Angostura
Angostura
Galipea officinalis or Galipea cusparia
AKA: Angostura
Portrait: Evergreen tree. Native to, and grows wild in, the Carribean and tropical South America. Has a soft, cork-like, yellowish-gray bark and peculiar, foul-smelling flowers. Bark is harvested throughout the year as needed.
Medicinal Element: Bark
Herbal Properties: Bitter tonic, stimulant
Summary: Once used as the source of the cocktail “bitters” bearing the same name, angostura is renown as a potent gastrointestinal tract tonic among the native Amazonians of South America. Typically administered for weak digestion, angostura is used to treat diarrhea, dysentery, and enteritis (inflammation of the intestine). It reputedly relaxes the muscles surrounding the spinal nerves and may benefit individuals experiencing numbness in their extremities. Consult a knowledgeable and reputable herbalist before using angostura. Large doses can cause diarrhea and vomiting.
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