What the evidence says. Graded banned: there is no human evidence that any of these products causes weight loss, and independent labs and FDA sampling keep finding them substituted with yellow oleander, a cardiac poison linked to heart block and deaths. (Banned / Harmful evidence: Linked to serious harm and/or banned in sport and many jurisdictions. Listed for awareness and safety only — NOT a recommendation.)
⚠
Health warning. Products sold online as tejocote root, 'Brazil seed' or nuez de la India have repeatedly been found to contain yellow oleander, a heart poison that can cause a dangerously slow or chaotic heartbeat and death — do not take them.
What is Tejocote Root & 'Brazil Seed' (Nuez de la India)?
Tejocote Root & 'Brazil Seed' (Nuez de la India) (Crataegus mexicana / Aleurites moluccanus — frequently substituted with toxic yellow oleander (Cascabela thevetia)) is a banned or harmful substance marketed for rapid, effortless weight loss. NutriDex grades the human evidence as Banned / Harmful. Tejocote (Mexican hawthorn root), 'Brazil seed' and nuez de la India (candlenut) are sold online, often in Spanish-language listings, as natural weight-loss aids. No clinical trial shows that any of them causes weight loss. The real danger is substitution: yellow oleander looks similar and contains digoxin-like heart toxins. In a 2023 CDC report, 9 of 10 online 'tejocote' products contained yellow oleander and none contained tejocote; a 2024 lab study found every commercial candlenut supplement tested was adulterated. The FDA began warning in September 2023 and has expanded its list to more than 30 products. On 17 September 2026 it added Niwali Tejocote Capsules, Niwali Tejocote Pieces and Easy Forte Natural Fiber — the last not even labelled as tejocote — and Niwali products were recalled days later. Poison centres have documented vomiting, very slow heart rates, heart block, dangerous potassium levels and deaths, including a 2026 case that proved fatal despite heart-lung bypass. Labels cannot be trusted.
Marketed Claims (unproven)
✕(Claimed) rapid, effortless weight loss
✕(Claimed) 'natural' fat burning and detox
✕(Claimed) less appetite and bloating
Dosing & Compounds
Use & Legality
No safe or effective dose — do not use. Because these products are so often substituted with yellow oleander, even a single serving can be dangerous.
Active Compounds
Yellow oleander cardiac glycosides (thevetin A and B, neriifolin, peruvoside)Tejocote (Crataegus mexicana) root — the labelled ingredient, often absentCandlenut (Aleurites moluccanus) seed — a harsh purgative when raw
Safety & Cautions
⚠
Yellow oleander poisoning causes vomiting, dizziness, a slow or irregular heartbeat and high potassium, and can kill within hours; as few as two seeds may be fatal, and heart effects can return hours after apparent improvement. Anyone who has taken a tejocote, Brazil seed, nuez de la India or similar 'natural' weight-loss product and feels unwell should call Poison Control (1-800-222-1222 in the US) or emergency services at once — an antidote (digoxin immune Fab) exists, but standard digoxin blood tests can underestimate the poisoning. Children, older adults and people with heart or kidney disease or on heart medicines are at highest risk. Stop using any such product and discard it safely out of reach of children and pets. Educational only — always check with your doctor or pharmacist before combining Tejocote Root & 'Brazil Seed' (Nuez de la India) with any medicine.
Common questions about Tejocote Root & 'Brazil Seed' (Nuez de la India)
What is Tejocote Root & 'Brazil Seed' (Nuez de la India) used for?
Tejocote Root & 'Brazil Seed' (Nuez de la India) is most often marketed for (Claimed) rapid, effortless weight loss, (Claimed) 'natural' fat burning and detox, (Claimed) less appetite and bloating. Weight-loss roots and seeds often swapped for deadly yellow oleander.
Does Tejocote Root & 'Brazil Seed' (Nuez de la India) work — what does the evidence say?
Banned / Harmful evidence. Linked to serious harm and/or banned in sport and many jurisdictions. Listed for awareness and safety only — NOT a recommendation. Tejocote (Mexican hawthorn root), 'Brazil seed' and nuez de la India (candlenut) are sold online, often in Spanish-language listings, as natural weight-loss aids. No clinical trial shows that any of them causes weight loss. The real danger is substitution: yellow oleander looks similar and contains digoxin-like heart toxins. In a 2023 CDC report, 9 of 10 online 'tejocote' products contained yellow oleander and none contained tejocote; a 2024 lab study found every commercial candlenut supplement tested was adulterated. The FDA began warning in September 2023 and has expanded its list to more than 30 products. On 17 September 2026 it added Niwali Tejocote Capsules, Niwali Tejocote Pieces and Easy Forte Natural Fiber — the last not even labelled as tejocote — and Niwali products were recalled days later. Poison centres have documented vomiting, very slow heart rates, heart block, dangerous potassium levels and deaths, including a 2026 case that proved fatal despite heart-lung bypass. Labels cannot be trusted.
What is the typical dose of Tejocote Root & 'Brazil Seed' (Nuez de la India)?
No safe or effective dose — do not use. Because these products are so often substituted with yellow oleander, even a single serving can be dangerous.
Is Tejocote Root & 'Brazil Seed' (Nuez de la India) safe? Any cautions or side effects?
Yellow oleander poisoning causes vomiting, dizziness, a slow or irregular heartbeat and high potassium, and can kill within hours; as few as two seeds may be fatal, and heart effects can return hours after apparent improvement. Anyone who has taken a tejocote, Brazil seed, nuez de la India or similar 'natural' weight-loss product and feels unwell should call Poison Control (1-800-222-1222 in the US) or emergency services at once — an antidote (digoxin immune Fab) exists, but standard digoxin blood tests can underestimate the poisoning. Children, older adults and people with heart or kidney disease or on heart medicines are at highest risk. Stop using any such product and discard it safely out of reach of children and pets.
How many studies support Tejocote Root & 'Brazil Seed' (Nuez de la India)?
NutriDex cites 9 sources for Tejocote Root & 'Brazil Seed' (Nuez de la India), graded "Banned / Harmful".
Cite this page
APA
Peh, D. (2026). Tejocote Root & 'Brazil Seed' (Nuez de la India) (Crataegus mexicana / Aleurites moluccanus — frequently substituted with toxic yellow oleander (Cascabela thevetia)): Benefits, Dosage, Side Effects & Evidence. NutriDex — The Supplement Research Compendium. Retrieved 18 Oct 2026, from https://nutridex.info/s/tejocote-brazil-seed
BibTeX
@misc{nutridex_tejocote_brazil_seed,
author = {Peh, Daryl},
title = {Tejocote Root \& 'Brazil Seed' (Nuez de la India) (Crataegus mexicana / Aleurites moluccanus — frequently substituted with toxic yellow oleander (Cascabela thevetia)): Benefits, Dosage, Side Effects \& Evidence},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {NutriDex --- The Supplement Research Compendium},
url = {https://nutridex.info/s/tejocote-brazil-seed},
note = {Reviewed by Dr Daryl Peh, MBBS Singapore, MMed FM. Accessed 2026-10-18}
}
For medical claims, citing the underlying primary studies linked above is preferred. NutriDex is an educational reference, not medical advice.