Botanical Index No. 872

Rose Bay, Rose Laurel

nerium oleander

Medicinal Actions

Analgesic, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antiedemic, Antiinflammatory, Antipyretic, Antiseptic, Antistress, Antiulcer, Bradycardic, Cardiotonic, CNS Depressant, Cyanogenic, Diuretic, Emetic, Emmenagogue, Fungicide, Insecticide

Primary Conditions Treated

Angina Apoplexy Aposteme Arrhythmia Arthrosis Asthma Atherosclerosis Bacteria Cancer Carcinoma Cardiopathy Chancre Conjunctivosis Constipation Corn Dermatosis Dysmenorrhea Dyspnea Eczema Edema Epilepsy Epithelioma Fever Fungus Furuncle Gingivosis Headache Hemorrhoid Herpes High Blood Pressure Impetigo Induration Infection Inflammation Insomnia Leprosy Lice Lumbago Maggot Malaria Myalgia Mycosis Myocardosis Odontosis Ophthalmia Pain Paralysis Parasite Psoriasis Rhinosis Ringworm Scabies Sinusosis Snakebite Sore Staphylococcus Stomatosis Stress Swelling Tachycardia Tumor Ulcer VD Vertigo Wart Water Retention Worm Abortifacient Adaptogen Aphrodisiac Cardiac Insectifuge (f; BIB;

General Dosage

Equivalent to 1–3 grains fresh bark or dried fruit; 50 mg leaf.

Safety & Contraindications

Not covered. “Health hazards not known with proper therapeutic dosages”. Commission E reports accidental and therapeutic use of leaf has resulted in partially fatal poisonings. Overdoses may cause arrhythmia, bradycardia, cardiodepression, confusion, cyanosis, diarrhea, headache, hyperkalemia, nausea, neurodepression, stupor, and vomiting. More than 100 years ago we read, “Several cases are on record of fatal results from the internal administration”. 142 bovines died in California over 6 years, 1989–1995. During the Persian campaign, Alexander’s army lost horses that had fed on the shrub, and some soldiers died who had grilled their meat on skewers made from the wood. 15–20 g fresh leaf can kill a horse, 10–20 a cow, 1–5 a sheep. Children have died after ingesting a handful of flowers.

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