Scilla Squill vs Averrhoa bilimbi

Bulbous Mediterranean plant of coastal areas; bulb used in historical medicine as cardiac glycoside source and expectorant; related to digitalis.

Tropical Oxalidaceae tree used in Malay and Caribbean medicine for hypertension, diabetes, and skin conditions.

scillaren A, scillaren B, proscillaridin A, glucoscillaren A, flavonoids

oxalic acid, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, vitamin C

Cardiac insufficiency in historical European medicine, Expectorant for coughs, Used since ancient Egyptian medicine for heart conditions, Rodenticide (red squill variety)

hypertension, diabetes, skin diseases, cough, fever

Cardiotonic glycoside source, Expectorant, Historical pharmaceutical reference

anti-hypertensive, anti-diabetic, antimicrobial, antipyretic

Pharmaceutical preparations only — no safe home preparation

Fruit juice 1-2 glasses daily (traditional)

All unstandardized preparations, Pregnancy, Children without physician

kidney disease (oxalic acid), kidney stones, rheumatoid arthritis

Cardiac arrhythmias, GI toxicity, Potentially fatal

kidney damage with excess (oxalic acid), GI upset