Jamaican Dogwood
Piscidia piscipula
Caribbean, Greater Antilles
Traditional Uses
Pain relief for neuralgia, headaches and toothaches; insomnia treatment and nervous tension relief; antispasmodic for muscle spasms, menstrual cramping and GI cramping; traditional remedy for coughs and respiratory comfort
Modern Research Uses
Limited modern uses; Used in herbal medicine as a mild analgesic (painkiller), sedative and antispasmodic (spasm reliever/muscle relaxant); ocassionally included in herbal formulations for chronic pain
Mechanism of Action
Not fully understood; proposed to result from rotenoid compounds that depress CNS activity, thereby lowering neuronal excitability and dampening pain signal transmission; there's also signs pointing to mild anti-inflammatory effects that contribute pain relief; the plant's antispasmodic properties are also likely attributed to this CNS depressant activity and unknown molecular targets that impact smooth muscle contraction/relaxation
Body Systems Affected
Prep & Administration
Toxicity Notes
Nervous, Musculoskeletal, Respiratory, Digestive, Reproductive
Tea, Tincture, Capsule
Moderate
High doses may produce significant CNS depression and should be avoided; signs of high dose toxicity include excessive sedation, vomitting, muscle weakness, respiratory depression and hypotension