PDR for Herbal Medicines

HERBAL MONOGRAPHS CASHEW /157

Cashew

Anacardium occidentale

DESCRIPTION

«p» Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the finely chopped

bark, the cashew nut, the fresh leaves and extracted cashew

oil.

Flower and Fruit: Flowers are in terminal, cyme-like, 10 to

20 cm long panicles and are polygamous. The pedicles are 2

to 3 mm long. The calyx is deeply divided into five sepals,

which are lanceolate, erect, imbricate, glabrous inside and

covered on the outside with short, thick, gray hairs. The

corolla is 5-petaled. The petals are lineal-lanceolate, 7 to 8

mm long by 1 mm wide, acute, soft and gray-haired on the

outside. The petals are glabrous and yellow with a red stripe

on the inside that curls outward in the later stages. Seven to

10 stamens are fused at the base, but only one 8 to 9 mm

long stamen is fertile; the sterile ones are shorter. Anthers are

yellowish-white, oblong-ovate and burst open along a

vertical slit. The gynoecium is obovate, 2 mm long, one-

valved and elongates to a 4 mm long wedge-shaped style

with a spot-like stigma. The flowers are followed by a

tw fleshy, edible receptacle, which partly encloses the fruit. The

fruit is reniform, with a smooth, pale grayish-brown drupe,

about 2 to 3 cm long and 1 cm thick.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The Cashew is a broad evergreen

tree from 6 to 10 m high with smooth glabrous branches,

densely leafed toward the tops. It has short-petioled leaves

that are alternate, coriaceous and entire-margined. The leaf

blade is obovate, 12 to 14 cm by 6 to 8 cm with a prominent

midrib and 10 to 14 veins that are almost parallel.

Habitat: The plant grows in the Caribbean and Central and

South America; it is cultivated everywhere in the tropics

especially in Africa and India.

Production: Fruit of the Cashew tree is harvested with the

stem removed.

Other Names: East Indian Almond
ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY
COMPOUNDS: IN THE SEED CASE

• Alky I phenoles

Anacardic acid

Cardol

Methyl cardol

COMPOUNDS: IN THE SEEDS

Fatty oil

Chief fatty acids: oleic acid and linolenic acid

Proteins

Starch

EFFECTS

It has been demonstrated in vitro that the dried extract

prepared with ethanol is effective against the gram-positive

bacteria Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus. It also

acts as an astringent and cauterizing agent due to the

phenolic skin stimulant (anacardic acid) found mostly in the

skin of the fruit, but also in the fruit itself.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: Cashew is used for gastrointestinal ailments

in Brazil and Nigeria. Cashew shell oil and cashew fruit are

used as skin stimulants and cauterizing agents for ulcers,

warts and corns. In Brazil and Nigeria, the bark is used to

make an astringent decoction to treat toothache and inflam-

mation of the gums. External uses in Haiti include amenor-

rhea, and internally cashew is used for dysentery. Young

leaves are used in the Philippines in the treatment of

diarrhea, dysentery and hemorrhoids; older leaves are used

as hot poultices for burns and skin disorders Efficacy for

these indications has not been documented.

Indian Medicine: Cashew bark is used for fevers, as a

laxative and anthelmintic, and to treat diabetes insipidus.

One particular form is used to treat snake bites. Cashew shell

oil is used as a runefacient and skin stimulant in the

treatment of leprosy, elephantitis, psoriasis and ring worm, in

addition to warts and corns.

Homeopathic Uses: Cashew is used to treat severely itching

rashes with blistering and also facial erysipelas.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

The alkyl phenoles contained in the seed case of the nut are

strong skin irritants. Contact between the seed case and skin

can lead to erythemas with nodule and blister formation.

Frequent contact can lead to rimose exanthemas The roasted

seeds eaten as cashew nuts are free of alkyl phenoles, as is

the plant stalk.

DOSAGE

Mode of Administration: Available preparations include

acajou oil, cashew oil, oleum anacardiae and fatty oil

extracted from the seeds.

Preparation: Preparations are often compounds, particularly

in homeopathy.

Homeopathic Dosage: Daily dosage is 5 drops, 1 tablet, 10

globules, every 30 to 60 minutes for acute conditions; or one

of those options 1 to 3 times daily for chronic conditions.

Parenterally: 1 to 2 ml 3 times daily; Ointments, rinses and

poultices: 1 dessertspoon : 1/4L water 1 to 2 times daily

(HAB34).