The bark of the Mimosa hostilis root, also known as tepezcohuite in Mexico, has been used for centuries in traditional Latin American cultures for its remarkable healing properties. This tree, revered for both its medicinal benefits and spiritual implications, has caught the attention of the scientific community and the general public in recent years.
The fascination with this tree is not limited to its medicinal efficacy; Mimosa hostilis root bark has also found a place in natural cosmetics, fabric dyeing, and the production of personal care products, showcasing its versatility and the growing interest in its regenerative and antioxidant properties. As we learn more about this plant, we discover not only its tangible benefits for health and wellness but also its potential to connect us with ancestral practices and respect for nature.
What is Mimosa Hostilis Root Bark Used For?
Mimosa hostilis offers a wide range of uses, from treating skin conditions to its role in healing ceremonies, reflecting the rich intersection between traditional medicine and contemporary spiritual practices.
Additionally, it has properties that treat wounds, skin problems, and burns. Since its root is rich in arabinose, tannins, and saponins, it’s worth mentioning that it contains compounds that produce psychoactive effects similar to LSD. If you want to know a bit more about what Mimosa hostilis root bark is used for and what benefits it can bring, this article will interest you.
- Aids in the Healing Process: It has been proven that this plant has several properties that allow for treating wounds, particularly in speeding up the healing process.
- Protects the Immune System: Mimosa hostilis root bark has compounds that act as antibiotics in people’s immune systems. In turn, using the plant helps treat viral diseases.
- Sedatives: One of the effects this plant produces is that it allows people to have a sedative effect. This is ideal for treating wounds or helping people with insomnia to fall asleep.
- Rejuvenates the Skin: Thanks to its antioxidant properties, it helps recover the firmness and quality of the skin, giving it a healthy and youthful appearance.
- Treats Skin Problems: One of the greatest benefits of mimosa hostilis is that it can treat burns, acne issues, or spots on the skin that sometimes cannot be treated with other chemicals available on the market.
What is Mimosa Hostilis?
Mimosa hostilis is also known as Mimosa tenuiflora, Jurema. It is a tree that grows up to 6 meters tall in the forests of Mexico and certain countries in Central and South America. It has certain characteristics such as reddish bark, short and sharp thorns, yellow flowers, and a spike shape.
In ancient times, it was used by indigenous communities in traditional medicine due to its healing properties, and later it was considered for treating inflammations and skin injuries.
What Properties Does Mimosa Contain?
Mimosa hostilis or Mimosa tenuiflora, commonly known as Tepezcohuite in Mexico and Jurema in Brazil, is a plant with a rich history of medicinal use, especially valued for its healing, antimicrobial, and epithelial cell regenerative properties. Its roots and bark contain components such as tannins, saponins, alkaloids (including the potent N,N-dimethyltryptamine or DMT), glucose, and various sugars and sterols, which confer a variety of medicinal and cosmetic uses.
Moreover, the plant is the subject of medical research due to its healing, antibiotic, and regenerative properties, and is also popular in the preparation of ayahuasca analogs due to its DMT content, a psychoactive molecule known as the “spirit molecule.” Internationally, DMT is regulated, but the cultivation of plants that contain it, like Mimosa hostilis, is not subject to international control, allowing its use in various cultural and medicinal contexts.
How is Mimosa Hostilis Used?
Generally, mimosa root bark powder is used orally in variable doses of 5, 10, and 15 grams. To consume it, the powder is added to an infusion with warm water, and depending on the method, it is ingested once a day.
On the other hand, if mixed with other similar plants, it can be taken twice a day, and in some cases, various acidifying agents can be added to allow the extraction to set. It also comes in capsule form of the pulverized bark to relieve stomach discomfort. Additionally, the powder can be applied topically to treat burns and skin lesions.
What Precautions Should Be Taken?
When using Mimosa hostilis root bark, caution is advised as it can cause adverse effects in certain cases, such as:
- If you have a heart disease such as hypertension, it is necessary to be more cautious when consuming the infusion. It is most prudent to prevent and eliminate the use of the plant.
- It is contraindicated to combine it with other drugs used to control hypertension or antidepressants in people who suffer from these ailments.
- It should not be mixed with psychoactive substances such as depressants, opioids, and stimulants, because their interaction can pose serious health risks.
Important: There are still no studies that allow for the safe external or internal use of this plant or its products in pregnant or breastfeeding women. Therefore, it is important to be very careful when ingesting it and, if possible, limit its use entirely during these periods.