Amygdala

Amygdala Dulcis and Amygdala Amara are historical pharmacological terms used to describe two different types of Almond Seeds.

‘Amygdala Dulcis’ now known as Prunus Amygdalus var. Dulcis or simply Prunus Dulcis are considered Sweet Almonds. Whereas ‘Amygdala Amara’ known as Prunus Amygdalus var. Amara are considered Bitter Almonds. 

Amygdala Dulcis and Amygdala Amara are both found in the collection of historical medicines in the Department of Pharmacology in Trinity College Dublin, based in St. James’s University Hospital. 

Amygdala Dulcis thrive in a Mediterranean Climate with cool winter weather. California is the world's largest producer of Sweet Almonds, with almost 80% of supply. Amygdala Amara thrive in the same climatic conditions but are not commercially grown in the United States due to their high cyanide content and low demand. Instead, they are grown in much smaller quantities for traditional medicines.

Amygdala Dulcis Traditional and Historical Medicinal Use:

• In Ancient Greece and Rome, Sweet Almonds were used as soothing agents to relieve inflammation in conditions such as gastritis and bronchitis, as recorded in ‘De Materia Medica’ a famous pharmacopeia of medicines and plants written between 50 and 70 AD by Dioscorides. 

• Almond oil was used to soften skin in the treatment of eczema, sunburn and general dryness. Pharmacopoeia Londinensis (1618)

• Used to treat dry and irritable coughs when taken in milk form. Recorded in Avicenna, Canon of Medicine.

Amygdala Amara Traditional and Historical Medicinal Use:

Containing amygdalin and hydrogen cyanide - more bioactive compounds, consistently noted by pharmacopoeias as being harmful in excess and difficult toxic if not extracted properly.

• In Greek, Roman and Arabic medicines, Bitter Almonds were used to expel intestinal worms, with Dioscorides in De Materia Medica describing them as ‘purgative’.

• In chronic coughs, amygdala amara was used to loosen phlegm - Avicenna, Cannon of Medicine

• Small doses of oil or almond milk were used to calm nervous conditions and dysfunctions, even epilepsy! Kitab al-Hawi (9th century) pharmacopeia

Prospective future use of Almonds in Medicine:

Almonds have shown to have a neuroprotective and memory enhancing effect on animal subjects that have impairments caused by high-fat diets, chronic stress and scopolamine. Almonds and their active ingredients in the future could be used as a potential adjunct therapy in support of mild cognitive impairment or as drugs to reduce the risks of neurodegeneration. However the mechanisms are not yet fully understood and extensive clinical studies and experimentation would be required before its incorporation into modern medicine. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.2147/NDS.S469179#d1e1577

Side Effects: 

Hydrogen cyanide toxicity

At low exposure levels, nausea, headaches, dizziness and shortness of breath are common. At moderate doses rapid breathing, vomiting and confusion ensue. Finally, at high/lethal doses respiratory failure, cardiac failure, coma, seizures and death can occur. Oral Lethal Dose in Humans is approximately 0.5-3.5mg/kg and Inhalation of approximately 270 ppm for 10 minutes can be fatal. - Goldfrank’s Toxicologic Emergencies (9th edition)
Antidote: Sodium Thiosulfate, Sodium Nitrate, 100% Oxygen and Hydroxocobalamin. Immediate treatment is required. Cyanide toxicity can kill within minutes

Sample 3/43, 4/43, 5/43, (from right to left)