Deciduous trees growing to 12m, with stem thorns. Leaves paripinnate. Flowers polygamous, in racemes,yellow-whitish.

Anthelmintic and febrifuge (stem bark); anthelmintic and antifebrile (root bark); antipruritic (thorns on the plant); antibacterial, antifungal, antitussive, astringent, emetic, expectorant, haemostatic and stimulant (fruit); emetic, expectorant, decongestant and purgative (seed);

Plants For A Future

The fruit is used in the treatment of bronchial asthma with sticky phlegm, epilepsy, lock jaw and apoplexy with loss of consciousness. A decoction of the leaves is used for washing sores. The seeds have been used in the treatment of cancer of the rectum. The thorns on the plant are used in the treatment of acute purulent inflammation, dermatopathies and tonsillitis. The plant has been used in the treatment of lockjaw, stroke, acute numbness of the throat and epilepsy.

Contraindicated during pregnancy and in patients with Qi and Yin Deficiency. Symptoms of overdose include vomiting and diarrhea.

Jing-Nuan Wu. An Illustrated Chinese Materia Medica. P: 338, Oxford University Press, Inc.2005.