Quassia Amara , (a.k.a. Bitter-wood) is widely used in the Caribbean Islands as herbal medicine and in Brazil for the treatment of ulcers. Throughout time, bitter wood tea has been used medically to treat stomach and intestinal parasites. It also helps with diabetes, lice, skin conditions, and many other conditions.
Quassia is also used for treating an eating disorder called anorexia, indigestion, constipation, and fever. It is used to rid the intestines of various kinds of worms. It also serves as a tonic or purgative. Additionally, it is used as a mouthwash.
The list above was just some of its uses here are a few more reasons to consider Quassia Tea.
Quassia has antibacterial, anti fungal, anti tumor, anti leukemic, and insecticidal actions as well.
This is an impressive herb.
According to the NIH, Quassia extract has several beneficial uses. Topical gel with 4% Quassia extract represents a new, safe, and effective treatment for facial SD.
The results of a study done on rats- this study showed that Quassia amara extract and its bioactive component 2-methoxtcanthin-6-one posses antiulcer properties.
The following excerpt is from the NIH. (National Institute of health) pertaining to research done on lab rats, human trials may or may not be reflected in the article.
The main bioactive constituents of the Quassia amara are quassinoids which had been found to be active against chloroquine resistant Plasmodium faiciparum (Trager and Polonsky, 1981). Quassin and the alkaloid, 2- methoxycanthin-6-one have been isolated from the plant (Njar et al, 1993). Quassia amara extract and quassin have been reported to possess potent male antifertility activities in both in vivo and in vitro animal models (Njar et al., 1995; Raji and Bolarinwa 1997; Parveen et al., 2003; Faisal et al., 2006). Recently the haematological effect of Quassia amara extract was also reported (Raji 2010), with quassin being the bioactive principle. More recently, de Souza Almeida et al., (2011) reported the antiulcer efficacy of canthin-6-one of Simala ferruginea A. St-Hil in animal models. There is a dearth of information on the effect of Quassia amara and its active principles on experimental gastric ulceration. In the present study, the effects of Quassia amara extract and its bioactive principles, quassin and 2-methoxycanthin-6-one on gastric ulceration and gastric acid secretion in rats are reported.
