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Croton

Croton, also known as croton, miracle shrub or crab flower, is a plant species that belongs to the spurge family and grows in the Amazon region of South America. The oil extracted from the seeds of this plant is used to make medicine. The resin of the croton tree, especially Croton lechleri, is known as Sangre de Grado and has been used by the indigenous tribes in the Amazon region since time immemorial.

Areas of application

Despite serious safety concerns, croton seeds are used for emptying and cleansing the stomach and intestines. In addition, croton seeds are used to treat gallbladder problems, colic, constipation and malaria. Sometimes croton seeds are applied directly to the skin for rheumatic muscle and joint pain, gout, nerve pain and bronchitis. Sangre de Grado or SP-303, one of the chemicals contained in Sangre de Grado, is used for diarrhea associated with cholera, AIDS, motion sickness or treatment with antibiotics.

Sangre de Grado is also used to treat cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, respiratory viral infections, fever, bleeding, bleeding gums, wounds, bone fractures, vaginal infections, hemorrhoids, eczema and insect bites. Other uses include treating mouth, throat, stomach and intestinal ulcers, supporting the body's tissue repair mechanisms and use as a general tonic. Some people apply Sangre de Grado or SP-303 directly to the skin to treat type 1 and 2 herpes simplex. Some women use Sangre de Grado to irrigate the vagina before childbirth.

How does croton work?

Croton seeds contain chemicals that have a strong irritant effect on the stomach and intestines. Sangre de Grado appears to help with diarrhea by slowing down bowel function. Sangre de Grado may also prevent some viruses from entering the cells of the body.

How effective is croton?

There is not enough scientific data to make a statement about the effectiveness of orally ingested croton seeds for gallbladder problems, constipation and malaria, as well as for cleansing the stomach and intestines and the effectiveness of croton seeds applied to the skin for joint pain, gout, nerve pain and bronchitis. Further scientific research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of croton seeds in these applications.

Sangre de Grado may be effective for the following conditions:

  • AIDS-related diarrhea: Taking a Sangre de Grado extract containing the chemical SP-303 (SB-Normal Stool Formula, ShamanBotanicals.com) appears to reduce the frequency of bowel movements and the weight of stool in people suffering from AIDS-related diarrhea.
  • Traveler's diarrhea: Taking a Sangre de Grado extract containing the chemical SP-303 appears to be effective in treating traveler's diarrhea.
  • Treatment of genital and anal herpes in AIDS patients: Applying a Sangre de Grado extract containing the chemical SP-303 to the skin appears to be effective in treating some herpes simplex outbreaks of genital and anal herpes in AIDS patients.

There is not enough scientific data to make a statement regarding the effectiveness of Sangre de Grado on insect bites. The application of Sangre de Grado alleviated the symptoms of insect bites in a group of pest controllers. However, there is not yet enough scientific information to say whether Sangre de Grado can be considered an effective treatment for insect bites.

There is also insufficient scientific information on the effectiveness of Sangre de Grado for allergic skin reactions, irritable bowel syndrome, lung infections, mouth and throat ulcers, stomach and intestinal ulcers, bleeding gums, bone fractures, hemorrhoids and eczema, as well as for use in cancer treatment. Further scientific research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of Sangre de Grado extract in these applications.

Safety and side effects

Croton seeds are neither safe when taken orally nor when applied to the skin. Just one drop of croton seed oil can cause side effects and 20 drops can be fatal. When taken orally, croton seeds can cause a burning sensation in the mouth, vomiting, dizziness, drowsiness, painful bowel movements, abortion in pregnant women and collapse. When croton seeds are applied to the skin, they can cause itching, burning and blistering. Sangre de Grado appears to be safe and harmless for most people. When applied to the skin, Sangre de Grado can cause pain, burning and scarring.

Precautions and warnings

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Croton seeds are not safe for anyone, but pregnant women should be even more careful than other people to avoid croton seeds as they can cause abortion. Kroton seeds are also not safe for breastfeeding women.

Leukemia: Sangre de Grado could aggravate an existing leukemia and should therefore be avoided by people suffering from leukemia.

Interactions

At the present time there is no information on interactions of croton seeds or Sangre de Grado with medications or supplements.

Dosage

An appropriate dosage of croton seeds depends on various factors such as age, state of health and others. At this time, there is insufficient scientific data to make a statement about appropriate dosage ranges for croton seeds. For this reason, you should follow the dosage instructions on the label and/or consult a doctor or pharmacist before use.

The following dosages of Sangre de Grado have been studied in scientific research:

Oral:

  • For the treatment of AIDS-related diarrhea: One Sangre de Grado extract containing 500 mg SP-303 (SB-Normal Stool Formula) every 6 hours.
  • For thetreatment of traveler's diarrhea: One Sangre de Grado extract containing 125 to 500 mg SP-303 (SB-Normal Stool Formula), four times daily for 2 days.