'exotic cures' Posts
Whenever I hear the name carqueja, I remember my childhood in the interior of Brazil and going outside with my grandmother to search for the special plants that would be dried and bound together at the end of long sticks to make brooms. That’s how carqueja is known in the countryside of Brazil. And it’s used by the people of the region for sweeping their dirt paths and backyard areas.
In the same back woods culture, carqueja is also used by the men. They put it inside their booze to create an infusion that helps protect the liver from the harmful effects of…well…the booze itself, including the unwanted acquisition of intestinal parasites. So it’s just as common in the bars of these old, back-home towns as it is in the homes. And it comes accompanied by a long story.
Carqueja originates in the Peruvian Andes. It’s part of a group of plants native to the region that includes Paraguay, Southern Brazil, Agentina, Uruguay, and Bolivia. In the hillsides of Argentina, it’s believed that carqueja is an aphrodisiac and it’s used to combat female infertility. In some old Brazilian traditions, women take baths in carqueja to help increase their chances of getting pregnant.
Carqueja is a succulent with long, three-sided stalks from which sprout thin white hairs. Along the edges of this three-bladed sword bloom small white flowers in cute little clusters. It’s a bitter herb and that’s why it’s also known as “bitter carqueja.” But in this bitterness lies a nectar that helps cure many health problems.
Carqueja is recommended for fever, gastro-intestinal problems, gingivitis, gout, female infertility, male erectile dysfunction, gastritis, obesity, intestinal problems, diarrhea and rheumatism. It also helps reduce cholesterol and strengthens the intestines. It’s a diuretic, so it helps with kidney and bladder problems, and, let’s not forget, helps rid the body of parasites.
This interesting plant is used to cure hypoglycemia and anemia. It has antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and anti-parasitic properties and is a febrifuge (fever reducer). As you can see, it’s a versatile little plant and a natural remedy for many ills. And it is widely used in natural beauty products throughout South America, including children’s shampoo (where it helps fight lice) and shampoo for oily hair. Carqueja is most often harvested in the summer, since in Brazil, we tend to start our fitness regimens rather late and this plant is used in many weight loss programs. It is used by many to help them show off in those scant summer fashions.
So whether or not we swept up the back yard with it, we were never without carqueja at my house.
March 1st, 2008
Boldo do Chile is one of the most well known herbs in Brazil, although due to its horribly bitter taste, it’s not necessarily one of the most popular. In the southern half of Brazil, you can find a boldo bush growing in the back yard of just about any rural or suburban home. It’s a hearty plant that is easy to grow and cultivate. And as much as Brazilians love to party — it’s good to have this natural hangover remedy close at hand.
As its name suggests, boldo is native to Chile. Shepherds in the Andes mountains noticed that their goats were not suffering from liver or intestinal problems since they had been dieting on boldo leaves. So they decided to check into it and discovered that the plant has numerous medicinal properties. Later, researchers from the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Turkey and European countries came to the same conclusions about the plant. It has been found to have antiseptic, diuretic, anesthetic, antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral qualities. It also aids digestion and stomach disorders, regulates uric acid, eliminates intestinal gas, reduces blood sugar levels and ensures a healthy menstruation (it has abortive qualities and should not be used during pregnancy).
Well known as the hangover herb, it is used by many in South America after a long night out (can you say Carnival?). It acts directly on the liver and stomach, alleviating the most distasteful symptoms of alcohol. Taken daily, it substantially improves the complexion and removes any “tired” aspect in the face.
The best way to take boldo is to crush a few freshly-picked leaves in a few ounces of spring water with a pestle, then strain and drink. It’s most bitter and most effective this way. But finding fresh boldo leaves may be challenging outside of South America. Look for herbal extracts and dried leaves or tea bags as an alternative. And if you ever visit Brazil for Carnival, be sure to have a few leaves on hand and use them before you go to sleep.
March 1st, 2008
Urucum, or Bixa orellana, is known internationally as Annatto, but to me it’s very much a Brazilian herb and I’ve known about it since I was a child. The Urucum tree grows to as high as six meters (20 feet) and produces a spiny, copper-colored fruit. Inside this fruit are red seeds that are used principally for their color.
The first Portuguese settlers in Brazil noticed that the native people used a red paint on their bodies that was made from Urucum, which comes from the Tupi word uru’ku meaning red. The natural coloring from Urucum has since been used throughout Brazil in all sorts of country cooking and also as a general dye. But the seeds are also used as laxatives and digestive aids and also help with bronchitis and burns. In some regions, the roots and leaves are used in the treatment of gonorrhea and herpes.
Today Urucum is exported to North America and Europe, where it’s used as a coloring for a range of industrial applications, foods, and beauty products. The greatest producers of Urucum are Brazil, Peru and Kenya (the Spanish brought the plant to Africa from South America).
When I was a kid, Urucum was often used as an artificial tanning ointment. Some people would show up at the swimming pool or waterfall (I grew up in the interior of Brazil) with Urucum in carrot oil to help jump start their tans.
Urucum is rich in carotenoids, which give the seeds their characteristic reddish-orange color. The seeds also contain proteins, calcium, iron and vitamins B2, B2 and B3. Urucum is useful as an expectorant and is beneficial for hypertension, digestive problems, parasites, circulation, heart disease, high cholesterol, skin lesions, and constipation. Oh, and it makes a good food coloring too.
April 16th, 2007
Brazilians are using all sorts of plants and herbs to alleviate pains and strains. What’s “in vogue” today is an herb called garra do diabo, or devil’s claw (scientific name, Harpagophyitum procumbens). But don’t be startled by the name; it’s not what you think. Devil’s claw got a bad rap in the name department. As you will see, it’s more like a gift from the gods in the treatment of arthritis, rheumatism, fibromialgia, bursitis, tendonitis, spinal problems, osteoporosis, and general muscular pain.
Its properties began to be studied around the time of WWII by European scientists, who dubbed it devil’s claw due to its many thorny spines that resemble claws. It has analgesic, anti-inflammatory and febrifuge (fever-reducing) properties. It also helps heal wounds, stimulates the digestive and lymphatic systems and helps in the production of bile from the liver and gall bladder. These qualities make it among the most sought after cures for lumbar and other back and muscle pain in South America.
In the United States, devil’s claw is not well known or widely used. It originated in southern Africa and grows in the deserts of the Namibia region. The locals of that region use it for kidney, bladder and liver pain. It’s also believed that the sooner one begins using this herb, the more one postpones the aches and pains of aging. The herb is immensely popular in some parts of the world and is even being used on horses in some Arabic countries. Even my own herbal “pharmacy” at home would never be without it; this devil’s claw was more like an angel’s touch in curing my husband’s back pain.
April 7th, 2007
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