Baccharis articulata

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Baccharis articulata

Family: Asteraceae Genus: Baccharis Species: articulata

Synonyms: Molina articulata, Baccharis diptera, Conyza articulata, Cacalia sessilis, Pingraea articulata

Salt water false willow
Baccharis articulata

Western Herbalism Properties

Actions:
bitterhepatic

Traditional Uses

In the folk medicine of the southern cone of South America (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay), Baccharis articulata, known as "carqueja" or "carquejilla," is among the most widely used native plants. An infusion of the bitter winged stems and leaves is taken as a digestive bitter and stomachic for slow digestion, indigestion and nausea, and for liver and gallbladder complaints; it is also used in folk practice for diabetes (Wikipedia; ethnobotanical and pharmacological reviews).

Botanical Description

Baccharis articulata, one of the South American plants known as carqueja or carquejilla, is a perennial subshrub in the family Asteraceae, native to the southern cone including Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, where it grows in grassland, scrub and disturbed open ground. Its most striking feature is its green, flattened and conspicuously winged photosynthetic stems, which carry on the work of the much-reduced, scale-like leaves, giving the plant a jointed, almost leafless appearance reflected in the epithet articulata. The species is dioecious, with male and female flower heads on separate plants; the small whitish to cream heads are clustered along the upper stems, the female heads producing achenes topped by a pappus of fine bristles for wind dispersal. The whole plant is markedly bitter and aromatic, qualities that underlie its long-standing use in regional folk medicine.

Native Region: Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Bolivia, Brazil South, Brazil Southeast, Paraguay, Uruguay

This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.

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