Tayuya is a woody vine found throughout Brazil and in many parts of the Amazon rainforest.⁽¹⁾ This important Amazon plant belongs to the gourd family. There are many plants in the Tayuya family, all of which are characterized by long tuberous roots.⁽²⁾ Tayuya is known by several botanical names including Cayaponia tayuya, Trianosperma tayuya, Bryonia tayuya and Cayaponia ficcifolia however, all of these scientific names refer to the same plant.

Indians have been using Tayuya since prehistoric times, and the value of this herb is undisputed.⁽²⁾ It has traditionally been used as a tonic and blood cleanser, usually combined with a bit of honey or stevia to tone down the strong bitter taste.⁽²⁾ In the Amazon rainforest, Indians have used the root of Tayuya for snake bite and rheumatism for centuries.⁽³⁾ Indians in Columbia use a derivative of the plant for sore eyes, and while indigenous tribes of Peru use it for the skin problems.^{(1, 4)}

Tayuya has a long history in Brazilian herbal medicine. Botanist J. Monteiro da Silva states that, "Tayuya is used...for treatment of all types of pain...It has a calming action on pain...It is recommended as an anti-syphilitic agent."⁽⁵⁾ Monteiro also believes that Tayuya helps regulate the metabolism. In Brazil today, Tayuya is used as an analgesic, anti-inflammatory, tonic, blood purifier and detoxifier, and as a diuretic to treat diarrhea, epilepsy, for metabolism regulation, backache, sciatic pain, headaches, gout, neuralgia, constipation, anemia, cholera, dyspepsia, stomach problems, fatigue and debility, skin disorders, arthritis and rheumatism, syphilis, tumors (especially in the joints), and as a general analgesic for many conditions.^{(2, 6, 7)}

Tayuya is currently being researched because of its pain reducing properties, as well as other properties. Natural health practitioners in the U.S. today are using Tayuya to treat irritable bowel syndrome, dyspepsia and sluggish digestion, neuralgia, sciatica, gout, headaches, rheumatism, and as a metabolic regulator.⁽⁸⁾ Because of its effectiveness as a blood purifier and detoxifier, it is also being used to treat water retention, wounds, splotchiness on the face, eczema, herpes, severe acne and other skin problems.⁽⁸⁾ It is also being employed in athletic training and recovery to help remove lactic acid accumulations⁽⁹⁾ and to reduce swelling and relieve emotional fatigue and depression.⁽¹⁰⁾

Tayuya's analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties were validated scientifically in 1991 which supported much of its indigenous and folkloric uses.⁽³⁾ Cucurbitacins, glucosides, and phytochemicals with anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties have been isolated in Tayuya.^{(11 - 13)} Saponins, sterols, and phenolics are also known to be existent in other plants of the same family.⁽⁴⁾ According to the study entitled, "Superoxide scavenging properties of flavonoids in a non-enzymic system," there are phytochemicals in Tayuya which act as potent scavengers of free radicals, providing an anti-oxidant effect.⁽¹⁴⁾ Another recent study conducted by T. Konoshima, et. al., shows that phytochemicals in Tayuya have significant inhibitory effects on Epstein-Barr virus as well as anti-tumor effects on mouse skin.⁽¹⁵⁾

1 "Tayuya shows a calming action on the pain of neuralgias (nerve pain), sciatica (pain radiating down the sciatic nerve in the thigh), backaches, headaches, gout, epilepsy, and rheumatism. It acts on the digestive system to clear liver and spleen obstructions, heal ulcers, reverse dyspepsia (discomfort after eating from excess Stomach acid), reduce the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, relieve stomach tension, and improve sluggish digestion. It is also thought to assist in the regulation of metabolism. Tayuya acts as a blood purifier and detoxifier. It is used to treat water retention, wounds, splotchiness on the face, eczema, herpes, bad acne, and other skin problems." 2 "Tayuya is believed to flush excess fluids from the tissues and reduce swelling. It may also relieve emotional fatigue and depression." "Brazilian uses and Folklore: Centuries before Brazil was discovered Tayuya was already used by the Indians, dating back to prehistoric times. The value of this herb is undisputed. That is why despite its strong taste, it is so widely used. Tayuya is a tonic and a cleanser of the blood. The famed Brazilian botanist J. Monteiro da Silva states that "Tayuya is used. . . for treatment of all types of pain. . . It has a calming action on pain, and thus indicated with success in various neuralgias, sciatic pain etc. . . It is recommended as an anti-syphilitic agent" (As Plantas Curam, by A. Balbach p. 329). Tayuya helps regulate the metabolism.Uses: Tayuya is used as a tonic, regulator of the metabolism and blood cleanser. It relieves symptoms of backache, sciatic pain, headaches, rheumatism, gout and epilepsy; effective as a general analgesic." 11 "The primary Amazon herbs used for their synergistic effects during athletic training and recovery include the following: Catuaba and Marapuama as strong tonics and nervous system fortifiers; Marapuama also for its anti-rheumatic properties; Sarsaparilla to increase circulation, clear toxins and stimulate metabolism; Iporuru for support of muscle and joint structure; Samambaia for detoxification of waste products and anti-rheumatic properties; Una de gato for anti-oxidant properties; Tayuya to remove lactic acid accumulations; and Suma for anabolic (muscle-building) effects. (See Table 1)" 19 "Vine of the old swidden.
MED24: Medicinal uses: applied to wounded or sore eyes
"Sore eyes. Sore eyes are treated by applying resins or saps from five species directly to the eye. These medicinal species include four vines and one tree. The vines are (Schubertis granidflora), (Cayaponia sp), and (Uncaria guianensis). The tree species is (Hymenaea parvifolia), a copal tree." 21 "CUCURBITACEAE
Gourd Family
The Gourd Family comprises about 90 genera and some 700 species, mostly coarse climbing annual and perennial herbs of tropical and subtropical regions around the world, extending even into the temperate zones. The fruit is usually a fleshy berry, often called a pepo, and many cultivated varieties have been important as foods. A number of tropical species are believed to be toxic. The family is classified into two quite distinct sections on the basis of morphology of the tendrils and seeds; and nine tribes primarily of floral characters and pollen types. Some of the larger, hard-shelled fruits provide gourds (Lagenaria, Trichosanthes). Species with edible fruits, such as pumpkins, squashes (Cucurbita) and melons (Cucumis) have been cultivated for millennia and have developed many strains or "varieties." There are several medicinally valuable species, and some are considered in primitive societies to be poisonous or to have value as medicines.
Alkaloids have been reported in the family which, however, is noted for a class of compounds called the cucurbitacins. Saponins, sterols, phenolics are also known. The chemistry of the cucurbitacins has been reviewed (Guha, 1975); these and other tetracyclic triterpenes are growth-regulating substances (Shrotria, 1976).
Cayaponia S. Manso
Cayaponia has approximately 45 species, mostly climbers, some becoming rather woody. The distribution of the genus is wide: warmer parts of the Americas, tropical West Africa, Madagascar and Indonesia. Cucurbitacins have been isolated from C. tayuya (Bauer, 1983).
REFERENCES
Bauer, R. And H. Wagner, Dtsch. Apoth. Ztg 123 )1983) 1313.
Guha, J. and S.P. Sen, Plant Biochem.J. 2 (1975) 12.
Shrotria A, Botanica 26 (1975) 28."