Petiveria alliacea

Occurrence

The origin is neotropical, found in the Americas.

Historical background

Used by the Mayas medicinally as well as in art, in Brazil it is used in religious Afro-Brazilian rituals.

It is now grown in some parts of Asia and Africa.

The Anamu Foundation of America in Miami, Florida was founded in 1979 to study the healing effects of this plant and it was presented as a healing miracle plant in the Botanical Congress of Venezuela. With claims of healing leukemia and cancer.

Indigenous people use the plant as an insecticide. Powdered roots are put between wooden articles to protect them against moths and termites. The plant is used as a disinfectant. The plant is also used as a poison for the preparation of certain types of curare (fish poison).

Medicinal use

The entire plant is used medicinally especially the root and leaves.

The entire plant is boiled in wine when used as a cataplasm; to combat arthritis.

A decoction of the leaves is used everyday in the form of a mouthwash to avoid caries and to fortify the gums. It is also used against colds, cramps, inflammation of the bladder and asthma. The infusion of the leaves is applied to alleviate labor pains of women and cows. The leaves are used as an antipyretic and against disorders of the lungs. They are also applied as an aphrodisiac, as an abortive and against snake bites. The leaves are applied externally as well as internally. The sap applied externally cures skin diseases, arthritis and tooth ache.

To cure inflammation of the bladder, the leaves in decoction are used as a foot bath.

An infusion of the leaves mixed with milk helps against intestinal parasites. The leaves are said to be sudorific and depurative. A bath prepared with the leaves is used as an antihysteric. Leaves in decoction are also used against spams. A decoction of the leaves is diuretic and lowers fever.

"Petiveria alliacea beside trail" by IITA Image Library is marked with CC BY-NC 2.0.