History
There is no mention of Nux-vomica in the earliest sanskrit and medical writing. There can be little doubt that nux-vomica was not used medicinally by ancient Hindus. However, the Hindi name 'Kuchila' or 'Kuchula' occurs in ancient Persian and Arabian literature. In 'Raja Nighanta' two varieties of the herb are mentioned.

Habitat
It grows throughout tropical India up to an altitude of 1360 meters.

Morphology Description (Habit)
It is an evergreen or deciduous tree. The leaves are glabrous, 8-15 cm. long, broadly elliptic obtuse or acute, entire and with prominent central nerves. The flowers are greenish white in terminal compound cymes. Corolla tube is cylindrical. The Style is filiform and stigma is undivided. The berries are globose. Seeds are discoid (coin-like), covered with fine and silky hair, embedded in white, bitter pulp.

Principal Constituents
The seeds contain strychnine, brucine and vomicine as major alkaloids and a -colubrine, ß-colubrine, pseudostrychnine and sec-pseudobrucine as minor alkaloids.

Pharmacology
Strychnine has relatively more powerful stimulant action on the motor-cells of the central nervous system.

Toxicology
Strychnine, one of the major alkaloids, is toxic in large doses.

Indications
It is stimulant, tonic and prescribed for nervous disorders. It is used as an aphrodisiac.