- Region
- South America
- Origin
- High Andes from Venezuela to Patagonia; P. tarapacana grows up to 5,200 metres, higher than any other tree
- Traditions
- Kallawaya healing knowledge
South America · Herb · № 1014
Polylepis (o.a. P. besseri en P. tarapacana)
Herb · South America
Queñua
Polylepis (o.a. P. besseri en P. tarapacana)
Gnarled trees and shrubs of the rose family with reddish-brown bark that peels in thin layers and protects against the cold. Nothing has been studied about its effect in people.
Safety notes
Threatened: felling and harvesting wild trees harms the last woods. 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 (1)
- Kallawaya healing in Bolivia: A threatened tree; heart complaints need a doctor.
Preparation
Do not harvest. The woods are threatened; use only wood or resin that has already come loose.
Use in traditions
In Bolivia the tree is called kewiña, in Peru queñual. It provides firewood and charcoal, and the woods have shrunk badly as a result, partly for the mines. According to Girault the Kallawaya chew the resin that oozes from trunk and branches 'to strengthen the heart', and boil the wood to tan leather.
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
The resin was chewed 'to strengthen the heart'; the wood served to tan leather.
Preparation and amount
No preparation; do not damage the trees.
Caution: A threatened tree; heart complaints need a doctor.