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What people say makes us excited::
The Healing Power of Rainforest Herbs By Leslie Taylor, ND ; New Book! ; Available January 30, 2005
page 103:
Hemorrhoids : Sangre de Grado, Brazilian peppertree, copaiba, vassourinha, epazote, erva tostao, passionflower, picao preto, chuchuhuasi, artichoke, quinine, yerba mate, nettle
On page 250:
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HERBAL PROPERTIES AND ACTIONS
Standard Dosage Resin Internal: 5-15 drops two or three times daily External: apply diluted resin on affected areas |
Uses
For coughs, excessive mucus, flu, gonorrhea, incontinence, inflammation, psoriasis, skin sores, syphilis, urinary tract disorders, wounds, and as a diuretic and disinfectant
for bacterial infections, bladder infections, bronchitis, cancer, cough, cystitis, dandruff, dermatitis, dermatosis, diarrhea, dysentery, flu, gastric disorders, gonorrhea, hypertension, incontinence, inflammation, intestinal parasites, kidney inflammation, lung disorders, pain, pneumonia, psoriasis, respiratory problems, sinusitis, skin disorders, skin ulcers, sore throat, stomach ulcers, syphilis, tetanus, tumors, urinary infections, urinary inflammation, vaginal discharge, wounds, and as an antiseptic
for bladder irritation, bronchitis, chilblains, constipation, cystitis, diarrhea, edema, excessive mucus (bladder, vagina, respiratory tract), gonorrhea, hemorrhoids, intestinal gas, itch, sexually transmitted diseases, urinary inflammation, vaginal discharge; and as an antiseptic, diuretic, and stimulant for bronchitis, diuretic, edema, excessive mucus, gonorrhea, hemorrhages, herpes, incontinence, inflammation, intestinal gas, insect bites, leishmaniasis, muscle pain, pleurisy, sexually transmitted diseases, syphilis, tetanus, tuberculosis, ulcers, urinary infections, vaginal discharge, wounds as an antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, disinfectant, diuretic, expectorant, laxative, stimulant for constipation, dermatitis, eczema, gonorrhea, sexually transmitted diseases, urinary insufficiency, wounds, and as a massage oil.
Family: Fabaceae Genus: Copo/fera Species: offidnalis, langsdorffii, reticulata Common Names: copaiba, copaipera, cupayba, copauba, copal, balsam copaiba, copaiva, copaiba-verdadeira, Jesuit's balsam, copaibeura-de-Minas, cobeni, Matidisguate, matisihuati, mal-dos-sete- dias, aceite de palo, pau- de-oleo, basamo de copayba Parts Used: resin, oil In Brazilian herbal medicine, copaiaba resin is used as a strong antiseptic and expectorant for the respiratory tract, as an anti-inflammatory and antiseptic for the urinary tract, as a topical anti- inflammatory agent for all types of skin disorders, and internally and externally for cancer and ulcers. |
Main Actions
• relieves pain
• reduces inflammation
• kills germs
• kills bacteria
• kills fungi
• inhibits tumor growth
• dries secretions
• heals wounds
• protects gastric tract
• mildly laxative
• soothes and softens
• disinfects
Other Actions
• increases urination
• expels worms
• reduces acid
• suppresses coughs
• expels phlegm
Copaiba trees are considerably branched and grow from 15-30 m high. They produce many small, white flowers on long panicles and small fruit pods with two to four seeds inside. There are thirty-five species of Copaifera, found mainly in tropical South America (particularly in Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Guyana , Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela). Several different species are used as traditional medicines interchangeably: C. langsdorffii is found mostly in the cerrados of central Brazil, C. reticulata is indigenous to the Amazon region, and C. offidnalis occurs widely throughout South America, including the Amazon. The part of the tree that is often employed medicinally is the oleoresin that accumulates in cavities within the tree trunk. It is harvested by tapping or drilling holes into the wood of the trunk and collecting the resin that drips out, much in the same manner as harvesting maple syrup. A single copaiba tree can provide about 40 liters of oleoresin annually, making it a sustainable rainforest resource that can be harvested without destroying the tree or the forest in which it grows. When tapped, the initial oily resin is clear, thin, and colorless; it thickens and darkens upon contact with air. Commercially sold resins are a thick, clear liquid, with a color that varies from pale yellow to golden light brown. The variety gathered in Venezuela is said to be thicker and darker in color. Although it is often referred to as a balsam or oil, it is actually an oleoresin.
On the Rio Solimoes in northwest Amazonia, copaiba resin is used topically by indigenous tribes as a wound healer, to stop bleeding, for skin sores and psoriasis, and to treat gonorrhea. Healers and curanderos in the Amazon today use copaiba resin for all types of pain, for skin disorders and insect bites, and to cool inflammation.
In Brazilian herbal medicine systems, the resin is used as a strong antiseptic and expectorant for the respiratory tract (including bronchitis and sinusitis), as an anti-inflammatory and antiseptic for the urinary tract (for cystitis, bladder, and kidney infections), and as a topical anti-inflammatory agent for all types of skin problems. Copaiba resin is sold in gel capsules in stores and pharmacies in Brazil and recommended for all types of internal inflammation, stomach ulcers, and cancer. One of its more popular home-remedy uses in Brazil is as an antiseptic gargle for sore throats and tonsillitis (fifteen drops of resin in warm water). In Peruvian traditional medicine, three or four drops of the resin are mixed with a spoonful of honey and taken as a natural sore throat remedy. It is also employed in Peruvian herbal medicine systems to reduce inflamma tion and increase urination, and in the treatment of incontinence, urinary problems, stomach ulcers, syphilis, tetanus, bronchitis, catarrh, herpes, pleurisy, tuberculosis, hemorrhages, and leishmaniasis (applied as a plaster).
Copaiba resin was first recorded in European medicine in 1625 (brought back from the New World by die Jesuits and called Jesuit's balsam) and has been used there since in the treatment of chronic cystitis, bronchitis, chronic diarrhea, and as a topical preparation for hemorrhoids. In the United States, it was an official drug in the U.S. Pharmacopeia from 1820 to 1910. Noted ethnobotanist and author Mark Plotkin reports that copaiba oil has been used in the United States as a disinfectant, diuretic, laxative, and stimulant—in addition to being used in cosmetics and soaps. The Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients cites that copaiba has diuretic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, expectorant, disinfectant, and stimulant activities.
The resin contains up to 15 percent volatile oil; the remaining materials are resins and acids. The active biological properties of copaiba resin are attributed to a group of phytochemicals called sesquiterpenes (over 50 percent of the resin may be sesquiterpenes), diterpenes, and terpenic acids. These chemicals include caryophyllene, calamenene, and copalic, coipaiferic, copaiferolic, hardwickic, and kaurenoic acids. Several of these chemicals are novel ones found only in copaiba. 1' 2 Copaiba resin is the highest known natural source of caryophyllene, comprising up to 480,000 parts per million. Caryophyllene is a well-known plant chemical, which has been documented as having strong anti-inflamma tory effects (among other actions).
The main chemicals found in copaiba include: alloaromadendrene, alpha- bergamotene, alpha-cubebene, alpha-multijugenol, alpha-selinene, ar-curcumene, beta-bisabolene, beta-cubebene, beta-elemene, beta-farnesene, beta-humulene, beta-muurolene, beta-selinene, calamenene, calamesene, carioazulene, caryo-phyllenes, coipaiferic acid, copaene, copaiferolic acid, copalic acid, copaibic acids, cyperene, delta-cadinene, delta-elemene, enantio-agathic acid, gamma- cadinene, gamma-elemene, gamma-humulene, hardwickic acids, illurinic acid, kaurenoic acids, kaurenic acid, kolavenol 1, maracaibobalsam, methlyl copalate, paracopaibic acids, polyalthic acid, and trans-alpha-bergamotene.
Much of the clinical research performed to date has verified the traditional uses of copaiba. In 2002, researchers in Brazil confirmed that it was highly effective as a topical wound healer in animal studies. 2 Copaiba has long been used both internally and externally for inflammation of all sortss. Clinical research validates the resin's anti-inflammatory effects against various laboratory-induced inflammation in other animal studies. 4' 5 The anti-inflammatory effects have been related to the sesquiterpene chemicals in copaiba oil, which scientists have noted can vary significantly—not only between different copaiba tree species, but also within a given species and, even among individual trees. 6 Sesquiter pene content can range anywhere from 30-90 percent. This may account for the results obtained by other Brazilian researchers who tested eight different com mercial samples of copaiba oil, and only three of the eight demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory effects. 7 Of these sesquiterpenes, caryophyllene is the most well studied, demonstrating pain-relieving properties, 8 antifungal properties against nail fungus, 9 as well as anti-inflammatory and gastro-pro- tective properties in other animal studies. 10
The gastro-protective effects of caryophyllene documented in 1996 also help justify another traditional use of copaiba oil—as a natural remedy for stomach ulcers. In this animal study, not only did caryophyllene evidence significant anti-inflammatory effects without any damage to the stomach lining (most other non- steroidal anti-inflammatory agents cause stomach problems)—it actually significantly inhibited stomach injury induced by various chemicals. 10 Two years later, another Brazilian research group reported that giving natural copaiba resin to rats provided dose-dependent, significant protection against chemical- and stress-induced gastric damage and also evidenced an anti-ulcerous effect. 11
Copaiba's traditional uses as an antiseptic for sore throat, upper respiratory, and urinary tract infections can be explained partly by the resin's antibacterial properties documented in the 1960s and 1970s. 12' 13 Researchers again confirmed (in 2000 and 2002) that the resin as a whole (and, particularly, two of its diter-penes—copalic acid and kaurenic acid) demonstrated significant in vitro anti bacterial activity. 14- 15 One of copaiba's other chemicals, kaurenoic acid, has also demonstrated selective antibacterial activity in other recent studies. 16' 17
Another recent area of research on copaiba resin has focused on its anti- cancerous and anti-tumor properties. Researchers in Tokyo isolated six chemi cals (clerodane diterpenes) in the oleoresin of copaiba in 1994 and tested them against carcinomas in mice to determine their anti-tumor activity. One particular compound, kolavenol, was twice as effective at increasing the lifespan in mice with carcinomas (by 98 percent) as the standard chemotherapy drug, 5- Fluorouacil (5-FU). 18 The natural resin also increased lifespan by 82 percent— which was still higher than 5-FU (which increased lifespan by 46 percent). Interestingly, the in vivo tests provided better anti-tumor effects than in previous test-tube studies. The Spanish team of researchers that documented copai ba's antimicrobial effects in 2002 also tested for in vitro anti-tumor effects. These scientists reported that another phytochemical in the resin, methlyl copalate, had in vitro activity against human lung carcinoma, human colon carcinoma, human melanoma, and mouse lymphoid neoplasm cell lines. 14 Brazilian researchers reported in 2002 that one of copaiba's active chemicals, kaurenoic acid, also inhibited the growth of human leukemic cells by 95 percent, and human breast and colon cancer cells by 45 percent in vitro. 19Kaurenoic acid can comprise as much as 1.4 percent of the natural copaiba oleoresin.
In all herbal medicine systems where it is employed, copaiba resin is t=>.er. internally only in very small dosages—usually only 5-15 drops (approxirr.i :*- ly y 2-l ml) one to three times daily. In large doses, it has been documented n cause nausea, vomiting, fever, and a measles-like skin rash. A French denrj- tologist reported that these side effects can also occur with the absorptier :r copaiba resin through the skin in sensitive individuals. 20 It has, however, b-ear approved officially in the U.S. as a food additive and is used in small amcurs as a flavoring agent in foods and beverages. 21 It has also been employed ~ i fixative in perfumes.
Today in the United States, copaiba resin is used mostly as a fragrance c: r- ponent in perfumes and in cosmetic preparations (including soaps, bur:<ji± baths, detergents, creams, and lotions) for its antibacterial, anti-inflamma:: r\ and emollient (soothing and softening) properties. Natural health practitior er- are just beginning to learn about the many ways that this important rainfcrex resource is employed in South American herbal medicine systems, and a_-» beginning to incorporate them in their practices here. Used prudently and u small quantities, it is a wonderful natural remedy for stomach ulcers, infla—- mation of all kinds, nail fungus (applied topically), and for its documer:e; wound-healing, antimicrobial, and anticancerous properties.
In South America, 5-15 drops of the oleoresin in a cup of hot water is usuall. taken two to three times daily. It is applied directly to the skin for skin pr; r- lems and wounds (normally prepared with one part copaiba resin to five pars glycerine or grapeseed oil). It is also employed topically as a massage oil ::c painful or inflamed muscles and joints—normally combined with another car rier oil (one part copaiba to ten parts carrier oil, such as almond or grapeseer oil). For nail fungus and skin cancer, the resin is applied full strength direct. on the affected area(s) without diluting it in another oil or glycerine.
Avoid contact with eyes and mucous membranes, as the resin can act as an :—- tant. Those sensitive to the resin may experience a measles-like rash accomr •-- nied by irritation, itching, and/or tingling when using topically or takir; internally. Discontinue use if these effects occur.
Do not take internally in large dosages (more than 5 ml). Large dosages have been reported to cause nausea, vomiting, fever, and rashes. Discontinue or reduce dosage if these effects occur. Do not take internally during pregnancy.
Worldwide Ethnomedical Uses
Region Amazonia Brazil Europe Peru United States Elsewhere |
Uses
for coughs, excessive mucus, flu, gonorrhea, incontinence, inflammation, psoriasis, skin sores, syphilis, urinary tract disorders, wounds, and as a diuretic and disinfectant
for bacterial infections, bladder infections, bronchitis, cancer, cough, cystitis, dandruff, dermatitis, dermatosis, diarrhea, dysentery, flu, gastric disorders, gonorrhea, hypertension, incontinence, inflammation, intestinal parasites, kidney inflammation, lung disorders, pain, pneumonia, psoriasis, respiratory problems, sinusitis, skin disorders, skin ulcers, sore throat, stomach ulcers, syphilis, tetanus, tumors, urinary infections, urinary inflammation, vaginal discharge, wounds, and as an antiseptic
for bladder irritation, bronchitis, chilblains, constipation, cystitis, diarrhea, edema, excessive mucus (bladder, vagina, respiratory tract), gonorrhea, hemorrhoids, intestinal gas, itch, sexually transmitted diseases, urinary inflammation, vaginal discharge; and as an antiseptic, diuretic, and stimulant for bronchitis, diuretic, edema, excessive mucus, gonorrhea, hemorrhages, herpes, incontinence, inflammation, intestinal gas, insect bites, leishmaniasis, muscle pain, pleurisy, sexually transmitted diseases, syphilis, tetanus, tuberculosis, ulcers, urinary infections, vaginal discharge, wounds as an antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, disinfectant, diuretic, expectorant, laxative, stimulant for constipation, dermatitis, eczema, gonorrhea, sexually transmitted diseases, urinary insufficiency, wounds, and as a massage oil.
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