Botanical Index No. 45

Annatto

bixa orellana

Medicinal Actions

Antibacterial, Antidote, Antiprostaglandin, Antipyretic, Antisecretory, Antiseptic, Antispasmodic, Antitumor, Astringent, Candidicide, CNS-Depressant, Digestive, Diuretic, Emmenagogue, Expectorant, Fungicide, Hyperglycemic, Hypertensive, Hypoglycemic, Hypotensive, Immunostimulant, Laxative, Myorelaxant, Parasiticide, Spasmogenic, Trichomonicide, Uterocontractant

Primary Conditions Treated

cassava jatropha Aphrodisiac Emollient Hemostat Insectifuge Vermifuge Acne Alopecia Asthma Bacteria Bite Bleeding Blister Burn Cancer mouth Candida Childbirth Condylomata Conjunctivosis Cramp Dermatosis Diabetes Diarrhea Dysentery Dyspnea Epilepsy Eruption Fever Flu Fungus Gastrosis Gonorrhea Headache Hemorrhoid Hepatosis High Blood Pressure High Blood Sugar Hyperglycemia Hypoglycemia Immunodepression Infection Jaundice Leprosy Low Blood Pressure Malaria Measles Mycosis Nausea Nephrosis Pain Parasite Pleurisy Pulmonosis Respirosis Salmonella Scar Snakebite Sore Sore Throat Stomachache Stomatosis Tonsilosis Tumor Uterosis Vomiting Water Retention Worm Wound VD Yeast Active against Escherichia Active against Salmonella Active against Staphylococcus Slowing gastric secretions

General Dosage

For diuretic activity, boil 9 seed pods in 3 cups of water for 10 minutes; drink 1 cup before each meal; 10 g powdered seed/40 ml oil for topical pastes; 3 leaf/0.5 l water + red paste = female aphrodisiac. For diuretic activity, boil 9 seed pods in 3 cups of water for 10 minutes; drink 1 cup before each meal; 10 g powdered seed/40 ml oil for topical pastes; 3 leaf/0.5 l water + red paste = female aphrodisiac.

Safety & Contraindications

Not covered. Seeds contain a toxic alkaloid. Ingesting the tea for diabetes mellitus, may be contraindicated since trans-bixin is hyperglycemic. Toxicity, if real, is “low grade,” especially in well-nourished exper-imental animals. Toxicity commences in dogs given 60 mg/kg trans-bixin. Ethanolic seed Not covered. Seeds contain a toxic alkaloid. Ingesting the tea for diabetes mellitus, may be contraindicated since trans-bixin is hyperglycemic. Toxicity, if real, is “low grade,” especially in well-nourished experimental animals. Toxicity commences in dogs given 60 mg/kg trans-bixin.

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