Etti, kuchla in Hindi, is the strychnine tree, whose flat, grey, velvety, disc-shaped seeds contain the deadly alkaloids strychnine and brucine. It grows in dry forests of South India and Sri Lanka. Strychnine was long used as a rat poison and, in the early twentieth century, even as a stimulant for athletes. Ayurveda and Siddha use kuchla only after elaborate purification, yet poisonings still occur.
- Botanical name
- Strychnos nux-vomica L.
- Family
- Loganiaceae
- Tamil
- Etti
- Hindi
- Kuchla
- Sanskrit
- Kupilu
- Parts used
- None on this page
- Habit
- Dry-country tree whose disc-shaped seeds contain strychnine
- Last updated
- 2026-10-27
How to recognise Etti
It is a medium-sized deciduous tree with grey bark.
The leaves are glossy, oval and opposite, with three to five prominent veins from the base.
Small greenish-white flowers grow in clusters at the branch tips.
The fruit is round, hard-shelled and orange like a small orange, with bitter white pulp.
The seeds are flat, grey, button-like discs covered in silky hairs.
Traditional use of Etti
Ayurveda
Kupilu seed is used in tiny doses after purification, for example by soaking in cow’s urine and boiling in milk.
Ayurvedic practice
Siddha
Etti seed appears in Siddha preparations after purification.
Siddha practice
Household
Seed preparations were used as poison baits for rats and stray animals.
Historical household practice
Modern notes on Etti
Strychnine blocks inhibitory signals in the spinal cord, causing violent muscle spasms and death by asphyxia.
In the 1904 Olympic marathon, the winner was given strychnine and brandy as a stimulant.
Purification lowers but does not remove strychnine, so toxicity remains.
Etti safety
Never use kuchla at home. Even a single seed can kill a child. Anyone who has swallowed it needs emergency care.
Ecology and sourcing
It grows in dry deciduous forests of India, Sri Lanka and South-east Asia.
Some birds and monkeys eat the fruit pulp, discarding the seeds.
It is a slow-growing tree.
Related plants
Questions about Etti
Is kuchla poisonous?
Yes. Its seeds contain strychnine.
Is Etti used in Ayurveda?
Only after purification and in tiny doses.
What do the seeds look like?
Flat, grey, velvety discs.
What does strychnine do?
It causes violent spasms and can kill.
Is Etti related to clearing nut?
Yes. Both are Strychnos species.
Sources
- Strychnos nux-vomica L. — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
- Wikidata item Q272945 (Strychnos nux-vomica)
Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.