- Region
- South America
- Origin
- Andes of Peru and Bolivia to Chile and Argentina, also in Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay
- Traditions
- Kallawaya healing knowledge
South America · Herb · № 1012
Colletia spinosissima
Herb · South America
Roq'e
Colletia spinosissima
A thorny shrub with green thorns set crosswise and hardly any leaves. It lives together with nitrogen-fixing Frankia bacteria. The bark contains saponins; little has been studied about its effect in people.
Safety notes
Do not use internally: the bark is a strong laxative. Mind the thorns. 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: Not internally: strongly laxative.
Preparation
Externally: boil a piece of bark for 15 minutes and add the decoction to the bath water.
Use in traditions
In the Sacred Valley near Cuzco the shrub is called roq'e, in Peru also tacsana, in Chile crucero. According to Girault, who calls it kjaru or r'roke, the Kallawaya bathe weak children in a decoction of the bark, take sweat baths with it against rheumatism, and wash the head with it after a fright. Fresh stems go into bandages for fractures. The bark foams like soap, is used to polish silver and gives a yellow dye.
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
As a bath for weak children and as a sweat bath for rheumatism.
Preparation and amount
Boil the bark for 15 minutes and add it to the bath water.
Caution: Not internally: strongly laxative.
- Ways to prepare herbs
- Decoction