Strophanthus Hispidus

The seeds of a West African climbing shrub, once an arrow poison, traditionally used in homoeopathy as a tonic for a weak, rapid heartbeat and breathlessness.

Strophanthus hispidus is a woody climbing shrub of the tropical forests of West and Central Africa, with twisted, tail-like yellow petals and long paired pods full of plumed seeds. The seeds were long used to poison hunting arrows and are highly poisonous; homoeopathy uses them only in specially prepared form.

Homoeopaths traditionally regard it as a tonic for the heart. It is associated with a heartbeat that is weak, rapid and uneven from tiredness of the heart muscle, with palpitations and breathlessness, especially when climbing stairs, and swelling of the ankles. The old books describe it for the tired heart of older people.

• Weak, rapid heartbeat
• Breathlessness on climbing
• Palpitations
• Swollen ankles