| | | |
Quassia | | |
Found in the Amazon rainforests of South America, this shrubby tree
produces smooth, gray bark, compound leaves, small yellow flowers, and
pea-sized black fruits. The bark of the quassia tree was first introduced
into Europe from Surinam in 1756 and named after "Quassia", a native
healer, who told Europeans of its therapeutic value. Quassia bark is used
in various countries for more or less the same thing, that is, to
stimulate the appetite and promote digestion. The bitter active
ingredients within the bark are responsible for its tonic effect on the
digestive system, increasing the production of salivary juices, stomach
acids, and bile.
| |
| Common Name | | | Quassia
| | | Botanical Latin Name / Classification | | | Quassia Amara
| | | Parts Used | | | Bark
| | | Other Names | | | Amargo, Bitterwood, Quassia, Cuassia, Guabo, Hombre Grande, Jamaica Bark,
Palo Muneco, Pau Amarelo, Pau Quassia, Quassia de Caiena, Quassia
Amarga, Quassiawood, Ruda, Simaruba, Surinam Quassia, Surinam Wood, Wewe
Gifi.
Browse Sections | View Quassia products
| | | Description | | | The quassia tree, or amargo, is a small tree growing only 2- 6 meters in
height and is indigenous to Northern Brazil, Venezuela, Suriname,
Columbia, Argentina, Panama and Guayana. Known botanically as Quassia
amara, it is used and marketed interchangeably with another tree species,
Picrasma excelsa. The quassia is a deciduous tree that can reach 100 feet,
but usually it is a smaller size of about twenty feet. This shrubby tree
produces smooth, gray bark, compound leaves, small yellow flowers, and
pea-sized black fruits. It can be found growing in forests near water, but
it is also cultivated for its medicinal use. The bark is harvested
throughout the year.
Browse Sections | View Quassia products
| | | Traditional Internal Uses | | | In the Amazon rainforest, quassia is used much like quinine bark, for
malaria and fevers. It grows at lower elevations where quinine bark does
not grow and contains many of the same antimalarial phytochemicals that
quinine contains. In addition, it is used as an insecticide, as a tonic,
and for fevers and hepatitis. Brazilian Indians use the leaves in a bath
for measles as well as a mouthwash after tooth extractions. Indians in
Suriname use the bark for fever and parasites and Mark Plotkin reports
that it is a potent aphidcide.
In current Brazilian herbal medicine
systems, quassia is considered a tonic, digestion stimulant, blood
cleanser, insecticide, and mild laxative. It is recommended for diarrhea,
intestinal worms, dysentery, dyspepsia, excessive mucus, expelling worms,
intestinal gas, stomachache, anemia, and liver and gastrointestinal
disorders. In Peru, quassia is employed as a bitter digestive aid to
stimulate gastric and other digestive secretions as well as for fevers,
tuberculosis, kidney stones and gallstones. In Mexico, the wood is used
for liver and gallbladder diseases and for intestinal parasites. In
Nicaragua, quassia is used to expel worms and intestinal parasites as well
as for malaria and anemia. Throughout South America, the bitter principles
of quassia are used to stimulate the appetite and secretion of digestive
juices, as well as to expel worms and intestinal parasites.
In
herbal medicine in the United States and Europe, quassia is employed as a
bitter tonic for stomach, gallbladder, and other digestive problems (by
increasing the flow of bile, digestive juices, and saliva); as a laxative,
amebicide, and insecticide; and to expel intestinal worms. In Europe, it
is often found as a component in various herbal drugs that promote
gallbladder, liver, and other digestive functions. In Britain, a water
extract of the wood is used topically against scabies, fleas, lice, and
other skin parasites. U.S. herbalist David Hoffman recommends it as an
excellent remedy for dyspeptic conditions, to stimulate production of
saliva and digestive juices, and to increase the appetite (as well as for
lice infestations and threadworms). He also notes, "It may safely be
used in all cases of lack of appetite such as anorexia nervosa and
digestive sluggishness."
Browse Sections | View Quassia products
| | | Traditional Topical Uses | | | Both quassia essential oil and a quassia herbal decoction have been used
as natural insecticidal remedies to treat head lice.
Quassia
essential oil may be diluted and used as a safe and natural treatment for
head lice.- Add a 10-15 drops of quassia essential oil to a spray
bottle filled with luke warm water. (A carrier oil like sesame oil or
jojoba oil may be used instead of water as well as additional drops of
active essential oils such as tea tree oil and neem oil.)
- Apply
spray directly to hair to kill lice or nits, working into the hair with
massage action or lice comb.
- Reapply natural insecticide everday
for a week following initial treatment as a preventative.
Browse Sections | View Quassia products
| | | Indications | | | Primary Indications: Parasites / Parasitic Infections, Worms, Ringworms, Tapeworms, Pinworms, Lice, Scabies, Amoebic Infections, Malaria
Secondary Indications: Ulcers, Dyspepsia, Anorexia Nervosa, Liver Disorders, Gallbladder Disorders, Gallstones, Indigestion, Kidney Stones, Diarrhea (Diarrhoea), Dysentery, Toxicity / Toxemia, Constipation
Other Indications: Tuberculosis (TB), Measles, Hypertension (High Blood Pressure), Diabetes (Type I / Type II), Snake Bites, Cancer / Cancer Prevention, Anemia (Iron Deficiency), Nervous System / Nervous Disorders
Secondary Indications: Flatulence, Bloating, Appetite (Increased or Decreased)
Other Indications: Fever
Browse Sections | View Quassia products
| | | Actions | | | Amebicidal, Analgesic, Anthelmintic, Anti-Ulcerogenic, Antibacterial, Anticancer / Antitumor, Antileukemic, Antilithic, Antimalarial, Antineoplastic, Antiparasitic, Antispasmodic, Antiviral, Astringent, Bitter Tonic, Carminative, Depurative, Febrifuge, Gastroprotective, Hepatoprotective, Hepatotonic, Hypoglycemic (Anti-Hyperglycemic), Insecticidal, Larvicidal, Laxative, Pediculicide, Sedative, Sialagogue, Stomachic, Tonic, Vermifuge, Cholagogue
Browse Sections | View Quassia products
| | | Constituents / Nutrients | | | Canthin-2-6-dione,3-methyl, Canthin-2-6-dione,
5-hydroxy-4-methoxy-3-methyl, Canthin-5-6-dione,3-methyl,
Canthin-6-one,2,-methoxy, Canthin-6-one,5-hydroxy-4-methoxy, 3-n-oxide,
Cantin-6-one,5-hydroxy-4-methoxy, Carboline,beta: 1-methoxy-carbonyl,
Carboline,beta:,4-8-dimethoxy, Cathin-6-one,2-methoxy, Gentisic acid,
Methyl-d-glucoside, Nigakilactone a, Parain, Parain,11-acetyl,
Parain,11-alpha-acetyl, Parain,13-18-dehydro, 12-alpha-hydroxy,
Parain,iso, Paraine, Paraine,iso, Quassialactol, Quassimarin, Quassin,
Quassin,1-alpha-o-methyl, Quassin,12-hydroxy, Quassin,14-15-dehydro,
Quassin,iso, Quassin,neo , Quassin,neo: 11-dihydro-12-nor, Quassin,neo:
12-nor: 1-dihydro, Quassin,neo: 16-alpha-o-methyl,
Alpha-o-(beta-d-glucopyranoside), Quassin,neo: 16-alpha, Quassinol,
Simalikalactone d, Sitostenone,beta, Sitosterol,beta
Browse Sections | View Quassia products
| | | Pharmacological Summary | | | There is ample scientific research to support the traditional use of
quassia bark as an anti-parasitic, anti-bacterial, and insecticidal
substance. Additional studies point to digestive and peristaltic activity
suggesting potential benefits for gastrointestinal disorders. Research,
however, is limited to in vitro and animal studies. While results
are generally positive and confirm folklore uses, additional clinical
trials are required to establish efficacy on humans and potential toxicity
concerns.
Browse Sections | View Quassia products
| | | Scientific Research and Pharmacologicial Actions | | | At the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria, in vitro studies were
conducted to determine the antibacterial and antifungal activities of
Quassia undulata and Quassia amara extracts. Test results demonstrated
"impressive activities against the commonly encountered
microorganisms and have thus confirmed the folklore uses of the plants in
the African ethnomedicine."
In Paris, studies were conducted
to evaluate French Guiana traditional antimalarial remedies. For the first
time, "traditional remedies from French Guiana have been directly
tested on malarial pharmacological assays and some have been shown to be
active."
Several in vitro studies focusing on the
antifertility activity of Quassia amara in male rats have concluded that
quassin, an active ingredient in the bark, appears to be responsible for
the antifertility properties of Quassia amara. As the abstract states,
"Quassia amara has potential for use as an antifertility agent."
Digestive properties and peristaltic activity were confirmed in tests
conducted on albino rats in Costa Rica. However, it seems that fairly high
doses were necessary to achieve statistically significant results that
satisfactorily outperformed the placebo.
Additional studies seem to
support the purported actions of quassia amara, including its
insecticidal, larvicidal, and anti-parasitic properties.
Browse Sections | View Quassia products
| | | Precautions / Contraindications | | | Quassia should not be used during pregnancy.
Quassia has been
documented to have an antifertility effect in studies with male rats. Men
undergoing fertility treatment or those wishing to have children probably
should avoid using quassia.
Browse Sections | View Quassia products
| | | Interaction with Medications | | | None reported. However, quassia may interfere with male fertility drugs.
Browse Sections | View Quassia products
| | | Possible Side Effects | | | Large amounts of quassia can irritate the mucous membrane of the stomach
and can lead to nausea and vomiting. Do not exceed recommended dosages.
Browse Sections | View Quassia products
| | | Dosage | | | Dried Extract: Quassia capsules are generally available in
strengths that range from 300 to 1000 mg. Within herbal blends, quantities
of quassia are significantly smaller. Typically, a capsule strength of 400
to 600 mg can be taken 3 times daily.
Tincture: 2-3 mL
tincture twice daily with meals.
Browse Sections | View Quassia products
| | | Preparation | | | The traditional remedy as a digestive aid is 1/2 teaspoon of wood powder
infused in one cup of boiling water. This is taken 10-15 minutes before or
with meals. Another remedy calls for 2 teaspoons of wood powder or chips
to be soaked in 1 cup of cold water overnight (a cold maceration). This is
drunk for internal parasites, gallstones, and digestive disorders. This
maceration can also be used topically for skin/hair parasites or as a bug
spray, especially for aphids on plants and fleas on the dog. For head lice
or fleas, prepare a cold maceration (allowing it to macerate/soak for 24
hours). Strain and pour through the hair or apply directly to the skin. It
can be washed off in an hour (or simply left on the dog). For lice, repeat
every three days for three applications, and for fleas, apply once
monthly. Also, a small handful of quassia wood chips can be placed in
backyard ponds/fountains (or a few chips in bird baths) to kill mosquito
larvae without harming fish or birds.
For the treatment of head
lice:- Bring to boil one cup of water and add two tablespoons of
Quassia Amara wood chips (from the bark) and let stand until
cool.
- Strain and place in a hand sprayer and add 15% of rubbing
alcohol to prevent bacterial spoilage.
- Discard
chips.
- Spray on head every day.
Browse Sections | View Quassia products
| | | References | | | Our thanks to the following information resources: Rain-Tree.com,
and the National Library of Medicine (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) - Pub-Med.
Browse Sections | View Quassia products
| |
| | 2 total products | | | Quassia (Read all about Quassia.)
Botanical Latin Name: Quassia Amara
Plant Part: Bark | |
| | |  |
|
Quassia - Health - 30 Day Paraway Cleanse Kit - 30 mL + 200/108 Capsules
Parasite Cleanse Based on Dr. Hulda Clark's Teachings.
62.91 US
More Info
| |
Quassia - Health - Artemisia / Wormwood Combo - 440 mg
100 capsules
17.56 US
More Info
| |
| |
| |  |
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Products are intended to support general well being and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure any condition or disease. If conditions persist, please seek advice from your medical doctor.
|
