Witnessed by: Western
Night-blooming cereus (Selenicereus grandiflorus), of the Cactaceae family. Climbing, many-ribbed spiny cactus producing a solitary immense white nocturnal flower; native range: rocky and coastal thickets of the West Indies and Central America. Globally recognized as queen of the night · sweet-scented cactus · large-flowered cactus in English. The part used is young stems and flowers. Fresh succulent stem faintly acrid and mucilaginous, the flower sweetly perfumed.
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.
NIGHT-BLOOMING CEREUS
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- night-blooming cereus
- Scientific name
- Selenicereus grandiflorus (L.) Britton & Rose
- Family
- Cactaceae
Form
- Part used
- young stems and flowers
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- Western
- bitter · acrid
Temperature
- Western
- cool, moist
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- Western
- heart · circulation · nerves
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- Western
- cardiac tonic, cardiac stimulant, mild diuretic, antispasmodic
Cautions
Contraindications: self-medication in heart disease; use only under qualified supervision
Toxicity: large doses may cause gastric irritation, confusion and cardiac disturbance
Sourcing status: cites-ii
Interactions
- Western
- cardiac glycosides: additive cardioactive effect potentiating digitalis-type drugs · antihypertensives: may alter blood pressure and heart rate control
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