The juice of the plant is emetic, ophthalmic and purgative. It is actually not a purgative but a mild laxative. For similar reasons, the leaves are sometimes used as a laxative or purgative. Seed is rubefacient, stimulant, purgative, and antidote for snakebite and its oil is antirheumatic. Consumption of the leaves is reported to be demulcent, deobstruent, diuretic, lactagogue, purgative, and tonic. It has purgative, nauseating and hallucinogenic properties. Turpentine enemas, a very harsh purgative, had formerly been used for stubborn constipation or impaction. The oil, used in herbal medicine as a violent purgative, is extracted from its seeds. It is slightly poisonous and is purgative and rubefacient when used fresh. In high doses, it acts as purgative. However when properly used this plant can serve as purgative or drug curing ulcers. The bark is said to be purgative and is also used for venereal sores. Mercury was once prescribed as a purgative. It is the most active hydragogue purgative known, 'causing also much depression and violent griping'. Elaterium is the plant extract used as a purgative.