Jaborandi is well known for its wide range of medicinal properties in aesthetics, but the tea from this plant can be used for many other purposes. Besides its aesthetic benefits, taking care of the body from the inside is also one of the specialties of this herb.
The Plant
With the scientific name Pilocarpus microphyllus1, it belongs to the Rutaceae family and is also known by popular names such as pimenta-de-cachorro, ibirataío jaborandi, and true jaborandi. This plant or tree is cultivated in the northeastern region of the country, more specifically in Maranhão. A simple plant, but one with great potential in aesthetics, it can easily be found all over Brazil. The plant grows in the shape of a shrub, reaching up to 1.5 meters in height. One striking feature of this herb is its flower, as clusters form on the plant with several smaller flowers within them.
Inside the flowers, jaborandi fruits develop, which when dried serve as seeds to plant and produce new plants. The jaborandi tree has thick trunks and blooms all year round. Jaborandi herb is rich in pectin and pilocarpine, which has been recognized as one of the best herbal enzymes.
Medicinal Properties
The jaborandi plant and tree serve as excellent natural medicine for several health problems. One of the main uses of its tea for healing is for glaucoma2. The plant’s active ingredient for this purpose, pilocarpine salts, act by dilating or contracting the pressure on the pupil and influence both types of glaucoma, open-angle and closed-angle. The pressure exerted on the iris of the eye, or the lack thereof, can cause serious vision problems in people who develop glaucoma at some point in their lives. Speaking of eyes, issues such as retinal detachment and high eye pressure are among the healing specialties of pilocarpine salts. Beyond glaucoma and retinal detachment, the plant also effectively treats diseases throughout the body, such as:
Bronchitis, asthma, and pneumonia: The medicinal properties of jaborandi work by dilating the pulmonary alveoli, improving the flow of oxygenation. The tea’s active ingredients also help reduce acute asthma attacks in both children and adults. Acute bacterial pneumonia episodes are alleviated when jaborandi is used together with the appropriate antibiotic. The tea is an important complement to pharmaceutical medications.
Diabetes: High blood sugar levels can cause problems in the body, and jaborandi tea helps reduce this condition in the blood, bringing levels closer to normal. People with diabetes should follow an appropriate diet, but when combined with jaborandi, the effects of the tea on blood sugar are even more efficient.
Kidney paralysis: People suffering from severe kidney problems, such as paralysis, should use jaborandi. Although excessive fluid intake is discouraged, the plant is advised to help with organ recovery even in cases already requiring hemodialysis.
Intestinal and hepatic colic: Intestinal and hepatic infections can cause considerably strong pain known as colic. Jaborandi leaves come into play to ease these pain crises caused by unwanted bacteria from food poisoning.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases: Gonorrhea, soft chancre, and HPV are diseases that jaborandi helps eliminate. Uncomfortable symptoms like discharge, itching, and burning are alleviated with the help of this medicinal plant. Frequent use also helps prevent the illness from returning with force, even during periods of low immunity. Diseases such as mumps, pulmonary emphysema, dry stool, rheumatism and rheumatic fever, pleurisy, and others benefit from the positive enzymes of the jaborandi plant. Furthermore, the plant is an excellent natural expectorant for problems like laryngitis and pneumonia.
How to Use
Jaborandi can be used in the form of tea or extract. When macerated, the leaves of the tree or shrub yield a thick, dark, and pleasant-tasting tincture. The taste of the plant is reminiscent of the herb mentruz. Jaborandi powder can be used in treatments just like the dried or fresh leaves harvested directly from the tree or shrub.
Jaborandi powder can be used in desserts, individual servings, added to juices, or even to make tea. Besides internal use as a herbal treatment for bodily diseases, it also has an important application in the field of cosmetics and beauty. It is used as a treatment for hair loss, dandruff, and acne. Homeopathic jaborandi is also much sought after, but there is no evidence of its proven efficacy. The plant can also be used in ointment production, hair dyes, and eye drop lotions for glaucoma cases.
How to Prepare the Tea
Jaborandi tea is made with dried or fresh leaves; simply add 20 grams of leaves to each liter of filtered, boiled water. With the water still hot, infuse the herb and cover it for about 10 minutes. After this period, wait a few more minutes until the tea is lukewarm before sweetening and drinking. It is recommended to drink about two cups of jaborandi tea daily.
Jaborandi as a Cosmetic
Jaborandi plays an important role in the scalp, as it strengthens the hair roots and helps prevent hair loss. Jaborandi shampoo is also widely used to treat seborrhea, the flakes that rapidly spread over the scalp and create a white film on the head and shoulders. You should massage the scalp for at least 3 minutes with jaborandi shampoo and then apply the leaf-based conditioner. The results of the treatment are seen immediately: the scalp begins to lose fewer hair follicles and new strands start to grow, since the cleansing also unclogs the pores, allowing new hairs to emerge. Jaborandi cream is applied directly to pimples and inflamed acne. It helps cleanse the skin’s oiliness, reducing both the number and intensity of skin eruptions.
