Traditional Indications

Jamaica dogwood is a nervine, anodyne and anti-spasmodic. It is a powerful remedy for the treatment of painful conditions such as neuralgia and migraine. It can also be used in the relief of ovarian and uterine pain. Its main traditional use is in insomnia due to nervous tension or pain. It is traditionally indicated for inflammatory fever of any character, and in inflammatory rheumatism. In violent spasmodic cough it produces relief, in phthisis it controls the night cough and induces restful sleep.

It is traditionally indicated to provide pain relief in acute intestinal colic, gall-stone colic and renal colic, It has been used to lessen labour pains. Facial neuralgia seems particularly amenable to the action of piscidia. Ovarian neuralgia and pains due to straining on the uterine ligaments in displacement are relieved by this remedy. It seems to have a satisfactory influence on all pelvic pain. In obstetrics it controls erratic pains and conduces to quiet and rest, and overcomes rigidity by its specific relaxing or antispasmodic influence, although it does not interfere with the normal uterine contractions. In the distress following the adjustment of fractured bones or reduction of dislocations, it is especially useful and satisfactory.

Pharmacognosy

The London Medical and Physical Journal from 1842 (!) reported in relation to the anodyne effects from Jamaican dogwood reported “No unpleasant sensation followed, as is' usually the case after opiates”. (1)

1. Hamilton W. On the Medical Properties of the Piscidia Erythrina, or Jamaica Dogwood. The London medical and physical journal. 1832;13(75):177-83.