Medicinal Plants in The Amazon – How to Find Them? Which Are They?
Medicinal plants in the Amazon are important sources in the treatment of diseases and can save lives. In addition to being used in natura, they are also present in drug compositions and even in therapeutic products.
In Brazil, the government created the National Policy on Integrative and Complementary Practices (PNPIC). In this program, medicinal plants and phytotherapy also gain importance as tools for the treatment of diseases. It is valuing the wide variety of products of plant origin that are born in Brazil and can be used to cure or alleviate pain.
In this post, we share information about the medicinal plants in the Amazon. You will be surprised by their power and how some are already present in your life.
In this post:
- What are medicinal plants?
- What are the medicinal plants of the Amazon?
- How to find these plants?
- Get to know Redda+
What are medicinal plants?
Medicinal plants are those that have a pharmacological action and can be used in the treatment of diseases. They have components that do not need to be manipulated by man to be used, or even require a recipe to take effect.
Normally, the components that make the plant medicinal are produced and used by herbs for defense purposes. The main compounds found, that help in the treatment of diseases, are alkaloids, mucilages, flavonoids, tannins, and essential oils.
Although medicinal plants are not approved for use by many doctors, they are usually recommended by friends and family. In some cases, pharmaceutical companies also take advantage of the properties of these plants to produce some medicine.
It is necessary to have knowledge, attention, and care in the use of medicinal plants because they can cause adverse reactions. The fact that it is a natural plant gives the false illusion that it can be used in any way, and it is not so. Depending on the doses and mode of ingestion, they can be toxic to the human body.
What are the medicinal plants of the Amazon?
Plant 1 | Copaiba (Copaiba reticulata)
The species copaiba reticulata is popularly known as a forest antibiotic. Its properties help in the treatment of syphilis, bronchitis, cystitis, cough, and urticaria and has a healing effect. There are still several other possibilities of use, this happens because each species of Copaíba has its own benefits.
A Copaiba tree is large and can reach 45 meters in height. In Brazil, there are at least 32 species of Copaibas cataloged. Pure oil, extracted from the Copaiba tree, is expensive and difficult to find because the extraction does not remove a large amount of the product. Especially if the action is sustainable as it should be.
It can be used on the skin, in small doses, or ingested, following the appropriate guidelines. It is not recommended for use by pregnant women, lactating women, and people with gastric problems.
Plant 2 | Sacaca (Croton cajucara)
Sacaca is a plant very present in the eastern and central regions of the Amazon rainforest, mainly in Pará. It is a tree with a narrow crown and is six to ten meters tall. The plant has properties that help in the processes: anti-inflammatory, analgesic, hypoglycemic (low blood glucose), and hypolipidemic (low amount of fat in the blood).
Usually, the leaves and bark of the plant are used in teas to fight diabetes and control high cholesterol levels. It also helps with diarrhea, fever, and gastrointestinal, kidney and liver disorders. In fact, some compounding pharmacies use the husks to produce the sacaca powder that will be inserted into tablets.
Plant 3 | Aloe Vera (Aloe vera)
Aloe Vera is a well-known medicinal plant and is even present in cosmetics. There are about 300 species of Aloe Vera, the most famous being Aloe Barbadensis Miller (Babosa in Brazil).
Aloe Vera leaves are thorny, resistant, and filled with a gelatinous and transparent liquid. They can measure up to 50 cm in length.
Some properties present in the plant are: vitamins A, B, C, and E, calcium, potassium, magnesium, zinc, amino acids, enzymes, and carbohydrates with polysaccharides. Aloe vera health benefits include improved wound and burn healing, and it relieves constipation. The plant’s properties extend, it is also: antimicrobial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory.
Plant 4 | Arnica (Porophyllum ruderale)
Arnica is a medicinal plant used to treat wounds, bruises, and trauma. This is because it has an astringent action, in addition to being healing. The leaves of arnica have an intense aroma and the flowers are white. It can measure from 60 to 120 centimeters in height, and it is already possible to find it in several parts of Brazil, due to its easy adaptation.
Plant 5 | Cat’s Claw (Uncaria tomentosa)
Cat’s claw is a medicinal plant with properties that help the body’s immunity. It also has antimicrobial properties, protects cells, and is an antioxidant. It is a climbing plant, with thorns in the shape of a cat’s claw, they usually grow in primary forests. They can reach 35 meters in length.
Cat’s claw tea is made from the bark, leaves, and roots. In addition to this alternative consumption, the plant is also found in capsules, dry extract, and fluid. Just be careful, cat’s claw in high doses can cause diarrhea or constipation. Pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children under 5 years old should not use the plant.
Plant 6 | Andiroba (Carapa guianensis)
Andiroba is one of the highest medicinal plants in the Amazon, its tree can reach 50 meters in height. A detail about the Andiroba tree: its base can reach up to 2 meters in diameter. The Andiroba fruit can contain from 4 to 16 seeds, from which Andiroba oil is extracted.
A tree can produce 50 to 200 kg of fruit per year. In addition to medicines. The oil is used in cosmetics in Brazil and worldwide. Some of Andiroba’s properties are anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and healing. It can still be used to treat skin diseases, fever, and inflammation. It also helps in controlling cholesterol and blood pressure.
Another interesting feature of andiroba oil is that it is a great natural repellent. In addition to the oil extracted from the seeds, andiroba leaf can be used to make tea.
Plant 7 | Cumaru (Dipteryx odorata)
Cumaru is a large tree in the Amazon and can also be found in Acre and Maranhão. The tree can reach 30 meters in height and produces a fruit with a seed inside that can be used to treat spasms, heart failure, and even asthma. It is also possible to produce medicines from the infusion of the bark of the tree.
A curiosity about Cumaru is that it has become the Brazilian vanilla, being widely used in confectionery and gastronomy.
How to find these plants?
The truth is that medicinal plants are quite present in your daily life. Some have become so common that people don’t realize they are consuming medicinal plants. For example, when you make chamomile, lemongrass, and boldo tea, you are using the medicinal properties of these herbs.
Medicinal plants from the North region are very common in municipal markets. And, in large cities, it is even possible to find it in health food stores. Even some herbs from the Amazon are now more accessible, such as horsetail.
Find out how Redda+ and you can help preserve the Amazon
Redda+ is an organization concerned with developing sustainable projects in the Amazon region, including helping to preserve medicinal plants. This process takes place via traditional peoples and communities that receive better living conditions. In this way, investment is made in the healthy relationship between the forest and human beings.
Redda+ projects are developed based on the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. And complemented with REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) mechanisms. Combining these two commitments, Redda+ manages to combine sustainable growth and development.
After all, it is not just about taking care of nature, but also of those around it, generating a domino effect of sustainability. And, for that, it is necessary to respect the roots, the culture, the local economy, and the way in which these people relate to each other. Redda+ projects are focused on the Amazon region, for example, in Portel, Pará.
The community has been accompanied by Redda+ teams, receiving medical care, food support, and guidance to improve income. Among other activities that are applied thinking about the well-being of the entire population, regardless of age. Click here to learn more about Redda+ projects and how you can be part of this commitment to Amazon communities and the forest.
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