Within the Ecuadorian Amazon, we find a variety of plants that you can not only see their variety and appreciate their visual beauty, but you can also learn about their medicinal benefits for the human body and soul. Join me so you can learn about the most famous types of medicinal plants that exist in the South American country, their peculiarities, benefits, and interesting facts.
The mystical Ayahuasca
Ayahuasca comes from a kichwa word called Ajawaska which means the soul vine. It is more than a quotidian drink. It is a divine drink of the community, it is considered a tool to obtain visions and orientation about life. The participants or members that are going to get involved in this ceremony must fast to have positive visions. Some tales are amazing; many say they find themselves or face old tragedies. More than an experience, it is considered something deeper than a relationship with life itself. It is at your own risk to perform the ceremony.
How it is made?
It is made by decocting a vine that grows in the jungle (ayahuasca) combined with the leaves of another plant called chacruna. This formula produces a potent hallucinogenic drink with restorative properties, according to many.
It is recommended that only people of legal age, preferably 21 years and older, attend.
Guayusa
Guayusa tea is considered one of the oldest drinks taken by the Amazon community since a thousand years ago.
Its bright green leaves contain antioxidants that assist the body and cells. It boosts the immune system, lowers the risk of neurological illnesses, and optimizes aging to reach third age robust and healthy. According to various doctors and experts, this novel plant could be used to make therapeutic items in the future.
Guayusa tea is usually taken with boiled water and the plant’s leaf and a little panela to give it flavor.
Cats Claw
Cats Claw are found in the Amazon rainforest and have been widely used in traditional medicine by the Kichwa Indigenous people for several generations. The bark, leaves, and roots of the liana have been used for various medicinal treatments, such as inflammation or gastrointestinal disorders. The leaves and roots are also considered anti-arthritic, anti-allergic,anti-diabetic, anti-asthmatic,anti-rheumatic, anti-hemorrhagic, anti-viral, healing and energizing.
This plant has anti-bacterial and antiviral activity, which can be useful in combating previous diseases. The consumption of this plant, as we saw in the previous section, is also done through tea.
Considerations before consumption: It is advisable not to use this plant if you are breastfeeding or pregnant and it is also advisable to avoid it for people who have received an organ transplant.
Dragon Blood
Dragon’s blood is a traditional remedy used in the Ecuadorian Amazon. The substance comes from a tree called Croton lechleri. The trunk of this plant produces a red resin that, when expelled, looks as if the tree is bleeding. It is used as a liquid extract and is useful for disinfecting wounds and fighting sores or herpes. It relieves pain and allows wounds to heal as quickly as possible. On the other hand, as an internal benefit, it can help protect and repair gastrointestinal mucous membranes, and it also deals with intestinal or gastric infections.
Immerse yourself into a medicinal world
Most of these medicinal plants can be found in the Ecuadorian Amazon. If you love these plants and their advantages, visit Napo or Pastaza in the Ecuadorian Amazon to see their usefulness personally while traveling. Don’t miss this amazing experience.
