The dried and coarsely pounded bark is traditionally boiled at length in water to extract the bitter principles. This amber-colored decoction is consumed in small quantities according to local uses. Dosage must be validated with a healthcare professional or recognized pharmacopoeia before use.
The bark is sometimes macerated in traditional local alcohol for several days to obtain a concentrated preparation, reserved for external use or very low doses according to oral tradition. Dosage must be validated with a healthcare professional or recognized pharmacopoeia before use.
The white latex collected by incision of the bark is sometimes applied directly, diluted, to the skin in certain traditional uses against skin conditions, with extreme caution due to its irritant potential. Dosage must be validated with a healthcare professional or recognized pharmacopoeia before use.
Alstonia boonei grows naturally in humid forests and wooded savannas of West and Central Africa; its dried bark can sometimes be found in traditional African herbal markets or from specialists in tropical plants.