Ethnobotanical and general use

There are quite a few species of Tournefortia which are known as medicinal plants or applied for other purposes. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids have been reported for several species. The infusion of T. angustifolia is used as a purgative. A tea is prepare? from the leaves of T. cuspidata. The leaves of T. fulzginosa are regarded as an excellent haemostatic; a decoction is taken for internal bleeding. The leaves of T. argentea are occasionally smoked instead of tobacco. T. gnaphaloides is applied internally as a decoction of the branches for the kidneys. Against rheumatism, the plant is used in a bath, or branches in alcohol are applied externally. Some kind of a balsam is extracted from the plant (RODRIGUEZ 1983:FOR VENEZUELA). A cooling drink is made of T. hirsutissima for the bladder. 150 gr of the plant are needed for every liter of water to make the infusion. A stimulating bath is also made of the same species together with some other herbs (SEAFORTH, ADAMS & SYLVESTER 1983 ). It may thus be worthwhile to see whether T. scandens has similar medicinal properties.

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Whole plant: Bitter; in a decoction for removing sand fleas (Pulex penetrans).

Origin: While said to be a plant introduced from Jamaica to French Guiana, the identity of this plant in French Guiana and elsewhere is probably untraceable.

1) South American medicinal plants : botany, remedial properties, and general use / I. Roth, H. Lindorf. Berlin ; New York : Springer, c2002. -- p. 492.

2) Robertt, A., et al.. Medicinal Plants of the Guianas (Guyana, Suriname, French Guyana)/Smithsonian NMNH. cited online: 17-08-2017.