Virola sebifera

Virola sebifera, common names Ucuúba-do-Cerrado^[2] and red ucuuba,^[1] is a type of tree from the family Myristicaceae, from Central America and South America.^[3]

Additional recommended knowledge

How to quickly check pipettes?

Better weighing performance in 6 easy steps

Recognize and detect the effects of electrostatic charges on your balance

Description

Virola sebifera is a tall, thin tree, which grows up to 30 m tall. The leaves are simple and grow up to 30 centimeters long. The small flowers are single-sexed and are found in panicles. The fruit is reddish and oval-shaped. The individual Virola trees, which include 40 to 60 species, are difficult to differentiate from one another.^[4]

Contents und uses

The bark of the tree is rich in tannins^[3] and also the hallucinogen^[5] dimethyltryptamine (DMT), as well as 5-MeO-DMT, and it is used by indigenous people to treat skin conditions. The ripe seeds contain fatty acid glycerides, especially laurodimyristin and trimyristin. ^[6]

Uses

Industrial uses

Seeds from Virola sebifera are processed to obtain the fats, which are yellow and aromatic. They smell like nutmeg.^[7] The fats also become rancid quickly. They are used industrially in the production of fats, candles and soaps. This virola fat possesses properties similar to cocoa butter^[6] and shea butter.

Homeopathy

The homeopathic product Myristica sebifera, (Abbreviation: Myris) is derived from the fresh, red juice from the injured bark of the tree. It is especially used for such ailments as abscesses, phlegmon, paronychia, furuncle, anal fissures, infections of the parotid gland, bacterially infected tonsilitis, and others.^[8][3][9]

Traditional medicine

The smoke of the inner bark of the tree is used by shamans of the indigenous people of Venezuela for healing fever conditions, or also cooked for driving out evil ghosts.^[4]

See also

• Psychedelic plants

References

Notes

General references

• Christian Rätsch: Enzyklopädie der psychoaktiven Pflanzen. AT Verlag, 2007, 8.te Auflage, ISBN 978-3-03800-352-6
• Karl Hiller, Matthias F. Melzig, Lexikon der Arzneipflanzen und Drogen, 2 Bände, Genehmigte Sonderausgabe für den area verlag, 2006, ISBN 3-89996-682-1
• Markus Wiesenauer, Suzann Kirschner-Brouns: Homöopathie - Das große Handbuch, Gräfe & Unzer Verlag, 2007, ISBN 978-3-8338-0034-4