Witnessed by: Western
Jalap (Ipomoea purga), of the Convolvulaceae family. Twining perennial bindweed with heart-shaped leaves and purple funnel flowers, running from a heavy pear-shaped tuber; native range: cloud forest of the eastern Mexican sierra about Xalapa, Veracruz. Globally recognized as jalap, true jalap, vera cruz jalap in English, and jalapa, purga de Xalapa in Spanish. The part used is tuber. Hard, heavy, dark brown tubers, wrinkled and warty, breaking with a resinous glistening fracture; nearly scentless, the taste at first sweetish and then acrid, nauseous and long-lasting in the throat.
In this cross-tradition database, we analyze how this substance operates across world medicine systems — tracking its traditional tastes, temperatures, tissue affinities, post-digestive effects, and planetary correspondences across Ayurveda, Unani, and Western herbalism.
JALAP
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- jalap
- Scientific name
- Ipomoea purga (Wender.) Hayne
- Family
- Convolvulaceae
Form
- Part used
- tuber
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- Western
- acrid · sweet
Temperature
- Western
- hot
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- Western
- bowels · intestines · liver
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- Western
- drastic hydragogue cathartic, drawing water freely into the bowel; cholagogue; anthelmintic; in full dose emetic
Cautions
- Contraindications
- pregnancy and breastfeeding, children, the aged and the debilitated; inflammation of the stomach or bowel, haemorrhoids, intestinal obstruction, and any irritable or ulcerated state of the gut
- Toxicity
- a drastic purge: full doses gripe violently and bring watery stools, vomiting, cramping and prostration, and repeated use inflames the bowel and depletes water and potassium. The resin is the active and the dangerous part.
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