Guaco what it is used for The guaco receives various names such as farm vine, plowmen vine, cepu, matafinca, snake grass, huachoui sacha. Mexico: cimarrón toxichec. Puerto Rico and Peru: huaco. Peru: white huaco. Ecuador: huasca shia, ichilla panga shia. Brazil: erva de cobra, climbing guaco, coracao de Jesús, sucurijú, cipo caatinga.
It belongs to the Compositae/Asteracea family and is a plant native to tropical America, from Mexico to Brazil and Peru.
The term «huaco» means «liana» and the truth is that the genus Mikania includes some of the largest and most numerous lianas in tropical America. They are glabrous, bushy, climbing and creeping lianas, without thorns, which can reach about 30 m in length and generally about 2 m in height.
The bark is light green in color and has short, light brown hairs. The leaves are cordate, light green in color and heart-shaped, giving off a pleasant fragrance when broken or crushed; the axillary inflorescences are made up of small, yellowish-white flowers, with a fragrance reminiscent of vanilla.
The black seed is about 17 mm long and has cream-colored hairs that help it disperse in the wind.
Its active principles of greatest interest are coumarins, with an antithrombotic and anticoagulant action. It also contains many types of germanacrolides, stigmasterol, kaurenic acid and tannins, among other components.
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Benefits of guaco and its properties
In the world of natural medicine, the leaves, the root and also the juice are used.
It is important to note that in Brazil this plant is used for a number of diseases including loss of appetite, arthritis, blood cleansing, angerpruritus, rheumatism, snake bite, syphilis and wound healing.
In the rest of America, guaco is used as a remedy for respiratory catarrhal problems and asthma, to help form mucus, calm the cough and improve shortness of breath. In these and other symptoms, it is used as a remedy in the treatment of fever.
To do this, it is very popular to prepare a syrup by boiling a handful of leaves in a thick mixture of water and sugar for 1 or 2 hours, with the primary indication of calming a cough. It is also used in cases of pharyngitis or tonsillitis, as well as in more serious problems, such as pleurisy or pneumonia. Clinical studies have shown the antitussive and bronchodilator effect of this plant.
In Cuba, it is considered a good remedy for gastrointestinal conditions. According to research, the coumarin in guaco helps reduce stomach ulcers caused by excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages, continuous use of anti-inflammatories and stress . An interesting fact is that the plant would be much more effective than others used against the disease and even aloe vera. The explanation for this is the abundant presence of coumarin.
Guaco is also a target of interest for researchers because it has potential anticancer action, both to slow down the growth of cancer and to prevent its appearance. Some studies have shown that the components present in the plant could even kill tumor cells. However, it is important to note that more studies are needed on the subject to better understand how this mechanism works.
Traditionally, it has been used externally in the treatment of insect bites and snake bites, and scientific studies have shown an anti-inflammatory and edema-reducing effect in the lesion caused in laboratory animals.
It possibly has an immunostimulating action and has been proposed in the treatment of AIDS. Let’s see, next, the guaco for what it is used.
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Wow, what is it for?
Guaco what it is used for: eczema and pruritus: Apply several leaves, blanched, on the affected skin.
What is Guaco used for: Relieve pain for cavities: Make a decoction of several guaco leaves in 1 cup of water for 5 minutes. Make swishes with this preparation several times a day.
What is Guaco used for: Stomach and intestinal cramps: Make a decoction of the root in a cup of water for 5 minutes. Take a cup when you feel discomfort.
What is Guaco used for: Diarrhea: Boil 2 tablespoons of guaco leaves in half a liter of water. Cover and let cool. Take throughout the day.
Guaco for cough and cold Boil 1/2 cup of scrapings and 1 tablespoon of ginger (root that can be cooked) in a cup of water. When it boils, add 3 cooked guaco leaves and a slice of chopped pineapple. Leave on the heat so that it acquires a thick consistency and then filter. Store in a glass container and, if possible, in the refrigerator. Take three tablespoons daily
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Guaco contraindications
In large doses, guaco can cause nauseavomiting and diarrhea.
Due to its possible abortifacient action (in high doses), it is not recommended for pregnant women, although despite everything it is considered a plant with practically no toxicity.
Due to its coumarin content, people who are undergoing anticoagulant treatment should not take it without consulting a doctor.
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