Doctor Bon

A deciduous shrubby climber with stems up to 23 cm. in diameter 18 meters high. The twigs are fairly smooth, reddish brown and densely covered with small elongate whitish lenticels which are openings meant for diffusion of gases or respiration. The leaves are elliptic-ovate or obovate and serrate. The greenish-yellow flowers are 3.8 mm. in diameter and are found on panicles which are 5 to 20 cm. long. The capsules which are 1 to 1.3 cm. in diameter are 3-lobed and bright yellow in color. The seeds are completely enclosed in an orange-red aril.

Herbal use

1. Promotes menstrual flow.
2. Stimulates the appetite, acts as a laxative and works as an agent to cause vomiting.
3. Promotes the removal of mucous secretions from the bronchial tubes.
4. Used to strengthen and give tone to the stomach.
5. Useful for cough, asthma, leprosy, headache and leucoderma.
6. Used for abortion.
7. Used as a nerve stimulant, a brain and as an agent for checking rheumatic pains.

Instructions

1. The decoction of the leaves takes care of Number 1 above.
2. The decoction of the seeds takes care of Numbers 2 to 5 above.
3. The decoction of the bark takes care of Number 6 above.
4. The oil from the seeds takes care of Number 7 above.

Major parts used

Seeds, leaves, bark and oil from the seeds.