Cereus

Botanical

What is it

Cereus refers to a genus of columnar cacti, with several species used in herbal medicine and homeopathy. Cereus grandiflorus (night-blooming cereus, Selenicereus grandiflorus) has historical use in cardiac tonics.

Evidence for 1 use

AI-assisted evidence assessment — talk to your doctor before relying on any single supplement.

Cardiac symptoms (traditional)

Mixed Evidence

Historical Eclectic use only; no modern clinical evidence supports any specific cardiac indication.

How it works

Cereus grandiflorus contains tyramine, hordenine, and small amounts of cardioactive compounds. Eclectic and homeopathic medical tradition used it as a heart tonic for angina-like symptoms and palpitations, particularly in low or homeopathic dilution. Clinical evidence is limited; modern cardiology does not use Cereus preparations for any specific indication.

Dosage

Traditional doses were 1 to 10 drops of tincture as needed. Homeopathic dilutions are also common. No standardized clinical dose exists.

When and how to take it

Traditional use is as needed, not as a daily supplement.

1 commercial form

Compare the main delivery options and what they’re best suited for.

Cereus inflorescence extract

Usually homeopathic or low-dose tincture rather than standardized extract.

Not well characterized.

Safety

At very low traditional or homeopathic doses, considered safe. Larger doses of crude plant material can cause GI upset and theoretically arrhythmias. Safety data are limited.

Who should be cautious

Avoid in pregnancy and lactation. Anyone with cardiac arrhythmias or on cardiac medications should not self-use Cereus preparations.

Interactions

Theoretical interactions with cardiac medications (digoxin, beta-blockers, antiarrhythmics). Caution warranted.

Frequently asked questions

Is Cereus safe for the heart?⌄

Modern clinical evidence does not support self-use for cardiac complaints. Any cardiac symptom requires medical evaluation.

Is night-blooming cereus a homeopathic remedy?⌄

It is used in both homeopathic and traditional Eclectic formulations.

References

Cereus on Wikidata — Wikidata link

Cereus on NIH DSLD (US supplement label database) — NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database link

Research on Cereus (PubMed search) — PubMed link

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Evidence-based·How we grade evidence

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This page is educational, not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Evidence grades are AI-assisted assessments — talk to your doctor before starting any new supplement, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, on medications, or managing a chronic condition.