See Also: physostigma(medicine)
physostigma(dictionary)
Herbal medicine (botanical medicine, herbology, phytomedicine)(health)
Medicine Lodge Memorial Hospital- Medicine Lodge(health)
Orthomolecular medicine (orthomolecular nutritional medicine, orthomolecular therapy)(health)
medicine(1)(dictionary)
medicine(2)(dictionary)
medicine(dictionary)
medicine man(encyclopedia)
medicine(encyclopedia)

physostigma (medicine)


physostigma


The dried seed of Physostigma venenosum (family Leguminosae), a vine of western Africa; it contains the alkaloids physostigmine (eserine), eseramine, eseridine (geneserine) and physovenine; in toxic doses it causes vomiting, colic, salivation, diarrhoea, convulsions, sweating, dyspnea, vertigo, slow pulse, and extreme prostration.

Synonym: Calabar bean, ordeal bean.

Origin: G. Physa, bellows, + stigma, a mark, spot; so called because of the shape of the stigma