Effect Oneirogenic
Use
The species is employed in African traditional medicine to induce vivid dreams, enabling communication with the spirit world. The inner meat of the seed would be either consumed directly, or the meat would be chopped, dried, mixed with other herbs like tobacco and smoked just before sleep to induce the desired dreams.
The plant is also used as a topical ointment against jaundice, toothache, ulcers and to treat muscular-skeletal problems. The seeds are sought after as pieces of jewelry and as good-luck charms.
The 1889 book The Useful Native Plants of Australia records that Entada Scandens has the common names included 'Queensland Bean'. Indigenous Australians of the Cleveland Bay area referred to the plant as 'Barbaddah' and that 'These large beans are ... put into the stone oven and heated in the same way and for the same time as those of Avicennia tomentosa (q.v.); they are then pounded fine and put into a dilly-bag, and left for ten or twelve hours in water, then they are fit for use.' (Murrell's testimony).
The natives of India also eat them after roasting and soaking in water.