Overview

Ignatius bean is the seed of the St. Ignatius tree. The bean is used to make medicine.

Despite serious safety concerns, some people use Ignatius bean to keep from fainting or as a bitter or tonic, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

How does it work ?

Ignatius bean contains the poisons strychnine and brucine. These chemicals affect the transmission of nerve impulses to muscle.

Ignatius bean contains the poisons strychnine and brucine. These chemicals affect the transmission of nerve impulses to muscle.

Uses & Effectiveness ?

Insufficient Evidence for

  • Preventing fainting.
  • Other uses.
More evidence is needed to rate Ignatius bean these uses.

Side Effects

When taken by mouth: Ignatius bean is UNSAFE. Two of the chemicals in Ignatius bean, strychnine and brucine, are considered poisonous. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned strychnine from nonprescription drug products in 1989.

Side effects and toxicities include restlessness, feelings of anxiety, heightened sense perception, enhanced reflexes, dizziness, painful neck and back stiffness, twitching, jaw and neck spasms, painful convulsions of the entire body, increased muscle tension, difficulty in breathing, seizures, kidney failure, and death.

Long-term use of Ignatius bean, even in amounts so small that they don't seem to cause side effects, can be fatal.

Special Precautions and Warnings

When taken by mouth: Ignatius bean is UNSAFE. Two of the chemicals in Ignatius bean, strychnine and brucine, are considered poisonous. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned strychnine from nonprescription drug products in 1989.

Side effects and toxicities include restlessness, feelings of anxiety, heightened sense perception, enhanced reflexes, dizziness, painful neck and back stiffness, twitching, jaw and neck spasms, painful convulsions of the entire body, increased muscle tension, difficulty in breathing, seizures, kidney failure, and death.

Long-term use of Ignatius bean, even in amounts so small that they don't seem to cause side effects, can be fatal. It's UNSAFE for anyone to take Ignatius bean. But Ignatius bean is especially dangerous for people with the following conditions:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: It is UNSAFE to use Ignatius bean if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. It is poisonous, and can harm you and the baby.

Liver disease: Strychnine builds up in individuals with liver damage, making poisoning more likely, even with small doses.

Interactions ?

We currently have no information for IGNATIUS BEAN overview.

Dosing

The appropriate dose of Ignatius bean depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for Ignatius bean. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.

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CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

This copyrighted material is provided by Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Consumer Version. Information from this source is evidence-based and objective, and without commercial influence. For professional medical information on natural medicines, see Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Professional Version.
© Therapeutic Research Faculty 2020.