Botanical Index No. 356

Dumbcane

dieffenbachia seguine

Medicinal Actions

Analgesic, Caustic, Contraceptive, Cyanogenetic, Insecticide, Rodenticide, Sterilant

Primary Conditions Treated

Aphrodisiac Curare Poison Angina Bite Burn Cancer Cold Corn Coma Dropsy Dysmenorrhea Edema Frigidity Impotence Inflammation Pain Parasite Prurigo Swelling Rheumatism Tumor Ulcer Varicosis Wart Wound Yaw

Safety & Contraindications

“Acicular crystals of calcium oxalate, accompanied by a protein or asparagine, may cause severe burning in the mouth and throat. Swelling of the mouth may be severe enough to cause fatal choking. The sap, under some conditions, is an irritant and vesicant. Contact with bruised plants seemed to be necessary for irritation. Panama natives, to this day, blame an indolent ulcer I suffered on the ankle on my walking through a patch of dumbcane that had recently been cut. On several occasions I applied fresh latex to my wrist with no problem.”.