Carqueja

Baccharis genistelloides

Physical Characteristics

Baccharis genistelloides is an evergreen Perennial growing to 2 m (6ft) by 2 m (6ft). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Bees, Insects. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist or wet soil and can tolerate drought.

Distribution

S. America - northern Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Peru and Colombia.

Habitats

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal Uses

Abortifacient Analgesic Antacid Anthelmintic Antidiarrhoeal Antiinflammatory Antiviral Bitter Blood purifier Cardiac Diaphoretic Digestive Diuretic Febrifuge Hepatic Hypoglycaemic Kidney Laxative Leprosy Malaria Stomachic Tonic Urinary The whole plant is abortifacient, analgesic, antacid, anthelmintic, antiinflammatory, antiviral, bitter, blood purifier, diaphoretic, digestive, diuretic, febrifuge, hepatic, hypoglycaemic, laxative and tonic[ 318 ]. The plant contains up to 20% flavonoids, including quercetin, luteolin, nepetin, apigenin, and hispidulin[ 318 ]. These are considered the main active constituents[ 318 ]. Studies have shown that hispidulin has a particularly beneficial effect upon the liver, though it is more effective when used in combination with the whole plant[ 318 ]. Several novel plant chemicals called clerodane diterpenoids have also been identified and it has been shown that these had maximum effects against worms[ 318 ]. This could possibly explain carqueja's long history of use as an agent to expel intestinal worms[ 318 ]. Several other trials have been carried out on the medicinal properties of carqueja. These have supported the traditional uses of the plant to reduce stomach acidity, treat ulcers, reduce inflammation and lower high blood pressure[ 318 ]. Carqueja has also long been used in South America as a natural aid for diabetes, and several studies confirm its ability to lower blood sugar levels[ 318 ]. The plant's antiviral activity has also been verified in research with water-extracts showing activity against Herpes simplex I and Vesicular stomatitis viruses at low dosages[ 318 ]. It has also shown an in vitro inhibition of HIV virus replication in T-cells, which seems to be mainly due to the substance 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid which is found in the plant[ 318 ]. This substance is a potent inhibitor of HIV at dosages as low as only 1 mcg/ml[ 318 ]. The plant has long been used by the indigenous peoples of the rainforest to cure a wide range of common ailments[ 318 ]. In modern herbal use it is valued primarily as a tonic, bitter, febrifuge, and stomachic, with a particularly beneficial effect upon the liver and digestive system. It is used primarily to treat liver diseases, to strengthen stomach and intestinal function, and to help purge obstructions of the liver and gallbladder[ 318 ]. It is also used to treat a range of other conditions including malaria, diabetes, stomach ulcers, sore throat and tonsillitis, angina, anaemia, diarrhoea, indigestion, dropsy, urinary inflammation, kidney disorders, intestinal worms, leprosy, and poor blood circulation[ 318 ].

Known Hazards

None known