- Region
- South America
- Origin
- Much of South America, from Colombia and Peru to Brazil and Uruguay
South America · Herb · № 891
Baccharis genistelloides (en B. trimera)
Herb · South America
Carqueja
Baccharis genistelloides (en B. trimera)
A perennial with flat, winged stems and hardly any leaves. One of the best-studied Baccharis species; it contains flavonoids that may be anti-inflammatory. Clinical evidence is lacking.
Safety notes
Kallawaya healers regarded the plant as poisonous when taken internally. Not in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Traditional use is no proof of effect; consult a doctor or pharmacist if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, take medication or have a medical condition.
Cautions by tradition (2)
- Kallawaya healing in Bolivia: Kallawaya healers considered the plant poisonous when taken internally.
- Curanderismo of northern Peru: Not in pregnancy or while breastfeeding; can lower blood sugar and blood pressure. In Bolivia the plant was regarded as poisonous.
Preparation
Externally: fresh stems on the skin.
Use in traditions
In Bolivia it is called kimsa k'uchu, 'three corners', after its three-sided winged stems. In South American folk medicine it is widely used for high blood pressure, diabetes, stomach ache and kidney infections. Bastien describes how Kallawaya healers, by contrast, regarded it as poisonous and used it only externally: they rubbed the stems over the skin to drive out parasites that had burrowed into it.
Applications
Use by tradition
How different herbal traditions describe this herb. Amounts are traditional guidelines checked for obvious errors; they are not medical advice. For poisonous plants no dosage is given on purpose.
Kallawaya healing in Bolivia
Attributed effects
Externally, to drive out parasites that have burrowed into the skin.
Preparation and amount
Do not use internally.
Caution: Kallawaya healers considered the plant poisonous when taken internally.
Curanderismo of northern Peru
Attributed effects
Simba simba or carqueja for diabetes, high cholesterol, liver and gall complaints and inflammation; also 'to lose weight'.
Preparation and amount
Boil the herb briefly, with canchalagua, verbena and horsetail among others.
Caution: Not in pregnancy or while breastfeeding; can lower blood sugar and blood pressure. In Bolivia the plant was regarded as poisonous.