What is strychnine?

Strychnine is a white alkaloid with a crystalline structure which is extracted from Nux Vomica and related plants. In small doses, strychnine has been used historically as a stimulant in both humans and animals; in larger doses, strychnine is fatal. It is also a common ingredient in pesticides, which is a concern for some people since strychnine may be ingested by unintended victims, such as neighborhood dogs. Nux Vomica is a tree native to Southeast Asia. The seeds are the primary source of strychnine, although the tree's bark also contains small amounts of toxic alkaloids. Strychnine has been used historically for centuries. Nux Vomica is frequently prescribed in homeopathy, in the form of a highly diluted medicine which contains negligible amounts of strychnine. People have also used this compound as a stimulant; athletes, for example, took strychnine at the turn of the 20th century to improve their performance. Strychnine has been linked with several accidental deaths due to this ...  more