Kidney Wood

This plant has been used medicinally for centuries and was well known to the indigenous peoples of Mexico and parts of Central America well before the European invasion. The Spaniards were the first Europeans to take this plant to their homeland where it quickly became very popular for the treatment of various urinary tract diseases (Martínez, 1989).

In Mexico, the wood is either placed in water and taken as a cold tea or the branches and leaves are decocted (boiled) in water and taken for various health problems. These include urinary infections, to improve urine flow (diuretic), against kidney inflammation (nephritis) and pain, against kidney stones, to lower fevers, to treat stomach problems