Greenlife chinese herb database

Greenlife Chinese herb database - Croton Seed

Latin Name

Semen Crotonis

Chinese Name

Picture

Origin

The drug consists of the ripe seed of the evergreen tree, Croton tiglium L. (family Euphorbiaceae). The drug is de-fatted by grinding and pounding, and then the white-powder like substance is used. Or the carbonized drug may be used.

Distribution

It is mainly produced in Sichuan, Guangxi, Yunnan, Guizhou provinces.

Nature and Affinity

It is pungent in taste, hot in nature, drastic poisonous in property, and distributed to the Stomach, Large Intestine Channels.

Caution

Hot porridge or hot water should not be taken with Semen Crotonis at the same time, otherwise the drastic effect of purgation will be exaggerated. Hot food or drinking will promote its effect of purgation, so the hot or warm porridge is indicated in those patients who have not got effective purgation though they have already taken Semen Crotonis; or the cool porridge or cold drinking will be needed if its purgative effect is too drastic and the patient has got very severe diarrhea. If the patient is intoxicated by the drug and looses his bowels drastically and continuously with abdominal pain, the decoction of Rhizoma Coptidis or Semen Phaseoli Radiatus will urgently need to be taken. Besides, it is contraindicated in those with weak constitution or pregenancy.

	ACTIONS AND INDICATIONS
	1.Removing accumulation of cold in the intestine by loosing bowels. To treat constipation of cold evil, fullness and distension of abdomen, even with collapse and shortness of breath, it can be used with Rhizoma Zingiberis and Radix et Rhizoma Rhei in their equal amount in pill form which are as large as the seeds of Chinese parasol tree; and 0.6-0.9g are used as a dose taken with water. To treat retention of phlegm or indigested food of children, it is used with Rhizoma Arisaema Prepared with bile, Massa Fermentata Medicinalis, etc. 2.promoting the discharge of water to relieve abdominal distension To treat abdominal distension due to ascites, 90 pieces of carbonized Semen Crotonis and 60 pieces of Semen armeniacae Amarum bake-Stirred are used in pill form, and 0.3-0.6g of the pill are taken repeatedly with water till the patient has got loosing bowels. At present, to treat ascites due to hepatocirrhosis in the later stage of schistosomiasis, 9g of the while powder of Semen Crotonis and 30g of Calcined melanterite in marking pills as large as small beans by mixing with Massa Fermentata Medicinalis, and 1-1.5g of the pills are taken with water, once a day. 3.Resolving phlegm and removing the obstruction in the throat To treat sore throat accompanied with retension of phlegm in the throat, breathlessness, short of breath due to asphyxia, the drug can be used since it can produce the effects of resolving phlegm to remove the obstruction in the throat; to treat such disease mentioned above, a little amount of the while powder of Semen Crotonis can be taken with water drop; or it can be bake-stirred with Alumen, and Alumen is prepared and singly ground into powder for oral administration with water or for local use by being puffed on the surface of the throat, thus promoting the discharge of the phlegm to remove obstruction in the throat. 4.Removing heat toxics to relive skin infections To treat pyogenic skin infections or furuncles, with pus inside before diabrosis, carbonized Semen Crotonis and Olibanumare used in paste form by pounding for local use; or carbonized Senen Crotonis, Realgar and Radix et Rhizoma Rhei are used in equal amount in making pills as large as the small beans for internal use, 2-4pills are taken with water as a dose, twice a day. At present, to treat obstruction in the throat due to diphtheria or inflammation of the throat, the while powder of Semen Crotonis may be used by puffing on the local area, thus inducing discharge either of the phlegm by vomiting or of stools; by this way the obstruction may be removed.
	ADMINISTRATION AND DOSAGE
	For local use, a proper amount is applied; in clinical practice the carbonized drug may produce the effect of moderate loosing bowels, while the white powder of the crude drug may produce the effect of drastic diarrhea.
	REMARKS
	Highly poisonous; the strongest of all purgatives; should be used in small doses sporadically; the croton oil extracted from the seeds is very potent in external treatment of abscesses, boils, carbuncles, etc..