Calabar Bean

• Overview
• Uses
• Side Effects
• Precautions
• Interactions
• Dosing

Calabar bean is a plant. The seed is extremely poisonous and is also used to make medicine.

Historically, African tribes used calabar bean, the “ordeal bean,” to identify witches and people possessed by evil spirits. They believed that people who were able to eat the bean and live were innocent. Subjects of the “ordeal” could increase their chance of survival by not chewing the bean but, instead, swallowing it whole. Chewing releases the poisons in the bean. Ritual uses continue in Africa despite being outlawed.

As medicine, Calabar bean is used for eye problems, constipation, epilepsy, cholera, and tetanus.

Calabar bean is a source of the prescription drug physostigmine (Isopto Eserine, Antilirium).

How does it work?

Calabar bean contains a chemical that affects signals between muscles and nerves. This chemical affects many parts of the body.

Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...

• Eye problems.
• Constipation.
• Epilepsy.
• Cholera.
• Tetanus.
• Other conditions.

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of calabar bean for these uses.

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).

Calabar bean is UNSAFE. It is extremely toxic.

Calabar bean can cause excessive saliva and sweating, reduced eye pupil size, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, irregular heartbeat, blood pressure changes, confusion, seizures, coma, severe muscle weakness, paralysis, severe breathing problems, and death.

While calabar bean isn't safe for anyone, some people are at even greater risk for serious side effects. Be especially careful to avoid calabar bean if:

You are pregnant or breast-feeding.
You have Parkinson's disease.
You have heart disease or slow heartbeat.
You have asthma.
You have diabetes.
You have poor blood circulation leading to tissue death (gangrene).
You have blockage of the intestinal tract.

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Drying medications (Anticholinergic drugs)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.

Calabar bean contains chemicals that can affect the brain and heart. Some of these drying medications called anticholinergic drugs can also affect the brain and heart. But calabar bean works differently than drying medications. Calabar bean might decrease the effects of drying medications.

Some of these drying medications include atropine, scopolamine, and some medications used for allergies (antihistamines), and for depression (antidepressants).

The appropriate dose of calabar bean 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 calabar bean. 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.