Carqueja
Blood Builder Family: Asteraceae
Genus:Baccharis
Species: genistelloides
Parts Used: Aerial Parts. Used as a tea.
Common Names: Carqueja, Cacalia Amara, Caclia Doce, Carqueja Amara, Carqueja
Amarga, Cuchi-Cuchi, Quinsu-cucho, Tres-espigas, Bacanta, Bacárida, Cacaia-amarga,
Cacália-amarga, Cacália-amargosa, Carqueja-do-mato, Carquejinha,
Condamina, Quina-de-condamiana, Tiririca-de-balaio, Vassoura.
Properties/Actions, uses:
AIDS, allergies, anemia, analgesic, anthel mintic, allergies, antacid, antihepatotoxic,
anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcerogenic, angina, aperient, anti-rheumatic, bloating,
blood circulation, constipation, depurative, diabetes, digestive disorders,
diarrhea, diuretic, febrifuge, fortifies blood, gallstones, gastrotonic, gout,
hepatic, hepatoprotective, hepatotonic, hydropsy, hypoglycemic, ileocecal valve
function, intestinal worms, intestinal gas,impotency, kidney disorders, laxative,
leprosy, antacid, malaria, sore throat,stomachic, tonic, tonsilitis, ulcers,
urinary inflammation, venereal diseases, vermifuge. Traditional Use:
Carqueja has been utilized by indigenous peoples of the South American rainforests
for centuries as a general tonic to cure common ailments. They brewed a simple
tea from the herb by infusing two cups of the dried plant in a liter of water,
comsuming it by the cupful up to three times a day, on an empty stomach.
Correa recorded the use of Carquejas in Brazil in 1931, he wrote about the infusion
being used for sterility in women and impotency in men. He described the herb
as having the therapeutic properties of a bitter tonic, febrifuge and stomachic,
noting that is was taken in cases of dyspepsia, gastroenteritis, liver diseases
and diarrhea. Medicinal Notes:
Carqueja has long been used in Brazilian medicine where it is held in esteem
for its effectiveness in relieving intestinal and stomach disorders and in helping
purge obstructions of the liver and gallbladder. Carqueja is also considered
a good blood cleanser and fever reducer.
Carqueja has been exstensively studied in the U.S. by scientists and herbalists
and natural health practitioners, validating Carquejas liver-protective properties
(hepatoprotective). Research has shown that Carqueja helps maintain healthy
functioning of the ileocecal valve. Carqueja is used for hepatic dysfunctions,
effectively removing liver obstructions. Carqueja is good in cases of anemia
or loss of blood and is known for its blood-fortifying properties.
Carqueja can be used to strengthen stomach and intestinal function. It helps
strengthen digestion, and as a blood fortifier is considered excellent for anemia
or loss of blood. It is useful for removing obstructions in the gallbladder
and liver.
Recent studies in 1996 recomfirmed Carquejas effectiveness as anti-inflammatory,
analgesic and anti-ulcer herb. The clinical studies reported its protective
effect against ulcers and that "Carqueja showed strong anti-inflammatory
and analgesic properties which seem to be due, at least partly, to the inhibition
of prostaglandin biosynthesis."
Carqueja was first studied for it's hypoglycemic effects in 1967, demonstrating
that it had the ability to lower sugar levels in the blood. Several novel phytochemicals
called diterpenoids were discovered in Carqueja in 1977. These phytochemicals
were later tested in 1994 and scientist showed they "exhibited maximum
antifeedant and repellant activities" against worms (Tenebrio molitor larvae.
This validates Carqueja's long history of use as an anthelmintic (to expel intestinal
worms). A closely related Brazilian species, Baccharis gaudichaudiana, containing
these diterpenoids and others, exhibited significant cytotoxic activity against
cancer cells in 3 another clinical study in 1994.. Abstract Reaserch;
In a study of mice in 1986, a crude water extract of Carqueja provided protection
against liver damage and increased the survival rate by 100% when the liver
toxin, phalliodin, was administered.
Carquejas' digestive, anti-ulcer and antacid properties were verified in a 1991
clinical study which showed that Carqueja reduced gastric secretions and had
an analgesic effect in rats, concluding that it "may relieve gastrointestinal
disorders by reducing acid secretion and gastrointestinal hyperactivity."
Notes of Interest:
Carqueja is a perennial green herb which is found mostly in the swampy areas
throughout the Amazon rainforest in Peru, Brazil, and Columbia as well as tropical
parts of Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. It grows almost straight up to a
height of one and a half feet tall and produces yellowish-orange flowers at
the top of the plant. The bright green flat leafy stalks have a fleshy, succulent
type of consistency.
Carqueja is another rainforest plant that is known by several botanical names
including Baccharis genistelloides, Baccharis triptera, and Baccharis trimera.
Phytochemicals: Apigenin, Camferol, Carquejol, Clerodane derivatives, Diterpenoids,
Essential Oils, Flavonoids, Glycosides, Hispidium, Hispidulin, Luteolin, Neptin,
Quercetin, Resins, Saponins, Squalene.
Seed
