Coca - Search results

Botanical name: Erythroxylum coca

Common names: Huanuco, Coca

Family: Erythroxylaceae

Origin: South America

Tropical shrub cultivated in Africa, northern South America, southeast Asia, and Taiwan. It grows from 2-4m (8 feet) tall. The fruits are small drupes. The plants thrive best in hot, damp situations, such as the clearing of forests, but the leaves most preferred are obtained in drier locations, such as on the sides of hills. The tradition of chewing of coca leaves is deeply fixed among the Andes Indians, farmers and miners, who use it to arouse physical energy, and to fight against pain, hunger and thirst. The leaves of the coca plant are chewed socially throughout the South American Andes as a stimulant and to protect against the effects of high elevation. It has a long history of human use. The leaves are the poisonous parts of the plant.

Botanical name: Genipa americana

Common names: Genipa, Huito, Marmelade Box

Family: Rubiaceae

Origin: Amazonia

Genipa americana is cultivated for its edible fruit, which are made into drinks, jelly, sherbet and used in ice cream.

It is also useful for treatment of candiru (The vampire fish of Brazil -Vandellia cirrhosa) attacks. South American Indians bathe their legs in the clear liquid obtained from the fruit. The liquid has a stringent effect. Furthermore it stains the skin black. These stains disappear after about a fortnight. As South Americans Indians went into battle, they used to paint themselves with Genipa juice and anatto.

The fruit is brewed into a tea and taken as a remedy for bronchitis.

Common Names in Amazonia:

Huitol; Witu (Shuti); Acuisho (Huayraya); Caruto; Chibará; Chipará; Genipa; Genipapo; Granado; Ana (Machiguenga, Ashaninka, Nomachiguenga); Guayapay; Huitoc, Huitu, Huito sua, Huito de agua; Isso (Piro); Jagua; Janipa (Cocama); Jave (Yagua); Jigua, Juaraavuro (Ocaina); Jidoro (Huitoto); Lana, Launa, Totumillo, Bilito; Cafecillo denta, Xagua; Mayagua; Guaricha (Venezuela); Guayatil colorado; Nané; Guayatil; Carcarutoto; Caruto revalsero; Mandipa (Portuguese); Nandipa (Guyana and Argentina); Guaitil (Bolivia); Nanu (Amahuaca); Nandi y Nane (Shipibo-Conibo); Palo colorado; Pigio; Piginio; Sua (Aguaruna); Vitoc; Vito; Yacohuito; ZXaguo; Yayuhuito; Zapote de monte; Nandé (Amahuaca); Akui sho y Kuikuisho (Ese Eja); Nso (Piro-Yine); Tapuripa (Surinam)

Botanical name: Piper betle

Common name: Betel leaf

Family: Piperaceae

Origin: India

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The plant grows widely over the entire area between South Arabia and Southeast China. It is a branching vine, that may climb as high as 10-15ft, although it often grows as an understory ground cover. The plant prefers warm, humid conditions, but can tolerate some drought. It is generally too tender to grow outside of the tropics. It is used in a number of traditional remedies for the treatment of stomach ailments, infections, and as a general tonic. It is often chewed in combination with the betel nut (Areca catechu), as a stimulatory. Some evidence suggests that betel leaves have immune boosting properties as well as anti-cancer properties. The essential oil is produced by steam distillation from the leaves of Piper Betle. Betel Leaf Oil is yellow to brown with an distinctly phenolic, almost tar-like or smoky. Leaves have long been used in Indonesia as traditional medicine. These leaves have antimicrobial activity towards bacteria in the mouth. Essential oils of the plant contained phenolic compounds. Throughout the balmy Asian tropics, great passion is accorded the chewing of the stimulating fruit of the Areca catechu palm known as betel nut. Traditionally prepared by chopping or slicing the areca nut, adding a bit of moistened lime to a Piper betle leaf and wrapping the nuts in ribbon-like strips of leaf to make a small packet known as a buyo. When one visits a household, the host will likely offer one of these buyos as a gesture of hospitality. Workers will often carry small boxes or bags of prepared betel much like the Peruvians carry coca leaves. Piper betle grows as a vigorous vine which is usually supported by a trellis of bamboo poles. The heart-shaped leaves are marvelously pungent and spicy. Makes as interesting container plant.

See Article about Piper.