Origin

Jamaica

Folk medicinal uses

The B.P.C. 1934 describes this species as being one of those which provides the drug prickly ash bark or toothache bark. It is described as carminative and astringent to the digestive tract. Diuretic and diaphoretic. It has been used with belladona and Hyoscyamus in the treatment of alcoholism. In Jamaica it has been employed in the treatment of rheumatism, paralysis of the tongue and as a febrifuge. The root bark was much used in the past as an ulcer dressing and is still in use for the treatment of toothache (See Cajanus). The infusion was thought anti-spasmodic and useful as an eye lotion. A bark infusion was also used at one time as a syphilis treatment. The juice of the young roots was thought useful in cases of colic. Thomson considered it narcotic.

Asprey, G.F; Phylis Thornton/ Medicinal plants of Jamaica. Parts III & IV. – p. 67.