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Jamaican Dogwood Herb - Uses And Side Effects

Central and South American fishermen use ingredients found in Jamaican dogwood to stun fish. Although the herb doesn't seem to have this effect on people and other mammals, the European Council has rejected it as a natural food flavoring.

A tree with very valuable wood and with the foliage and habit of Lonchocarpus. The pods bear four projecting longitudinal wings. The pounded leavesand young branches are used to poison fish the method followed is to fill an open crate with the branches, drop it into the water, and swill it about till the water is impregnated with the liquid from the leaves, etc.; this quickly stupefies the fish and enables the fishers to catch them quickly. In commerce the bark is found in quilled pieces 1 or 2 inches long and 1 inch thick. The outer surface yellow or greyish brown, inner surface lighter coloured or white, and if damp a peculiar blue colour. Inside it is very fibrous and dark brown, taste very acrid and bitter, and produces burning sensation in mouth with a strong disagreeable smell like broken opium. In 1844 attention was called to its narcotic, analgesic and sudorific properties which are uncertain.

Common doses of Jamaican Dogwood

Jamaican dogwood comes as:

• dried preparations of root or bark
• tinctures (45% alcohol)
• fluid extracts (30% to 60% alcohol)
• unprocessed bark strips.

Some experts recommend the following doses:

• As a dried product, 2 to 4 grams taken orally in equal doses daily, or simmer I teaspoonful for 10 minutes in 1 cup of water and drink.
• As a tincture, 5 to 15 milliliters taken daily, usually as 2 to 3 milliliters at a time.
• As an extract, 1 to 2 drams taken daily, starting with 5 to 20 drops. Increase the dose cautiously.
• To relieve pain or muscle spasms, take three to five times daily.
• As a sleep aid, take at bedtime.

Uses of Jamaican Dogwood herb

Jamaican Dogwood exhibits nervine, anodyne, and anti-spasmodic properties. Jamaican Dogwood is a powerful remedy for the treatment of painful conditions such as neuralgia and migraine. It can also be used in the relief of ovarian and uterine pain. Specifically, jamaican dogwood may help to:-

• Asthma
• Insomnia
• Kidney pain
• Labor pain
• Lack of menstrual flow
• Migraine
• Nerve pain
• Sharp intestinal pain
• Toothache
• Whooping cough

Side effects of Jamaican Dogwood

Call your health care practitioner if you experience any of these possible side effects of Jamaican dogwood:

• drowsiness or sedation
• nausea
• stomach upset
• sweating, salivation, and tremors (with overdose).

Interactions

Combining herbs with certain drugs may alter their action or produce unwanted side effects. Don't use Jamaican dogwood while drinking alcohol or taking other drugs that slow the nervous system, such as:

• barbiturates
• cold and allergy drugs
• muscle relaxants
• narcotic pain relievers
• sedatives
• seizure medications
• tranquilizers.

Important paints to remember

• Don't use this herb if you're pregnant or breast-feeding.
• Avoid Jamaican dogwood if you have heart or blood vessel disease.
• Know that this herb hasn't been studied extensively on people, and no evidence suggests it does any good.
• If you use Jamaican dogwood, avoid driving and other hazardous activities until you know how the herb affects you.
• Remember that some chemicals in the plant may cause cancer.

What the research shows

Information on Jamaican dogwood is scarce. Medical experts caution against using the herb until studies prove it's safe.

Other names for Jamaican Dogwood

Other names for Jamaican dogwood include fishfuddle, fish poison tree, and West Indian dogwood.

A product containing Jamaican dogwood is sold as Willow-Meadowsweet Compound.