Chaulmoogra

• Overview
• Uses
• Side Effects
• Precautions
• Dosing

Chaulmoogra is an herb. People use the seed to make medicine.

Despite serious safety concerns, people put chaulmoogra powder, oil, emulsion, or ointment on the skin to treat skin problems including psoriasis and eczema.

Chaulmoogra is given intravenously (by IV) for leprosy. This is not surprising since the first drugs used for treating leprosy used chemicals found in chaulmoogra seeds.

How does it work?

Chaulmoogra might have calming- and fever-reducing properties. It might also have activity against skin disorders. Some animal research suggests it might harm the bacterium that causes leprosy.

Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...

• Psoriasis, when applied to the skin.
• Eczema, when applied to the skin.
• Other skin disorders, when applied to the skin.
• Leprosy, when given intravenously.
• Other conditions.

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate (detailed description of each of the ratings).

Chaulmoogra is UNSAFE when taken by mouth because it contains cyanide and might cause cyanide poisoning. It can cause cough, difficulty breathing, throat spasms, kidney damage, visual disorders, head and muscle pain, and paralysis when taken by mouth.

The safety of applying chaulmoogra to the skin is unknown. It can cause skin irritation.

The appropriate dose of chaulmoogra depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for chaulmoogra. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.