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Myrcia amazonica

Family: Myrtaceae Genus: Myrcia Species: amazonica

Synonyms: Aulomyrcia hostmanniana var. gracilior, Myrcia leptoclada, Myrcia detergens, Aulomyrcia hostmanniana var. robustior, Myrcia sprucei, Myrcia hostmanniana var. robustior, Myrcia gentlei, Aulomyrcia maraguana, Myrcia hostmanniana, Aulomyrcia amazonica, Gomidesia minutiflora, Aulomyrcia spruceana, Aulomyrcia corymbosa, Myrcia leptoclada var. glazioviana, Myrcia corymbosa, Myrcia oitchi, Aulomyrcia detergens var. dives, Aulomyrcia detergens var. depauperata, Aulomyrcia paraensis, Aulomyrcia hostmanniana, Aulomyrcia leptoclada, Myrcia minoriflora, Myrcia maraguana, Aulomyrcia detergens, Aulomyrcia vautheriana, Myrcia laurifolia, Myrcia lundiana, Myrcia sagotii, Myrcia paraensis

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Western Herbalism Properties

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Traditional Uses

In Brazilian and Amazonian folk medicine, Myrcia amazonica is one of the "pedra-hume-caa" plants whose leaves are prepared as an infusion to treat diabetes (nicknamed "vegetable insulin"), as well as diarrhoea and dysentery (Cruz, 1965; Saliba et al., 2015).

Botanical Description

Myrcia amazonica is a shrub or small tree of the myrtle family (Myrtaceae), one of more than a hundred and fifty species of Myrcia native to tropical South America and the West Indies. It typically occurs in drier parts of the Amazon basin and other regions of Brazil, growing as a medium-sized woody plant with small, leathery, aromatic, glossy green leaves arranged oppositely along the twigs, in the manner characteristic of the family. The flowers are small, with numerous white stamens, borne in branched clusters, and give way to small fleshy berries. Like other members of the genus, its foliage is rich in aromatic essential oils and in non-volatile constituents such as flavonoids, tannins, acetophenone derivatives and triterpenes. It belongs to the complex of Brazilian Myrcia species known collectively as "pedra-hume-caa", which share both a general resemblance and a long folk-medicinal reputation in the region.

Native Region: Belize, Bolivia, Brazil North, Brazil Northeast, Brazil South, Brazil Southeast, Brazil West-Central, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Leeward Is., Nicaragua, Panamá, Puerto Rico, Suriname, Trinidad-Tobago, Venezuela, Windward Is.

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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