Kidneywood
StarEysenhardtia polystachya
Synonyms: Dalbergia amorphoides, Psoralea stipularis, Viborquia polystachya, Dalea fruticosa, Eysenhardtia amorphoides, Amerimnon polystachyon, Varennea polystachya, Wiborgia amorphoides
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
In Mexican folk medicine a decoction of the blue-fluorescing heartwood and bark of kidneywood (palo azul, 'agua azul') is a classic diuretic remedy, drunk for kidney and bladder complaints, urinary infections and urinary stones, a use supported by pharmacological studies of its diuretic activity (Argueta / Atlas de las Plantas de la Medicina Tradicional Mexicana, 1994).
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Botanical Description
Eysenhardtia polystachya, known as kidneywood, palo azul or taray, is a shrub or small tree in the family Fabaceae, usually 3-9 m tall, with finely divided, aromatic, pinnately compound leaves bearing many small, gland-dotted leaflets that release a scent when crushed. It produces dense, slender, spike-like racemes of small, fragrant, creamy-white flowers, followed by small, flattened, slightly curved one-seeded pods. The heartwood is notable for turning water steeped with it a fluorescent blue, the historical 'lignum nephriticum' effect that gives rise to the names palo azul and kidneywood. The species is native to Mexico and the south-western United States, where it grows in dry tropical scrub, oak woodland, rocky hillsides and along arroyos. It is browsed by livestock and long valued in regional folk medicine.
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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