Calabar Bean

OTHER NAME(S): Chop Nut, Esere Nut, Faba Calabarica, Fève de Calabar, Haba de Calabar, Haricot de l'Ordalie, Legume, Ordeal Bean, Physostigma, Physostigma venenosum, Frijol Calabar, Fève de Calabar

Overview

Calabar bean (Physostigma venenosum) is a plant. It has been traditionally used to make medicine, but the seed is extremely poisonous and can be deadly.

Calabar bean contains a chemical that affects signals between muscles and nerves. This chemical affects many parts of the body.

People use calabar bean for constipation, epilepsy, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. Using calabar bean is also unsafe.

References
  1. The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
  2. McEvoy GK, ed. AHFS Drug Information. Bethesda, MD: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, 1998.
  3. Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.