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Picrasma excelsa/Quassia amara (Simaroubaceae)
QUASSIA, BITTER WOOD, JAMAICA QUASSIA
The wood of the quassia tree is
given by herbalists as a bitter (digestive stimulant) and a tonic when
depressed health has caused poor appetite and digestion. Herbal medicine
also uses it for treating parasitic infestations such as thread-worms.
In a rare gesture to the peasant origins of many of our most useful plant
medicines, this plant was named after the Guyanan slave, Quassi, who taught
Europeans how to use the plant to treat tropical fevers. It is also a useful
insecticide against flies and various mites. P. excelsa is native to the West
Indies and Q. amara is native to South America. Tall trees growing to 20 m (65
ft), they have spear-like leaves and small greenish flowers in late summer,
followed by bunches of small black fruit.
PARTS USED
Wood.
ACTIVE INGREDIENTS
Bitter quassinoids, including quassin and isoquassin (picrasmin); alkaloids.
ACTIONS
Tonic; bitter (digestive stimulant); kills and helps expel worms;
anti-malarial.
MEDICINAL USE
Used as a general tonic for debilitation, particularly if associated with
poor digestion and loss of appetite. It is also given for infestations of
amoebae, threadworms, and nematodes (family of worms).
PREPARATIONS
Decoction, tincture.
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