Rain Forest Herbs

The rain forest supports millions of species of plants, animals and insects where the ingredients for drugs such as quinine, muscle relaxants, steroids and cancer drugs are found. Pharmaceutical companies and the United States government are funding projects to study specific plants used by native shamans and healers in an effort to find drugs for diseases such as AIDS, cancer, diabetes, arthritis and Alzheimer's.

Guarana

• Guarana is a shrub native to the lush Brazilian Amazon. The small, round, bright-red fruit grows in clusters. A black seed emerges as the fruit splits during ripening. South American Indian tribes dry and roast the seeds to make a paste, which they use for many purposes, such as in food preparation and drinks. The rain forest tribes have used it as a stimulant and as a drying agent for treating chronic diarrhea. It is also used to help tolerate dietary restrictions better when the Indians fast.

Graviola

• Graviola is a small tree that produces a white-flesh fruit the size of a large cantaloupe and is indigenous to the tropical areas in South America, including the Amazon basin. People there use all parts of the tree to cure various ailments. They use fruit and seeds for intestinal health; women eat the fruit or drink its juice to increase lactation; they make tea from the root, bark and leaves and as a sedative. The tea is even used as insect repellent when applied to the skin.

Cat's Claw

• Cat's claw is a large, woody vine with hook-like thorns that resembles the claw of a cat and is indigenous to the Amazon rain forest and other tropical areas of South and Central America. It has been used medicinally by tribes in Peru for 2,000 years. The bark and roots have been used to stimulate the immune system. Veterinarians use it to treat dogs and cats for hip dysplasia, arthritis, cancer, Parvo virus, dermatitis and tumors. In earlier times the bark was boiled, but today it comes in capsules and tablets.

Suma

• Suma is a large, shrubby ground vine with a deep root system that is indigenous to the Amazon basin. The people of the Amazon have used Suma root as an energy tonic and as a general cure-all for many purposes, such as ulcers, muscle weakness and endurance, aphrodisiac and as a calming agent. It can be used as an analgesic, anti-inflammatory, estrogenic, nutritive and sedative.