Hyptis obtusiflora
StarHyptis obtusiflora
Synonyms: Mesosphaerum obtusiflorum, Mesosphaerum pallidum
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
Across tropical America Hyptis obtusiflora is a household remedy: in Ecuador and Central America the leaf juice is applied to heal wounds, leaf infusions or ashes are used in medicinal baths, and cooked leaves treat skin infections and influenza (Gonzalez et al., 2018, Plants). The aromatic herb is also taken for digestive and inflammatory complaints, uses supported by documented anti-inflammatory and anti-gastritis activity of the leaf extract.
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Botanical Description
Hyptis obtusiflora is an aromatic perennial herb or subshrub of the Lamiaceae, typically 0.5-2 m tall, ranging from Mexico through Central America to Bolivia and Peru. It has erect, square, branching stems clothed in fine hairs and bearing opposite, ovate to lanceolate leaves with toothed margins and a minty-resinous fragrance when crushed. The small white to pale lilac flowers are crowded into dense, globose or capitate clusters arranged in the leaf axils, each with the characteristic two-lipped corolla of the mint family. The fruit comprises tiny smooth nutlets enclosed by the persistent calyx. A plant of disturbed ground, roadsides, pastures, forest edges, and clearings in tropical America, it flowers over a long season and is frequently encountered as a ruderal weed.
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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