Amazonian Plants in Traditional Use: Sangre de Drago, Copaiba, Pau d'Arco, Graviola

A note before the plants

The Amazon basin is home to many different peoples, each with its own plant knowledge, and this page cannot speak for any of them. It reports what published research and written records say about five plants that are widely sold outside the region. Some plant uses are sacred, ceremonial or restricted within communities, and this site does not describe them. For community voices, see indigenous and community traditions. For the wider region, see Latin American and African herbal traditions.

The five plants at a glance

Sangre de drago and the one drug made from it

A review of lab, animal and small clinical work concluded that results largely support some traditional uses, with clinical studies reporting positive results for traveler's and watery diarrhea. It also noted that the sap's chemistry differs between areas, so products would need to be standardized. [1] Separately, crofelemer is a purified botanical drug extracted from the stem bark latex of the same tree. It acts locally in the gut and was approved by the US FDA for symptom relief of non-infectious diarrhea in adults with HIV who take antiretroviral therapy. [2] In the main trial, 17.6% of people on crofelemer 125 mg reached the response target versus 8.0% on placebo. [9] That result belongs to the purified drug at a controlled dose, not to sap or supplements.

Copaiba and andiroba

A study of Brazilian written records from 1576 to 2011 found copaiba oleoresin was most often used for healing skin and mucosal lesions. [3] The same authors said the quality of preparations needs to improve. [3] A systematic review of oral-cavity studies found five studies, with benefits suggested in rats and a call for clinical studies. [4] A double-blind acne trial of a copaiba essential oil gel reported improvement in treated areas, but the placebo areas also improved. [5] A 2023 review said the toxic effects of copaiba oils are little known. [10] For andiroba, a scoping review of 22 sources found mostly in vivo studies, so human evidence is thin. [6]

Pau d'arco

Pau d'arco has antibacterial and anticancer activity in laboratory studies, but these effects have not been shown in humans. [7] Memorial Sloan Kettering lists a possible increased bleeding risk with anticoagulant and antiplatelet drugs, and animal studies reported anemia and reproductive and chromosomal abnormalities. [7]

Graviola: what was read about neurotoxicity

Graviola fruit is generally safe to eat as food, but supplements are a different question. [8] Memorial Sloan Kettering states there is no proof the therapy helps cancer patients. [8] In lab work, graviola alkaloids caused movement disorders resembling Parkinson's disease, and it is unclear whether this carries over to people. [8] In Guadeloupe, a case-control study found people with atypical parkinsonism consumed far more of related fruits and herbal tea than comparison groups, and proposed a larger study. [11] That is an association, not proof of cause. Graviola may also lower blood sugar and blood pressure and can affect PET scan results. [8]