Sugar Creek Trading Company

Ayahuma

Ayahuma

Prezzo di listino $7.55 USD
Prezzo di listino Prezzo scontato $7.55 USD
In offerta Esaurito
Type
Size

Couroupita guianensis
ORDERS OF 250G OR MORE MAY REQUIRE UP TO 4 WEEKS FOR PROCESSING AND SHIPPING.

COUROUPITA GUIANENSIS

The Cannonball Tree — Sacred Flower of the Amazon with Antibacterial, Internal Healing, and Ritual Use


BOTANICAL IDENTIFICATION

Scientific Name: Couroupita guianensis Aubl.
Common Names: Cannonball Tree, Ayahuma, Bala de Cañón, Nagalingam (India), Castanha-de-macaco
Family: Lecythidaceae

A large deciduous tree native to tropical South America, Couroupita guianensis can grow over 35 meters tall and produces striking cauliflorous flowers and enormous, cannonball-like fruits. The tree thrives in the Amazon rainforest and has spread to India, Southeast Asia, and Sri Lanka due to its spiritual and ornamental value.

The tree's flowers grow directly from the trunk in racemes and release a strong, musky fragrance, while the fruits take up to a year to mature and can weigh over 5 kg each.


CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL USE

Among Amazonian tribes such as the Shipibo, Kichwa, and Huitoto, Ayahuma has long held ceremonial and medicinal significance:

  • Topically used for fungal infections, abscesses, boils, ulcers, and wound care

  • Internally consumed (in small, controlled doses) to address digestive problems, hypertension, inflammation, and parasites

  • The fruit pulp is boiled down into a thick resinous paste, then rehydrated in hot water for a strong internal tea, traditionally drunk in ceremonial contexts and detox protocols

In India, the tree is revered in Shaivite temples, where the flower represents the Shiva lingam. It is offered during puja rituals and is often planted on temple grounds.


KEY BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS & BENEFITS

Compound/Class Location in Plant Human Benefit Role in Plant
Couroupitine A & B Fruit pulp & rind Antibacterial, antifungal, wound-healing Antimicrobial defense
Indirubin analogs Bark Anti-inflammatory, antitumor (preclinical) Possible structural protection
Triterpenoids Bark & leaves Anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial Healing, microbial inhibition
Phenolics & Flavonoids Flowers & leaves Antioxidant, vasodilatory, cardioprotective UV protection, pollination

Couroupitine alkaloids display potent antimicrobial activity, especially against Candida albicans, E. coli, and Staphylococcus aureus. Triterpenes and indirubin analogs have shown anti-inflammatory and possible anti-cancer properties in preclinical studies.


HOW IT WORKS IN THE BODY

Antimicrobial action is driven by couroupitines, triterpenoids, and flavonoids that disrupt microbial membranes and inhibit inflammatory cytokines. Vasodilatory effects of phenolic compounds support blood flow regulation, while the strong astringency of the pulp may aid in gut detoxification and intestinal parasite control.

In small, properly prepared internal doses, the resinous extract acts as a cleansing tonic and digestive anti-inflammatory.


DOSE GUIDELINES

Preparation Type Typical Dose Purpose
Bark decoction 10–15 g in 500 mL water Topical antiseptic wash
Fresh pulp paste (external) Applied directly to wounds/skin Boils, ulcers, fungal infections
Dried fruit rind powder 250–500 mg orally (occasional use) Internal antimicrobial, rare use
30x extract (paste) 1 tsp paste rehydrated in 250 mL hot water Detoxifying tea, inflammation

Traditional preparation of the paste involves cooking 30 kg of fresh pulp with water over low heat until reduced to ~1 kg of thick extract. This concentrated form is shelf-stable and diluted in water as needed for internal use.


PREPARATION AND USES

  • Topical: Paste or decoction applied to skin for fungal infections, wounds, and boils

  • Internal (moderate dose): Rehydrated paste used for inflammation, gut cleansing, and hypertension (under guidance)

  • Ceremonial: Used in Amazonian purging or healing rituals to clear emotional and energetic blocks

  • Ornamental/Spiritual: Sacred flower for Shiva devotees in India and Sri Lanka


OPTIMAL CONTEXT FOR USE

  • Antifungal/antibacterial support (topical)

  • Digestive and intestinal inflammation, occasional purgative tonic

  • Cardiovascular and blood pressure support in moderate internal use

  • Ceremonial or ritual cleansing


SUSTAINABILITY AND ETHICAL HARVESTING

  • Not endangered, but slow-growing; fruit takes up to 12 months to mature

  • Harvesting bark should be minimal and strip-style, avoiding girdling

  • Large fruits can be gathered without harming the tree; only take fully mature specimens

  • Provides habitat and food for bats, bees, and other pollinators


SAFETY AND CAUTIONS

  • No acute toxicity reported at traditional doses, but high doses of pulp may cause GI upset

  • Avoid use in pregnancy, children, or long-term internal use without medical guidance

  • Strong odor of ripe fruit may cause nausea in sensitive individuals

  • Rare reports of skin irritation from direct exposure to fermenting pulp


REFERENCES

  • Jansen, P. C. M. (2005). Medicinal and Poisonous Plants of the Tropics

  • Paredes, A. et al. (2009). "Antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity of Couroupita guianensis." Journal of Ethnopharmacology

  • Nair, M. G. et al. (2011). "Phytochemistry and pharmacology of the Cannonball tree."

  • Aya Healing Retreats (2024). "Ayahuma Profile."

  • PMC & ResearchGate: "Biological Activities and Medicinal Properties of Couroupita guianensis"


FINAL NOTE

Couroupita guianensis is a profound example of a sacred medicine tree offering both healing and spiritual value. In Amazonian tradition, it is revered for its ability to cleanse, protect, and restore. Topical use is widely safe and effective, while internal use requires understanding of traditional dosing and proper preparation. Further research could reveal broader clinical applications of its unique phytochemistry.

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