Google says: Reserpine (what people take the plant for - bold my emphasis), according to Okpako (1991), is a major constituent of antihypertensive drugs. Taken orally, Reserpine tablets treat the symptoms of high blood pressure (1) and psychotic illnesses such as schizophrenia. Reserpine lowers blood pressure by lowering certain chemicals in the blood stream, relaxing and widening the blood vessels. Potentially serious side effects of this medication include uncontrollable movement of the legs, arms, or hands, an irregular heartbeat, or heart failure .(2) Symptoms of heart failure include a sudden weight gain of at least five pounds (2.3 kilograms), chest pain, or swelling in the legs and ankles.