The outer bark of the Jamaica dogwood root has been used as a traditional remedy for painful conditions, such as nerve pain, headache and migraine, and for muscle spasms and cramps, especially of nervous origin. Its sedative action makes it useful for insomnia, anxiety and nervous tension. Eclectic physician Ellingwood said Jamaica dogwood produced relief in violent spasmodic cough. “In the irritating persistent cough of bronchitis it is of service as an auxiliary to cough syrups…It has been highly lauded as a specific in whooping cough,” he said. Kings American Dispensatory says “it is a favourite remedy in prolonged insomnia, particularly in the aged, and in those of an excessively nervous temperament… it has rendered good service in neuralgia, particularly sciatica.”

A study on botanical medicines for headaches rated Jamaica dogwood as the strongest North American nervine traditionally used for headaches. The other herbs, ranging in order from mildest to strongest, include Californian poppy (Eschscholzia californica), passion flower (Passiflora incarnata), scullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) and valerian (Valeriana officinalis). The authors said Jamaica dogwood “is potentially potent enough to abrogate even a strong migraine or cluster headache. A dose of the tincture of this herb taken orally at 2 to 3mL every 2 to 3 hours may be necessary for this effect.” 

This herb is often found in women’s tonics where it is used for spasm and associated pain of the ovaries and uterus. As an important anodyne for menstrual pain it is indicated in dysmenorrhea with associated nervous and/or musculoskeletal tension, migraine headaches and neuralgia. Author of Women, Herbs and the Menstrual Cycle, Ruth Trickey, says anodynes are much weaker than conventional analgesics and must be prescribed with other herbs for the best effect. She emphasises that a herbalist never tries to treat painful conditions by just stopping the pain. “The aim is to rectify the underlying causes so that the problem is cured, rather than the symptom abolished,” she says.

References

Hechtman L. Clinical Naturopathic Medicine. Sydney:Churchill Livingstone Elsevier. 2012. p. 1222

Ellingwood .  Piscidia, Piscidia erythrina. American Materia Medica. Group I. Agents acting on the nervous system. Division I. Sedatives and depressants. Chapter III. Sedatives used to induce sleep. 1919. Henriette Kress c1995-2022 (accessed 9 Sep 2022). Available from https://www.henriettes-herb.com/eclectic/ellingwood/piscidia.html

Felter HW, Lloyd JU. Piscidia. Jamaica Dogwood. King's American Dispensatory 1898 Henriette Kress c1995-2022 (accessed 9 Sep 2022). Available from https://www.henriettes-herb.com/eclectic/kings/piscidia.html

Yarnell E, Abascal K. Botanical Medicines for Headache. Alternative and Complementary Therapies. Jun 2007.148-152.http://doi.org/10.1089/act.2007.13306

Trickey R. Women, Hormones and the Menstrual Cycle. 3rd edn. Fairfield: Melbourne Holistic Health Group. 2011. p. 295