Whole plant: Decoction for hypertension, diabetes, biliousness and fever; grippe, thrush; boiled and gargled for throat trouble; pounded and mixed with wood-ash and rubbed on areas of leishmaniasis and eczema. Used for coughs and colds and for “lining cold” (puerperal fever) in NW Guyana.

Root: Tincture rubbed onto rheumatic areas; decoction for a purgative and emetic; infusion for cholagogue and skin diseases. Infusion for bilious fever, ordinary fever, stomachache, and to ease menstruation. Tea made from roots and dried flowers is used for colds and upset stomach. Used for diarrhea in NW Guyana.

Leaf: Remedy for renal calculi. Leaves are made into a tea for treating afterbirth problems. Used for treating fevers, coughs and colds, headaches, hemorrhage and thrush in NW Guyana.

Flower: In a preparation to reduce stomach acid in children.

Seed: Dried, pulverised and roasted as a coffee substitute, and for use as a febrifuge. Infusion is drunk to calm one's nerves. In NW Guyana, used for treating kidney problems, hemorrhage, worms, and cleaning womb and tubes in NW Guyana.

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Origin
“Cariri Paraibano”, Brazil
Medicinal indication
- As a tonic: Leaves
- For memory: Seeds

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

2) M.F. Agra; et al/ Medicinal and poisonous diversity of the flora of “Cariri Paraibano”, Brazil/ Journal of Ethnopharmacology 111 (2007), p. 390.