Croton seeds come from the croton, a small tree-like shrub that grows throughout China and other parts of Asia. The seed of the plant is used medicinally. The seeds are gathered in the autumn, dried in the sun, and ground into powder.
Croton seed has pungent and toxic properties, and is associated with the Lung, Stomach and Large Intestine meridians, based on the principles of traditional Chinese medicine. Its main functions are to move cold downward, to transform water, and to resolve phlegm.
Croton seed is a powerful purgative. Among the conditions croton seed is used to treat are abdominal pain and constipation, convulsions, profuse sputum, edema and ascites. Externally, croton seed can treat boils, carbuncles and other skin lesions. It is often used with rhubarb, dried ginger and apricot seed.
The typical dose of croton seed is extremely small (0.1-0.3 grams of powdered seed). Larger amounts can be used when croton seed is applied externally.
Croton seed is available most frequently as a powder. Some stores also sell croton seed oil, which is extremely potent.
Croton seed is highly toxic, and is considered one of the most potent purgative herbs in traditional Chinese medicine. As a result, it should never be taken by children or women who are pregnant or lactating, and should be used with extreme caution by other individuals. It should not be taken in conjunction with pharbitis (qian niu hua or qian niu zi); in addition, hot foods and liquids should not be consumed when croton seeds are administered.
References
Structured water (H3O2) can be considered a fourth state of water between liquid and solid. It has the hexagonal structure of ice; however, missing a critical bond, it behaves more like a gel than a solid, but retains some of its crystalline structure.
In the past five years of my clinical practice, I have seen an astonishing upsurge in the chronic use of proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) medications for the gastrointestinal issue diagnosed by allopathic medicine as GERD. It is not uncommon to encounter patients taking these prescriptions for five-plus years.
Working with chronically ill patients entails acknowledging the reality that not all patients will survive their diagnosis. Chinese medicine and acupuncture play a crucial role in palliative and end-of-life care, addressing medication and disease side effects, alleviating pain associated with death, reducing anxiety and stress, and helping patients find peace during the dying process.
