Croton Bean

The Croton Bean original: 巴豆 (Bādòu); scientifically known as Croton tiglium. This plant is famous in East Asian medicine as a "drastic purgative," used to forcefully clear the digestive tract. originates in the mountain valleys of Ba Prefecture an ancient region encompassing modern-day Chongqing and eastern Sichuan; the plant is named "Ba-bean" because of its abundance in this specific territory.

The tree reaches a height of ten to twenty feet. Its leaves are similar in shape to those of the cherry tree, though they are notably thicker and larger. When the leaves first emerge, they are green, gradually turning yellow as they mature. The fruit is ready for harvest during the eighth and ninth lunar months.

The fruit itself is approximately the size of a large soybean and is protected by a hard outer shell. This shell is naturally divided into three distinct valves or chambers, each containing a single seed kernel inside.

Historically, the Croton Bean was regarded as a "fierce" medicine. Because of its high toxicity and the presence of croton oil—which can cause severe blistering and violent purging—it was often processed by being wrapped in paper and pressed to remove the oil (a method known as "making frost") before being administered in minute doses for extreme digestive blockages.