Nux vomica is the homeopathic remedy that is created from the
seeds of the strychnos nux vomica tree. Also known as poison nut
or vomiting nut, this tree is an evergreen tree that is native
to East India, Burma, Thailand, China, and Northern Australia.
The tree belongs to the Loganiaceae family and has small flowers
and orange colored fruits that are the size of an apple or
orange. Inside the fruit are five seeds surrounded by a jelly-
like pulp. The ash gray seeds are round and measure 1 in (2.5
cm) in diameter and are .25 in (0.6 cm) thick. The seeds are
coated with downy hairs that give them a satiny appearance. The
main alkaloids in the seeds are strychnine and brucine. These
alkaloids give the seeds their bitter taste. Strychnine by
itself is extremely poisonous, but when given in small doses to
humans it promotes appetite, aids digestion, and increases the
frequency of urination. In the nineteenth century it was used as
a central nervous stimulant. In larger doses, however,
strychnine produces a loss of