Physic nut, Barbados nut

Mayan Name: Sakilté.

Scientific Name: Jatropha curcas L..

Plant Family: Euphorbiaceae.

Part Used: Semilla, leche (savia/látex), corteza, hojas, tallos, fruto.

Geographic Location: Native to Mexico and Central America. It is distributed throughout the American tropics. In Guatemala: Petén, Alta Verapaz, Izabal, Zacapa, Jutiapa, Santa Rosa, Escuintla, Sacatepéquez, Suchitepéquez, Retalhuleu, San Marcos, and Huehuetenango. It grows from sea level up to 1,500 meters in altitude. It is common in all types of terrain and is used as a fence.

Description

Shrub or tree 1 to 6 m tall. Thick, reddish trunk. Large, lobed-palmate leaves. Contains milky sap. The flowers are yellowish-green.

Key Properties & Benefits

The raw seed has strong purgative properties. The latex has antiviral, antibiotic, and hemostatic activity, useful for oral and cutaneous applications. Traditionally, the milky sap is considered toxic.

Basic Uses

Internal use: Treatment for gastritis, dengue fever, and kidney inflammation. Also for colic, constipation, diarrhea, and intestinal parasites. External use: To reduce fever (poultices on the feet), relieve cold sores, canker sores, close wounds, and treat rheumatism (with the leaves). A decoction of the bark is used to stimulate appetite.

Cultural Significance

It is widely used as a living fence. The seeds are used to make handicrafts (necklaces, earrings, bracelets). The stems are used to make toothbrushes to strengthen gums.

Preparation Methods

For gastritis/dengue: Take drops of milk dissolved in pure water. For canker sores/heat ulcers: Apply the sap (milk) directly to the affected area twice a day. For fever: Make poultices on the soles of the feet with the bark, chopped fruit, Vicks VapoRub, alcohol, and ground coffee. Edible: The seed should only be eaten roasted or cooked.

Dosage Guidelines

For gastritis/dengue: seven drops of pine nut milk dissolved in a glass of pure water in the morning on an empty stomach. Take for 12 days or up to a month.

Precautions & Warnings

Raw seeds are toxic and contain oils with strong purgative properties. Ingestion of raw seeds can cause severe poisoning, including frequent vomiting and diarrhea, weight loss, drowsiness, muscle weakness, and can be fatal in children. Extreme caution should be exercised, as the leaves, stems, and seeds are all toxic.

Ethical Harvesting

It is propagated by seeds and by cuttings of young branches. It is easily grown as a living fence. The leaves can be harvested at any time, and the bark from January to April.

Physic nut﻿, Barbados nut