- Region
- South America
- Origin
- Western Amazon of Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia and Brazil; also grown as an ornamental
South America · Herb · № 926
Brunfelsia grandiflora
Herb · South America
Chiricaspi
Brunfelsia grandiflora
A shrub of the nightshade family up to three metres tall, with fragrant flowers that fade from purple to white. Contains scopoletin, among others, and compounds that cause convulsions in animals. Gives a feeling of cold and tingling, and in larger amounts dizziness and paralysis.
Safety notes
Poisonous. Can cause vomiting, drooling, dizziness, convulsions and paralysis; dogs have died of it. Dangerous with heart disease, epilepsy and pregnancy, and together with ayahuasca or antidepressants. The plant is not on the lists of the Dutch Opium Act. This information describes traditional use and is no encouragement or advice. Use is at your own risk; the makers of this site are not responsible for the consequences. Never alone, never together with alcohol, other drugs or medicines, not in pregnancy, with heart disease or mental illness (also in the family), and do not drive. In an emergency call 112.
Cautions by tradition (2)
- Healing traditions of the Americas: Poisonous; can cause seizures and paralysis. Use at your own risk; never alone and not with medicines.
- Kamëntšá and Inga medicine (Sibundoy): Poisonous: can cause dizziness, vomiting, cramps and paralysis. Dangerous together with ayahuasca.
Preparation
Traditionally the root or the stem bark is scraped and boiled in water, or soaked in strong liquor (aguardiente). Healers use the plant during a long diet with strict rules, or add it to ayahuasca.
Use in traditions
The name comes from the Quechua chiri, 'cold', and caspi, 'tree', because the plant gives a feeling of cold; in Peru it is also called chiricsanango. Peoples of the western Amazon use it for fever, rheumatism, joint pain, snakebite and syphilis, and as an addition to ayahuasca. In the laboratory, extracts work against the parasite that causes leishmaniasis.
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.
Healing traditions of the Americas
Attributed effects
For fever, rheumatism, joint pain and snakebite, and during a healer's diet.
Preparation and amount
Scraped root or stem bark boiled or soaked in aguardiente; also added to ayahuasca.
Caution: Poisonous; can cause seizures and paralysis. Use at your own risk; never alone and not with medicines.
Kamëntšá and Inga medicine (Sibundoy)
Attributed effects
Among the Inga, Kofán and Siona of the Putumayo a valued fever remedy, because the plant gives a feeling of cold, and an additive to yagé. A related species, Brunfelsia chiricaspi, is held to be the strongest and most dangerous.
Preparation and amount
Do not prepare it yourself. The healers put pieces of root or leaf into the yagé.
Caution: Poisonous: can cause dizziness, vomiting, cramps and paralysis. Dangerous together with ayahuasca.