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| PEDRA HUME CAA |
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Myrcia
Species: salicifolia, uniflorus
Common
Names: Pedra hume caa, Pedra-ume-caa,
Insulina
Vegetal
Parts Used: Aerial Parts, Leaves
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| ETHNOBOTANY: WORLDWIDE USES |
Brazil
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Astringent, Dysentery, Diabetes, Diarrhea, Diuretic, Enteritis,
Hemorrhages, Hypertension, Ulcers(Mouth) |
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Pedra Hume Caa is a medium sized shrub that grows in drier regions
of the Amazon and other parts of Brazil. It has small green leaves and large
pretty orange-red flowers. It is in the Myrtle Family, with more than 150
species of Myrcia indigenous to tropical South America and the West Indies. |
Pedra Hume Caa has been used by indigenous tribes in the rainforest for
diabetes, diarrhea, and dysentery.(1, 2) The Taiwanos tribe in
Northwest Amazonia consider the leaves to astringent and use it for persistent
diarrhea.(1) It has had a place in Brazilian traditional medicine
for numerous years. Dr. Cruz, a leading Brazilian practitioner and herbalist,
nicknamed it "vegetable insulin" in 1965 noting that "one uses all parts of
the plant in infusions, decoctions or extracts to combat diabetes. Specialists
that have made careful study of medicinal plants affirm that the regular use
of this plant produces surprising results in the treatment of this ailment, as
in a short space of time the sugar disappears from the urine. Hence the name
vegetable insulin."(3) Even thirty years later, Dr. Cruz and other
Brazilian practitioners are recording the actions and uses of Pedra hume caa
for diabetes in Brazilian traditional medicine in the same manner.(4,
5) Pedra hume caa still remains a very popular natural remedy for
diabetes throughout South America and a simple leaf tea which has a pleasant,
slightly sweet taste is normally used.(6) It is also used for
diarrhea, hypertension, enteritis, hemorrhages and mouth ulcers.(7) |
Pedra hume caa's hypoglycemic activity has been studied and validated by
Brazilian scientists from 1929 to 1978.(8 - 11) Two recent clinical
studies have demonstrated again it's hypoglycemic activity. In a 1990 clinical
study with Type II diabetic patients, Pedra hume caa demonstrated it's ability
to lower plasma insulin levels.(12) In a 1993 study with rats, it
demonstrated the ability to reduce the hyperglycemia, polyphagia, polydipsia,
urine volume and the urinary excretion of glucose and urea in diabetic
rats.(13) The study conclude that, "aqueous extracts of Myrcia has
a beneficial effect on the diabetic state, mainly by improving metabolic
parameters of glucose homeostasis."
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| Footnotes: |
- Schultes, R.E., and Raffauf, 1990. The Healing Forest. Medicinal and
Toxic Plants of the Northwest Amazonia, R.F. Dioscorides Press:
Portland Oregon.(1)
- Taylor, Leslie. 1997, 1996. Personal field notes with Curandero Jose
Guerra Cabrerra near the village of Tam Hisaco. September, 1997 and with
Curandero Antonio Montero at ACEER, Peru, August, 1996 (6)
- Cruz, G.L., 1965. Livro Verdes das Plantas Medicinais e Industriais
do Brasil, 1st ed., 2nd Volume, Belo Horizonte:
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (229)
- Cruz, G.L. 1995. Dicionario Das Plantas Uteis Do Brasil,
5th ed., Bertrand: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (9)
- Coimbra, Raul, 1994. Manual de Fitoterapia 2nd Ed.,
Editora Cejup., Belem, Brazil.(28)
- Bernardes, Antonio, 1984 A Pocketbook of Brazilian Herbs, A
Shogun Editora e Arta Ltda: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
- de Almeida, E.R., 1993. Plantas Medicinais Brasileiras, Conhecimentos Populares E Cientificos. Hemus Editora Ltda.: Sau
Paulo, Brazil. (74)
- Martins de Toledo, O., 1929. Tese de Doutoramento, Faculdade de
Medicina de Sao Paulo. Sao Paulo, Brazil.
- Coutinho, A.B 1938. Tese de Catedra, Faculdade de Medicina de
Recife. Recife, Brazil.
- Mendes dos Reis Arruda, L., et.al., 1878. Efeito Hipoglicemiante
Induzido pelo Extracto das Raizes de "Myrcia citrifolia" (Pedra-Ume-Caa),
Esudo Famacologico Preliminar, V Simposio de Plantas Medicinais do
Brasil, p. 74, Sept 4-6 1978 Sao Paulo-SP, Brazil.
- Brune, U., et.al., 1978. "Myrcia spaerocarpa, D.C., Planta Diabetica," V Simposio de Plantas Medicinais do Brasil, p. 74, Sept 4-6 1978
Sao Paulo-SP, Brazil.
- Russo EM, et al. Clinical trial of Myrcia uniflora and Bauhinia
forficata leaf extracts in normal and diabetic patients. Braz J Med Biol
Res, 1990
- Pepato MT, et al. Assessment of the antidiabetic activity of Myrcia
uniflora extracts in streptozotocin diabetic rats. Diabetes Res,
1993
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"Animal research in foreign countries
has proven Pedra Hume Caa's efficacy in treating diabetes in dogs and rabbits.
When humans were tested, it was found to be more effective in cases of
adult-onset diabetes than juvenile diabetes. Pedra Hume Caa is called
"vegetable insulin." It has been used traditionally to eliminate the sugar
from the urine of diabetics. It is also used to treat diarrhea." 2 "Pedra
huma-caa, nicknamed 'vegetable insulin," has been researched in Brazil for the
treatment of diabetes. It was used by early South American Indians as a
powerful healing poultice." 3 "Pedra Huma-Caa, nicknamed "vegetable insulin"
has been the subject of studies in Brazil for the treatment of diabetes." 8
"Pedra Huma-Caa contains a lot of tannin and its astringent action makes it a
very useful plant. Brazilian uses and folklore: Pedra Huma-Caa tea is taken in
Brazil to help relieve the symptoms of diabetes. It is nicknamed "vegetal
insulin" in Brazil. C.L. Cruz, in his Book "Livro Verde das Plantas Medicinais
e Industrials do Brazil" states that "one uses all parts of the plant in
infusions, decoctions or extracts to combat diabetes. Specialists that have
made a careful study of medicinal plants affirm that the regular use of this
vegetable produces suprising results in the treatment of this ailment, as in a
short space of time the sugar disappears from the urine. Hence the name
"vegetal insulin". (p. 687). Uses: helpful in treating symptoms of diabetes."
21 " Myrcia DeCandolle
The more than 150 species of Myrcia are
distributed in tropical South America and the West Indies. They are shrubs and
small to large trees. Terpenes and sesquiterpenes have been found in the genus
(Gottlieb, 1981). Amyrin and eucalyptin have been identified in M. citrifolia
(Gottlieb, 1972); a patent covering the antitumor constituents of M. fallax
has been issued (Hecht, 1984).
Myrcia salicifolia DeCandolle, Prodr.
3 (1828) 246.
SC 14019
The leaves are considered by the Taiwanos to be
efficacious against persistent diarrhea. The dried leaves are mixed with
farina they are said to be astringent and, if taken in excess, to be
emetic.
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Gottlieb, 0. R., M. Leio da Silva and J. G. S.
Maia, Phytochemistry 11 (1972) 1185.
Hecht, S. M., U.S. Pat. 4451459, May
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Hellyer, R. O., Bull. Nat. Inst. Sci. India (1968)
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lwamuro, H., H. Takenokuchi et al., Agric. Biol. Chem. 47 (1983) 2099.
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Yu, J. and H. Fang, Zhongcaoyao 12 (1981) 340 (C. A.
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