Simarouba is a plant native to the West Indies, the Amazon and the states of Bahia, Ceará and Pernambuco in Brazil. It often inhabits floodplain forests, a region where it reaches its best size, being occasionally also found in scrub and sandy savannas. Also known as tamanqueira, marupaúba, parapaíba, paraparaúba, papariúba, praiba, craíba, arupá, simaruba and marupazinho, the plant has a leafy crown, reaching 25 meters in height and 80 centimeters in diameter. Its trunk is straight and cylindrical, with commercial use, providing logs with a length between 5 and 22 meters. The plant, scientific name Eleutherine bulbosa belongs to the Iridaceae familyand it blooms twice a year, once around March and once around September. The flower is white and opens only at night, for a period of three hours.
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Benefits and properties
The plant, when used in the form of root tea, can be used to treat colitis with phlegm, diarrhea, dysentery, enteritis, in addition to relieving cramps and stopping bowel movements. In addition, it can also be used in the treatment of hemorrhoids and amoebiasis, having steroidal sapogenin as its active ingredient. It has peripheral analgesic properties, as well as anti-dematogenous. It also acts as a coronary dilator, having potential use in the treatment of heart disease and with anti-fertility action.
How to prepare tea?
To prepare simarouba tea, use a ratio of one tablespoon of the plant’s roots to every half liter of water. In a container, pour the water and add the simarouba roots. After it comes to a boil, let it cook for about ten minutes, then turn off the heat. Cover and allow the mixture to stand for the same approximate period. After the rest time, strain and consume without sweetening. The recommended dose is two to three cups a day.
Contraindications and side effects
No contraindications and side effects related to simarouba tea were found in the consulted literature. However, it is important that you always consult a doctor before using any drug, natural or industrialized, as there are drug interactions and other important assessments to be made.
