Ignatius bean
Scientific names: Strychnos ignatii, Strychnos tieute
Family: Loganiaceae
Alternate names: Bean of St. Ignatius, Fiève de Saint-Ignance, Habas de San Ignacio, Ignatia, Ignatia Amara, Lu Song Guo, Saint Ignatius-Beans
Background
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.
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.
Safety Safety definitions
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.
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.
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 & Warnings:
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.
Effectiveness
NatMed Pro rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.
Insufficient evidence Effectiveness definitions
- Preventing fainting.
- Other uses.
Dosing & administration
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.
Interactions with pharmaceuticals
It is not known if Ignatius Bean interacts with any medicines. Before taking Ignatius Bean, talk with your healthcare professional if you take any medications.
Interactions with herbs & supplements
There are no known interactions with herbs and supplements.
Interactions with foods
There are no known interactions with foods.
Action
Ignatius bean contains the poisons strychnine and brucine. These chemicals affect the transmission of nerve impulses to muscle.
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This monograph was last reviewed on 26/08/2023 10:00:00 and last updated on 29/10/2020 21:26:55. Monographs are reviewed and/or updated multiple times per month and at least once per year.
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Natural Medicines rates safety based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Likely Safe, Possibly Safe, Possibly Unsafe, Likely Unsafe, Unsafe, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate. For more information about Natural Medicines’ Safety Rating System, click here.
The Natural Medicines Effectiveness Ratings are assigned for specific indications. A product might be rated "Possibly Effective" for one condition, but be rated "Likely Ineffective" for another condition, depending on the evidence. For more info click here.
