What is nickernuts?

Nickernuts, also known as rosary peas or jequirity beans, are small, shiny seeds that come from a tropical vine plant, Abrus precatorius. They have a hard outer shell that is usually colored red and black or white and black.

Nickernuts are commonly used in traditional medicine for their diuretic, purgative, and insecticidal properties. However, they are also highly toxic due to the presence of a potent toxin called abrin, which is similar to ricin.

Ingestion of even a single nickernut can cause severe symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, stomach pain, seizures, and even death. Therefore, they should be handled with extreme caution and only be used under the guidance of a trained healthcare professional.

Nickernuts are also used in jewelry and craft-making due to their attractive color and shape. However, it is essential to avoid accidental ingestion or inhalation of the toxic dust released during their processing.