Maytenus Macrocarpa "Chuchuhuasi"

Half to 1g is consumed 3 times a day, but it is considered safe to consume higher quantities.

Chuchuhuasi has been used for centuries by the people who live in the Amazon rain forest for a variety of medicinal purposes, including the treatment of rheumatism, stomachache, menstrual irregularities and pain, tumors, headache and various types of infections. The bark and leaves from the Chuchuhuasi tree are also believed to contain substances that assist in the destruction of cancer cells, that support adrenals and that increase libido. Natives of the Amazon region consider it to be treatment for some ailments and a cure for others. We take care to stress that we do not claim this is a cancer treatment, or of any benefit whatsoever.

"Trembling back" is the translation of the Peruvian name Chuchuhuasi, which reflects the reputation the herb has for alleviating arthritis and back pain. Among natives of the Amazon, a decoction of the bark is made and consumed in the amount of 24 ounces (about 638 ml) per day for a little more than a week. Positive results when treating arthritis with chuchuhuasihave been achieved for centuries and are attributed to the anti-inflammatory properties of the herb. During the 1960s, documentation was made after studying two of the naturally occurring alkaloids in the herb, mayteine and maytansine. They are considered to be among the substances in the plant that provide tumor-fighting activity. An extract was tested against skin cancer, and improvement was observed and medically verified, however we have been unable to find a verifiable source to confirm this.

Maytenus Macrocarpa has been used to treat some types of infection, such as bronchitis. It appears to have the ability to strengthen and stimulate the immune system. When an extract of the leaf and the bark was given to mice, a process known as phagocytosis was observed. Phagocytosis refers to the ability of the cells of the immune system to attack and kill bacteria and foreign or abnormal cells in the body that might be cancerous.