Ba Dou
Croton tiglium L.
☯ TCM Properties
Purges Cold Accumulation; Drains Water and Reduces Edema; Clears the Lungs and Benefits the Throat; Removes Putridity and Promotes Tissue Regeneration
Botanical Description
Croton tiglium is a small evergreen tree or shrub in the Euphorbiaceae family, native to southern and southeastern Asia, including India, Sri Lanka, southern China, and Indonesia. It typically grows 3-6 meters tall with smooth, pale grey-brown bark and a spreading crown. The alternate leaves are ovate to lanceolate, 5-15 cm long, with serrate margins, three to five conspicuous palmate veins from the base, and two small glands at the petiole junction; young leaves are often coppery-red. The plant is monoecious, with small greenish-yellow flowers in terminal racemes; male flowers are above and female flowers below. The fruit is a three-lobed capsule, 2 cm across, containing three oblong-ovoid brown seeds. The seeds (Ba Dou) contain the highly toxic, vesicant croton oil with phorbol esters, and are used in TCM only after extensive processing as a drastic purgative for cold accumulation.
Dosage
| Form | Amount | Frequency | Duration | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| decoction | 6-15g | Daily | — | — | — |
Cultural & Historical Context
Traditional Chinese Uses
Ba Dou (croton seed) is one of the most forceful purgative herbs in Chinese medicine, capable of expelling severe internal cold-type accumulation from the intestines and draining pathological fluid from the chest and abdomen. It is reserved for emergency conditions involving critical obstruction or stubborn fluid accumulation where gentler treatments have failed. Because it is highly toxic, its oil must be removed before use, and it requires strictly professional administration.
Traditional American Uses
None Documented
Important Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.