, and applications are the same as Maqianzi. Internal dosage: 0.3–0.6 g, used in pills or powders.