Clavo huasca is a large woody vine that grows up to 80 meters in length which is indigenous to the Amazon rainforest and other parts of tropical South America. It produces very small butterfly and small bee pollinated white flowers and enlongated flat bean like fruits. The vine bark has a stong distinctive clove-like aroma (the leaves somewhat), earning it common name, Clove Vine. The vine when cut, has a maltese cross design in wood with darker reddish wood on the outter edges and a golden wood in the heartwood forming the cross shape. Two species of plants are used interchangeable

In Peruvian herbal medicine, Clavo huasca is widely regarded as an aphrodisiac for both men and women. It is an ingredient in two famous formulas for impotency and frigidity which are widely sold in the herbal markets and stores in Peru as aphrodisiacs and for sexual potency; one called Siete raices (Seven Roots) and the other is Rompe Calzon (Bust your Britches). Clavo huasca is traditionally prepared by macerating the vine bark and wood in alcohol or most commonly, the local sugar cane rum called aguardiente. In Brazilian herbal medicine, the plant is called Cipó Cravo and it is considered an excellent remedy for dyspepsia, difficult digestion, and intestinal gas (brewed as a water decoction) as well as an aphrodisiac (macerated in alcohol into a tincture). Indian tribes in the Amazon in both Peru (Shipibo-Conibo) and Brazil (Kayapo, and Assurini) highly regard Clavo huasca as a impotency remedy, for weak erections and as an effective aphrodisiac for both men and women.

There is no published clinical studies as yet on Clavo huasca. Preliminary phytochemical analysis by Brazilian scientists have discovered an alkaloid they named "tinantina" as well as tannic acids, eugenol and other essential oils.