Barbatimão can be used to treat wounds, bleeding, burns, sore throat, swelling or bruising on the skin. The benefits of this medicinal plant are due to the fact that it is rich in alkaloids, flavonoids and sterols, which have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties.
The scientific name of barbatimão is Stryphnodendron barbatimam or Stryphnodendron adstringens, and the part normally used is its bark, for preparing tea, compresses or sitz baths. However, it can also be used to prepare soaps, creams or ointments.
Barbatimão can be purchased at herbalists, health food stores or compounding pharmacies, and should be used under the guidance of a doctor or other health professional who has experience with the use of medicinal plants.
What is it for
Barbatimão has many health benefits, the main ones being:
1. Improve skin problems
Barbatimão has healing, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects and can be used on the skin to accelerate the healing of wounds, burns or skin infections. Furthermore, this plant can also be used for skin bruises, dermatitis, chilblains or diabetic foot.
2. Reduce fluid retention
Barbatimão can be used to help reduce swelling, reducing fluid retention throughout the body due to its diuretic properties.
Furthermore, due to the increased elimination of water by the body, barbatimão can help control high blood pressure and assist in the treatment of kidney problems or urinary infections.
3. Combat gastrointestinal problems
Barbatimão is rich in tannins with astringent, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, very useful in helping to combat gastrointestinal problems, and helping to treat gastritis or stomach pain. Furthermore, barbatimão can also help combat liver problems or diarrhea.
4. Combat respiratory problems
Due to its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, barbatimão can be used to help treat respiratory problems such as coughs, flu, sinusitis, sore throat or lung inflammation.
5. Reduce pain
Barbatimão has analgesic properties that help reduce generalized or localized pain, which can reduce sensitivity and discomfort and help treat back pain or hernia, for example.
6. Help control blood sugar
A study (1) carried out with rats in the laboratory using the alcoholic extract of barbatimão showed that this medicinal plant can help control blood glucose, due to the presence of tannins in its composition, especially epigallocatechin-O-gallate, which was able to control sugar levels in the blood and improve insulin sensitivity.
However, studies in humans are still needed to prove this benefit.
7. Maintain mouth health
Due to its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effect, barbatimão can help maintain mouth health, preventing or treating inflammatory problems in the mouth such as gingivitis, cavities or bad breath, for example.
8. Fight HPV infection
Barbatimão can help fight HPV infection and prevent cervical cancer. This is because this ointment is rich in tannins, such as epigallocatechin, epicatechin and gallocatechin, which have antiviral and healing action, causing dehydration in cells infected by the HPV virus, and promoting the elimination of the virus and the reappearance of warts.
However, more studies are still needed to confirm that barbatimão really is effective in eliminating the HPV virus. Find out how barbatimão ointment is used for HPV.
9. Help in the treatment of vaginal discharge
Barbatimão, due to its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and healing action, when used in the form of sitz baths, can help fight inflammation or bacterial infections, helping to treat vaginal discharge caused by gonorrhea or bacterial vaginosis, for example.
How to use
The normally used part of barbatimão is the bark, from which substances with medicinal properties are extracted, generally for preparing tea, ointment or sitz baths.
1. Barbatimão tea
Barbatimão tea helps reduce inflammation, fluid retention or gastrointestinal problems.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon of barbatimão peel;
- 1 liter of water.
Preparation mode
Add the barbatimão peels and water to a container and boil over low heat for about 10 minutes. Then turn off the heat and let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes. Strain and drink this tea 3 to 4 times a day.
Barbatimão tea can also be used in the form of compresses, to apply to wounds or ulcers on the skin. To do this, soak a gauze pad in the tea and apply it to the affected skin.
2. Sitz bath with barbatimão peels
A sitz bath with barbatimão peels fights inflammation, helps with healing, fights bacteria and can therefore be used to complement the treatment of infections and vaginal discharge caused by gonorrhea or bacterial vaginosis.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons of barbatimão peels;
- 1 liter of water.
Preparation Mode
Boil 1 liter of water and add the barbatimão peels, letting it boil for 10 minutes. Turn off the heat and let the mixture cool. Strain and transfer the mixture to a basin.
When it is at a bearable temperature, sit in the basin, carefully washing the entire genital region until the water cools. Take a sitz bath once a day for 3 days.
3. Barbatimão ointment
Barbatimão ointment can be used on wounds, cuts, scratches on the skin, and diabetic feet, because it has a healing effect and helps to reduce inflammation in the area, relieving pain and discomfort.
Ingredients
- 12g barbatimão powder (about 1 tablespoon);
- 250 mL of coconut oil.
Preparation mode
Add the barbatimão powder to a clay or ceramic pan and add the coconut oil and heat over low heat for 1 or 2 minutes to even out the mixture. Strain then and store in a glass container that can be kept tightly closed.
To reduce the leaves into powder, simply buy the dried leaves and then crush them with a pestle or wooden spoon, removing the stems. Always use a kitchen scale to measure the exact amount.
Barbatimão ointment can also be found in pharmacies or drugstores under the trade name Fitoscar, indicated for the treatment of skin problems.
4. Barbatimão soap
Barbatimão soap is a good option to be used in the hygiene of women’s intimate areas, as it has antiseptic, healing and antibacterial action, which helps in the prevention or treatment of vaginal discharge.
To use barbatimão soap, you must use the soap during the shower, in the intimate area, on wet skin until it foams, and then rinse.
It is important to emphasize that the use of barbatimão intimate soap does not replace the treatment recommended by the doctor for vaginal discharge, which must be carried out according to its cause. See the main causes of vaginal discharge.
Possible side effects
Barbatimão can cause some side effects such as stomach irritation, or in more serious cases, it can cause a miscarriage.
Furthermore, this plant should not be ingested in excess or in quantities greater than those recommended, as it can cause poisoning. Therefore, tea from this medicinal plant should only be made under the guidance of a doctor or herbalist.
Who shouldn’t use
Barbatimão should not be used by pregnant or breastfeeding women.
Furthermore, it is also contraindicated for patients with serious stomach problems, such as ulcers or stomach cancer.
