Psychotria poeppigiana
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| Psychotria poeppigiana | ||||||||||||||
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| Psychotria poeppigiana Müll. Arg. |
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Cephaelis tomentosa (Aubl.) Vahl[1] |
Psychotria poeppigiana is a species of plant in the Rubiaceae family. Its' flowers have been documented in an ethnobotanical context utilized as a "hunting fetish," (a magical talisman to facilitate hunting).
Speaking of the Ka'apor people of Maranhão, Brazil, Dr. William Balée, the Tulane University anthropologist and historical ecologist, describes the use of Psychotria poeppigiana:
"...flowers of Psychotria poeppigiana (tapi'i-kanami 'tapir-Clibadium fish poison') are wrapped in a piece of cloth and affixed to a dog's collar so that it may more easily find the enormous, highly desirable, and decidedly uncommon tapir" (Balée 1994: 105).
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[edit] Medicinal uses
Psychotria poeppigiana has several uses.
"Whole plant: Decoction of crushed, boiled plant used as wash for headaches by the Surinam Tirio. The Surinam Tirio use a decoction of the crushed plant as a wash for sprains, rheumatism, muscular pains and contusions. Stem: Rasped bark is rubbed on a certain skin rash known as "poispoisi" by the Surinam Wayana. Inflorescence: Red, sap-filled bracts are used for an antalgic to treat earache, administered by dropping the sap into the ear canal. Inflorescence in an antitussive dedoction to remedy whooping cough."[3]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Psychotria poeppigiana information from NPGS/GRIN. www.ars-grin.gov. Retrieved on 2008-04-06.
- ^ Psychotria poeppigiana (No common name). zipcodezoo.com. Retrieved on 2008-04-09.
- ^ Medicinal Plants of the Guianas (Guyana, Surinam, French Guiana)
- Balée, William 1994 Footprints of the Forest: Ka’apor Ethnobotany—the Historical Ecology of Plant Utilization by an Amazonian People. New York: Columbia University Press.
[edit] External links
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