BT-094 · Menispermaceae

Abuta

Cissampelos pareira

Evidence: TraditionalCaution

Some of the plants used to prepare curare arrow poison belong to the same family as abuta.

Other names: Midwife’s herb, velvetleaf, barbasco
Part used: Root, leaves
Region: Amazon
Use: Healing, Poisonous

Photo: Krish Dulal · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

In short

What is Abuta?

Abuta (Cissampelos pareira) is a plant of the Menispermaceae family. Traditions that use it: Amazon. Part used: root, leaves.

What is Abuta used for?

Traditional use: Known in Peru and Brazil as the “midwives’ herb”, used for period pain, bleeding after birth and women’s health. Scientific evidence: traditional. Contains isoquinoline alkaloids similar to tetrandrine.

Is Abuta safe?

Safety label: caution. May act on the uterus; not for use in pregnancy. Can lower blood pressure.

Traditional use

Amazon

Known in Peru and Brazil as the “midwives’ herb”, used for period pain, bleeding after birth and women’s health.

Amazon

Some related species were used in curare arrow poisons.

In nature

Where it grows: A climber of forest edges in tropical America, Africa and Asia.
Harvest season: Root and leaves are collected all year.
Local names: No Turkish folk name. Local names: abuta, barbasco, imchich masha

Mix-up risk

The name abuta is used for several different climbing plants.

Preparation

The root is boiled.

What science says

Contains isoquinoline alkaloids similar to tetrandrine. Lab and animal studies show muscle-relaxant and anti-inflammatory effects; there are no human studies.