Plant name : Caesalpinia bonducella
Traditional use:
- The root bark has been used for treeating intestinal worms, fever, tumors, cough, amenorrhea, and to remove placenta after childbirth.
- The fruit is used for eliminating piles, wounds, leucorrhea and urinary disorders.
- Boiled leaves can be used for gargling to relieve sore throat.
- The leaves and seeds after roasted in castor oil can be applied to reduce piles, inflammatory swellings, orchitis and hydrocele.
A paste made from the leaves and twigs is useful in reducing toothache.
The juice extract of the leaves are used in controlling elephantiasis and smallpox.
Throughout the distribution area of Caesalpinia bonduc in Africa its leaves, bark and roots are used to cure fever, headache and chest pain and as an anthelminthic. In West Africa it is used as a rubefacient and as a tonic in the treatment of jaundice, diarrhea and skin eruptions.
At the Kenyan coast the seed and decoctions of the leaves and roots are taken to treat asthma and complications during menstruation, to avoid miscarriage, and as eye-drops to treat internal blood clots in the eye. In Tanzania the powdered kernel of the seed is taken with water to treat diabetes mellitus.
In Somalia the oil from the seeds is used to treat rheumatism. A bitter extract from the seeds is known as ‘poor man’s quinine’ and is used against malaria e.g. in India, but its use in Africa as a malaria cure has not been documented.
In tropical Asia and the Pacific Ocean islands Caesalpinia bonduc is an important medicinal plant as well, with largely similar uses as in Africa. In large doses it is believed to be poisonous.
The seeds are antiperiodic, antipyretic, antispasmodic, tonic, anthelmintic and febrifuge; useful in colic, malaria, fever, hydrocele and skin diseases. Decoction of the seed is used in kidney troubles and blood pressure. It is also useful against consumption and asthma. Seeds are also useful for swellings and restraining haemorrhage.
The oil from the seeds is used in convulsions and paralysis. Pod is astringent to the bowels and anthelmintic; cures urinary discharges, leucorrhoea, piles and wounds. Decoction of the pod is used in bleeding piles. Leaves are deobstruent, anthelmintic and emmenagogue and used in liver troubles; the leaf-boil water is used as a gargle for sore throat. Young leaves are used in intermittent fever and for expelling intestinal worms.