In recent years, Rauvolfia and its preparations have become important therapeutic agents, both as anti-hypertensives and as sedatives. Rauvolfia is an important source of the active alkaloid, reserpine, which is also extracted commercially from the roots of R. vomitoria and R. tetraphylla; reserpine's content of R. vomitoria is twice that of R. serpentina. Resperpine has a depressant action on central nervous system and induces sedation and a lowering of blood pressure, accompanied by bradycardi.

The bark and roots are used for fever, heart disease, acute bronchitis, pneumonia, malarial affections and chronic rheumatoid conditions.

This plant is employed for cough, asthma and pains. The plant is credited with diuretic properties and is used to cure dropsy. The root of this plant is used for various lung ailments, diarrhoea, cough and rheumatism. The fruit is cooked and eaten as a vegetable.

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The fresh bark and leaves are ground into a paste with water and is applied on glandular swellings and local inflammations of the skin. Internally they act an as an expectorant and is useful in chronic bronchitis and bronchial asthma.