Peachwood
StarHaematoxylum brasiletto
Synonyms: Haematoxylum boreale
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
In Mexican and Central American folk medicine a decoction of the red heartwood, known as agua de Brasil or palo de tinte, is taken as a blood and heart tonic and astringent remedy, used for cardiovascular complaints, diarrhea, and kidney ailments (Mexican ethnobotanical literature; Argueta et al., 1994). The same heartwood is also a traditional source of a red dye.
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Botanical Description
Haematoxylum brasiletto, the Mexican logwood, brazilwood, or palo de Brasil, is a small, often crooked tree or large shrub in the legume family (Fabaceae) native to dry tropical regions from Mexico through Central America to northern South America. It usually reaches 3–10 m in height, with a fluted, sometimes spiny, deeply grooved trunk and hard, dense heartwood that is bright orange-red to deep red. The bark is grey and often peeling, and the branches frequently bear stout spines. The leaves are alternate and pinnately compound, with several pairs of small, obovate to heart-shaped leaflets. Showy bright-yellow, five-petalled, fragrant flowers are borne in racemes, attracting bees, and are followed by flat, thin, lance-shaped pods that split along the middle rather than at the margins. The species grows in dry forest, thorn scrub, and rocky hillsides in seasonally arid lowlands, and the red heartwood is prized both as a dye source and in 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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