Traditionally, a piece of dried bark is boiled for a long time in water to extract the active principles. The resulting liquid, often bitter, is drunk in small quantities according to local customs. A healthcare professional or experienced herbalist must be consulted before any intake, as the safety margin is not clearly established. Dosage must be validated with a healthcare professional or a recognized pharmacopoeia before use.
The seed, after removing its very hard shell, is ground into a fine powder and then applied to the skin, sometimes mixed with a fatty base. This preparation is reserved for external use; ingestion of raw seeds is strongly discouraged without appropriate preparation. Dosage must be validated with a healthcare professional or a recognized pharmacopoeia before use.
In some more recent traditions influenced by Western herbalism, the bark is macerated in alcohol for several weeks to obtain a concentrated tincture. This form, more potent than the decoction, absolutely requires the supervision of a qualified professional. Dosage must be validated with a healthcare professional or a recognized pharmacopoeia before use.