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Strychnos nux-vomica(Kuchla) - Uses, dose, toxic effects, purification

Kuchla/Kupilu- Strychnos nux-vomica Linn. is a poisonous herb used in many ayurvedic formulations. 
It is a Nervine tonic and a potent CNS stimulant.
It can be extremely harmful if used without purification, and once it undergoes the purification process, it has many health benefits.

Botanical name: Strychnos nux-vomica Linn.
Family: Loganiceae
According to Ayurveda classification, it belongs to karaskara Kula

Category: Upvisha
Bhavprakasha nighantu categorized it under aamra Phala Varga.

Vernacular names

Hindi: Kuchla, Kuchila, Bailewa, Chibbinge, Kajra, Nirmal
English: Poison nut tree, Nux-vomica tree, strychnine tree, Crow fig
Gujrati: Kuchla
Marathi: Jharkhatchura, Kara
Orissa: Kachila
Tamil: Keshamamutti, Kiruttinabanam, Mutti nachu, Visha mutti
Telugu: Mushti, musidi

Other names

Unani: Azaraaqi
Siddha: Yettikkottai
Arabic: Habbul-Gurav, Ajraki
Farsi: Kuchula

Sanskrit names

  • Kupilu, Kapilu
  • Kaaktinduka
  • Kaakendu
  • Kaakapiluka
  • Kuchilaa
  • Vishmushtikaa(Sushruta samhita)
  • Vishamushti(Sharangdhara samhita)
  • Vishtindukaa(Bhaavprakasha samhita)
  • Kaaraskara(Raja Nighantu)

Habitat

Throughout tropical India up to an altitude of 360 meters. Commonly found in monsoonal areas, Madras, Orissa, and Sri Lanka; Also found in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Mysore to a considerable extent.

Morphology


Nux-vomica is a deciduous tree, 12 to 13 meters tall, and its trunk is crooked and thick.
The branches are thin but sturdy.
Leaves: Greenish, broad, shining, approximately 5 to 12 cm in length.
Flowers are Greenish white.
Fruits: These are 2.5 to 7.5 cm in length, Spherical, and slightly rough with a shining surface. The color changes to orange-red on ripening.
Seeds: Disc-shaped (approx. 2 cm in diameter), with a central depression, shining surface with short, tiny hairs and ash gray.

Characteristics

Taste- Rasa: Tikta(Bitter), Katu(Pungent)
Qualities- Guna: Ruksha(promotes dryness), Laghu(Easy to digest)
Potency- Veerya: Ushna(Hot)
Product of Digestion- Vipaka: Katu(Pungent)

Effect on tridosha

Pitta-vardhak: Increases pitta dosha.
Balances Vata and Kapha dosha

Note- Ingestion of Impured kuchla, or when taken in large quantities, increases Vata dosha by decreasing Oja and thus resulting in convulsions.

Part used and Dosage.

Part used: Detoxified seeds, Leaves, Root, Fruit, Bark
Dose: 60-125 mg detoxified seed(Ayurvedic pharmacopeia of India)

Active principles

Strychnine is the most important alkaloid present in the plant. Besides this, Brucine and other alkaloids are also present in the various parts of the tree, such as leaves, pulp, root, bark, wood, etc.

The seed contains Strychnine, pseudostrychnine (3-hydroxy-strychnine), Glucoside loganin, Brucine, pseudobrucine(3-hydroxy-brucine), beta-colubrine, 3-hydroxy-beta-colubrine (vomicine), and iso-strychnine.
(novacine), alpha-colubrine, 3-hydroxy-alpha-colubrine (Icajine) and 15-hydroxy-strychnine.
A recent study shows that Cycloartenylpalmitate, 16-hydroxy-alpha-colubrine, 16-hydroxy-beta-colubrine, and 3-methoxy-icajine are also present in the seeds.

Kuchla uses

  • Grahi: Acts as absorbent (Useful in diarrhea)
  • Deepana: Stimulates appetite(Useful in anorexia)
  • Pachana: Improves digestion
  • Shothhar: Useful in swelling
  • Nadi-sansthan Uttejak: Acts as CNS stimulant
  • Kasahara: Useful in cough
  • Shwashara: Useful in asthma
  • Kushthagna: Useful in skin diseases
  • Vaajikarana: Increases libido
  • Jwarhara: Antipyretic
  • Pramehanashak: Useful in diabetes
  • Sandhivaat & Aamvaat: Useful in arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis

According to part used:

Seeds- Used in emotional disorders, hysteria, insomnia, epilepsy, nocturnal incontinence of urine, sexual debility, spermatorrhea, and as an antidote to alcoholism.

Note: The Ayurvedic pharmacopeia of India recommends detoxified seeds in paralysis, facial paralysis, Sciatica, and impotence.

Leaves- When applied as a poultice, it Promotes healthy action in sloughing wounds or ulcers.
The root bark is ground up into a fine paste with lime juice and made into pills, useful in cholera.
Fruit- used as an appetizer, antipyretic; Cure's leucoderma, piles, ulcer, itching, jaundice, etc.
Bark- Juice is used in acute dysentery and diarrhea patients.

Toxic effects

Nux-vomica is categorized under the group of spinal poisons. It is a potent CNS stimulant. Thus an impure or excess dose of Nux-vomica causes hyperstimulation of the Central nervous system resulting in convulsions.
Its Symptoms include stiffness in the abdomen, chest, back, high blood pressure, sweating, rapid heart rate, difficulty in swallowing, convulsions, restlessness, etc.
Symptoms start appearing within 10 to 20 minutes of ingestion; if left untreated, death occurs due to asphyxia.
 
 It is contraindicated in children as well as pregnant ladies.

Purification (Shodhana of kuchla)

Three purification methods are described in "Ayurveda Ras tarangini."

Method 1:

  1. Seeds are tied up in a cloth(Pottali making) and hung up in a vessel filled with milk(Dola yantra). 
  2. Now the seeds are cooked for "one Yama" on mild fire. After cooling on its own, the external coating is removed.
  3. It is pounded well in khalva yantra.
  4. Stored in a tight container

Method 2:

  1. Seeds are soaked in "Kanjika" for three days. On the 4th day, seeds are taken out and rubbed to remove the external coating.
  2. They are dried well under the sun.
  3. Churna(Coarse powder) is made using "Khalwa yantra" and stored in a tight container.

Method 3: 

  1. Seeds are fried in an iron vessel with a sufficient amount of Ghrita(Clarified butter) till they turn reddish-brown.
  2. The outer cover of seeds is removed and pounded well in kalva yantra and stored in a tight container.

Formulations:

1. Agnitundi Vati: Used to increase digestive fire.

2. Laxmivilas ras: Useful in cough, headache, asthma, etc.

3. Kupiluhingwadi Vati: Useful in relieving gastric symptoms like Gas.

4. Vishmushti Vati: Useful in common cold, cough, etc.

5. Navjeevan ras: Useful in stress, improving brain function, etc.

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