Espinheira Santa Leaves Products

ESPINHEIRA-SANTA LEAVES (Congorosa)

Espinheira Santa (Congorosa) , Espinheira Santa Leaves, Espinheira Santa Leaves Powder, Espinheira Santa Leaves Tea, Espinheira Santa Tea

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Maytenus ilicifolia Martius

FAMILY: Celastraceae.

POPULAR NAME: cancerosa, cancrosa, congorosa, bull's shadow, yerba santa, lifesaver, coromilho-docampo, maiteno, thorn-of-god.

PART USED: Leaves.

MAIN CHEMICAL COMPONENTS

The leaves of Espinheira Santa are mainly made up of terpenic compounds, phenolics, phytosteroids, alkaloids, anthocyanins, tannins, saponins, resin, mucilage and traces of mineral salts (iron, calcium, sodium, sulfur).

THERAPEUTIC INDICATIONS

Antidyspeptic, antacid and mucosal protector gastric.

ADVERSE EFFECTS

No effects have been reported to date serious adverse events or that pose a risk to the health of patients using espinheira-santa extracts in recommended doses. The appearance of symptoms such as: increased appetite, mouth sensation dryness, nausea and gastralgia.

PRECAUTIONS

Espinheira Santa (Congorosa) , Espinheira Santa Leaves, Espinheira Santa Leaves Powder, Espinheira Santa Leaves Tea, Espinheira Santa Tea should not be used during pregnancy, lactation and in children under six years of age.

Do not use in people with hypersensitivity and sensitivity to plants from the Celastraceae family. Suspend use when carrying out nuclear medicine examinations.

Espinheira Santa (Congorosa) , Espinheira Santa Leaves, Espinheira Santa Leaves Powder, Espinheira Santa Leaves Tea, Espinheira Santa Tea: what it is for and how to make the tea

Scientific evidence

Espinheira santa leaves is a medicinal plant of the species Maytenus ilicifolia, rich in flavonoids, tannins and triterpenes, which have antioxidant, healing and gastric protective properties, and is therefore popularly used as a home remedy to assist in the treatment of gastric ulcers, heartburn , gastritis, acne or eczema.

The normally used part of the espinheira santa leaves are the leaves from which the active substances are extracted, which can be used mainly in the form of tea.

Although it has health benefits, the use of this medicinal plant does not replace medical treatment and should always be done with medical advice, or from another healthcare professional who has experience with the use of medicinal plants. 

What is it for

Due to its medicinal properties, Espinheira Santa (Congorosa) , Espinheira Santa Leaves, Espinheira Santa Leaves Powder, Espinheira Santa Leaves Tea, Espinheira Santa Tea is normally recommended for: 

1. Improve stomach problems

Espinheira Santa (Congorosa) , Espinheira Santa Leaves, Espinheira Santa Leaves Powder, Espinheira Santa Leaves Tea, Espinheira Santa Tea are rich in tannins, such as epigallocatechin, and polysaccharides, such as arabinogalactan, with strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and gastric protective action, which help to improve stomach problems such as gastric ulcers, heartburn, gastritis, poor digestion or pain stomach. 

This is because the active substances in Espinheira Santa (Congorosa) , Espinheira Santa Leaves, Espinheira Santa Leaves Powder, Espinheira Santa Leaves Tea, Espinheira Santa Tea help reduce stomach acidity and protect the stomach from the acid it produces, relieving gastric symptoms such as pain or a burning sensation in the stomach.

Furthermore, some studies carried out with rats in the laboratory also show that Espinheira Santa (Congorosa) , Espinheira Santa Leaves, Espinheira Santa Leaves Powder, Espinheira Santa Leaves Tea, Espinheira Santa Tea have a similar effect to cimetidine, a medicine used to reduce the production of acid in the stomach. 

2. Fight H. pylori

Some studies show that Espinheira Santa (Congorosa) , Espinheira Santa Leaves, Espinheira Santa Leaves Powder, Espinheira Santa Leaves Tea, Espinheira Santa Tea also has antibacterial action, being very useful for combating infection with the bacteria H. Pylori, which can cause lesions and ulcers in the stomach. 

3. Help in cancer treatment

Studies using lung, breast and liver cancer cells have shown that Espinheira Santa (Congorosa) , Espinheira Santa Leaves, Espinheira Santa Leaves Powder, Espinheira Santa Leaves Tea, Espinheira Santa Tea can reduce the proliferation of cancer cells, due to the presence of the triterpenoid pristimerin. However, more studies in humans are still needed to prove this benefit. 

4. Improve intestinal function

Espinheira Santa (Congorosa) , Espinheira Santa Leaves, Espinheira Santa Leaves Powder, Espinheira Santa Leaves Tea, Espinheira Santa Tea can help improve intestinal function by having a mild laxative action. Therefore, drinking tea from this plant can help treat cases of mild to moderate constipation. 

5. Has a diuretic action

Espinheira Santa (Congorosa) , Espinheira Santa Leaves, Espinheira Santa Leaves Powder, Espinheira Santa Leaves Tea, Espinheira Santa Tea have a mild diuretic action, which means that it eliminates excess fluid from the body, which can be useful to help treat fluid retention, but also in the treatment of urinary infections, as it keeps the urinary tract clean. 

6. Help with skin healing

Espinheira Santa (Congorosa) , Espinheira Santa Leaves, Espinheira Santa Leaves Powder, Espinheira Santa Leaves Tea, Espinheira Santa Tea has analgesic and healing effects, which when used on the skin, can help in the treatment of skin problems such as eczema or acne. 

7. Fight bacterial infections

Some in vitro studies carried out in the laboratory show that espinheira santa leaves has substances with antimicrobial action such as maitenin and friedelin, which help fight bacteria such as: 

- Staphylococcus aureus, which causes lung, skin and bone infections;

- Streptococcus sp., which cause urinary, skin or gum infections;

- Escherichia coli, which causes urinary tract infections.

Furthermore, Espinheira Santa (Congorosa) , Espinheira Santa Leaves, Espinheira Santa Leaves Powder, Espinheira Santa Leaves Tea, Espinheira Santa Tea also has action against the fungus Aspergillus nigrans, which can cause aspergillosis.