Copaiba Balsam, Medicinal Copaiba
Copaifera officinalis

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

Copaiba Balsam, Copaifera officinalis, is a well-branched tree with a short bole and wide canopy. It can grow up to 30 m in height or taller. It is grown in Northern South America particularly in Brazil, Venezuela, and Guyana. Like other species in the Copaifera genus, it is a source of an oily oleo-resin known as copaiba-balsam. The resin is used as a food additive and as flavouring agents in food and beverages. It is also used in perfumery, cosmetics, varnishes and lacquers, and as substitute to diesel oil. Medicinally, it is used to treat various conditions in the skin, urinary tract, respiratory system, and reproductive systems. It can also be used for pain relief, headache, sore throat and mouth sores. The bark also yields tannin. The wood is used in general carpentry and construction, and as material in making furniture. Found In: Northern S. America - Brazil, Venezuela and Guyana.

Copaifera officinalis is an evergreen Tree growing to 22 m (72ft) by 22 m (72ft) at a slow rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. It can fix Nitrogen. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) or semi-shade (light woodland). It prefers dry or moist soil.

Height (m): 22

Where it is found

A canopy tree of the rainforests, usually found in well-drained sandy loams.

Northern S. America - Brazil, Venezuela and Guyana.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed

Countries/locations it is found in

Found In: Northern S. America - Brazil, Venezuela and Guyana.

How it is used

Food

Rating: 2

Like other species in the Copaifera genus, it is a source of an oily oleo-resin known as copaiba-balsam. The resin is used as a food additive and as flavouring agents in food and beverages.

Condiment: the various plants that are used as flavourings, either as herbs, spices or condiments.

Medicine

Rating: 4

Copaiba-balsam, an oily oleo-resin obtained from the trunk of the tree, has a very long history of use medicinally. It was widely used by the native peoples prior to the Europeans reaching S. America and these uses were soon taken up by the Europeans. The resin is especially valued for its ability to counter mucous in the chest and genito-urinary system. The resin is an aromatic, stimulant herb with a bitter, burning taste. Both it and the bark are anodyne, antacid, antibacterial, antifungal, antiinflammatory, antimicrobial, astringent, cytostatic, demulcent, digestive, disinfectant, diuretic, expectorant, mildly laxative, vermifuge and vulnerary. The resin obtained from the trunk contains a number of medically active constituents including 30 - 90% essential oils and unusual condensed tannins. The essential oil contains alpha- and beta-caryophyllene, sesquiterpenes, resins and terpenic acids. It improves the digestion, has diuretic and expectorant effects, and controls bacterial infections. Much of the clinical research performed to date has verified the traditional uses of copaiba. It has, for instance, been shown to be highly effective as a topical wound healer and anti-inflammatory agent. The anti-inflammatory effect is mainly due to the sesquiterpenes, particularly caryophyllene which has also demonstrated effective pain-relieving properties, antifungal properties against nail fungus and gastroprotective properties. The resin as a whole (and, particularly, two of its diterpenes - copalic acid and kaurenic acid) has demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity against gram-positive bacteria. One of copaiba?s other chemicals, kaurenoic acid, has also demonstrated selective antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria in other recent studies. Other constituents of the resin have demonstrated significant antitumor activity. The resin is taken internally in the treatment of a range of respiratory problems such as tuberculosis, bronchitis and sinusitis; urinary tract and reproductive system conditions such as cystitis, kidney and bladder infections, vaginal discharge and gonorrhoea. Stomach ulcers, tetanus, herpes, pleurisy and haemorrhages are just some of the other conditions treated with the resin. Externally, it is used in the treatment of a range of skin problems including insect bites, eczema, chilblains, sores and psoriasis. It is also used to treat wounds and stop bleeding. As an antiseptic gargle, it is used to treat sore throats and tonsillitis. The resin should be used with care, see notes above on toxicity. The resin is tapped at intervals from the tree and the holes filled in afterwards. It is used in infusions or distilled for its essential oil.

Anodyne: Relieves pain, it is milder than an analgesic.

Antacid: Counters excess acidity in the stomach.

Antibacterial: Kills bacteria.

Antifungal: An agent that inhibits or destroys fungi. Used in the treatment of various fungal problems such as candida.

Antiinflammatory: Reduces inflammation of joints, injuries etc.

Antiseptic: Preventing sepsis, decay or putrefaction, it destroys or arrests the growth of micro-organisms.

Antitumor: Preventing, or effective against, tumors, it is used in the treatment of cancer. Probably synonymous with Cytotoxic.

Aromatic: Having an agreeable odour and stimulant qualities.

Astringent: Produces contraction in living tissue, reducing the flow of secretions and discharges of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.

Cytostatic: Slows or controls the growth of tumours.

Demulcent: Soothes, lubricates and softens irritated tissues, especially the mucous membranes.

Digestive: Aids digestion.

Disinfectant: Used for cleaning wounds.

Diuretic: Acts on the kidneys, promoting the flow of urine.

Eczema: Used in the treatment of eczema - a chronic health condition that affects the skin, causing redness, dryness, itching and infections.

Expectorant: Clears phlegm from the chest by inducing coughing.

Kidney: Used in the treatment of kidney diseases

Laxative: Stimulates bowel movements in a fairly gentle manner.

Skin: Plants used in miscellaneous treatments for the skin.

Stimulant: Excites or quickens activity of the physiological processes. Faster acting than a tonic but differing from a narcotic in that it does not give a false sense of well-being.

Urinary: Treats urinary problems, including urinary tract infection (UTI).

Vermifuge: Expels and kills internal parasites.

Other

Rating: 3

Other Uses: An oleoresin is obtained from the tree. It is an important fixative in perfumes - especially those with violet, woody or spicy notes. Today in the United States, copaiba resin is used mostly as a fragrance component in perfumes and in cosmetic preparations (including soaps, bubble baths, detergents, creams, and lotions) for its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and emollient (soothing and softening) properties. The resin is also used in varnishes and lacquers. The resin can be used, direct from the tree, as a substitute for diesel oil. Tannin is obtained from the bark. The wood is used locally for turnery, carriages, furniture and ship building. We do not have any more specific information for the wood of this species, but a general description of the wood from this genus is as follows: The heartwood is a reddish-brown, it is somewhat variable, often with a coppery hue, and sometimes streaked; it is not very sharply demarcated from the pinkish-gray or nearly white sapwood. The texture is medium; the grain usually straight; lustre rather silky and golden; oily exudations are sometimes present, the woods of all species contain gum or oil canals. Dry material is without any distinctive odour or taste. The wood is not very durable, being susceptible to fungi, insects and drywood termites. It is easy to work and finishes very smoothly, though a small amount of material showed fuzzy grain after planing. It is used in general carpentry, construction, interior trim, furniture, turnery; it has been suggested for particleboard and excelsior cement board.

Containers: Plants, such as gourds, that can be used as containers. Does not include baskets or containers made from wood.

Disinfectant: Plants used for disinfecting.

Essential: Essential oils that are used in perfumery, medicines, paint solvents, insect repellents etc.

Fuel: Usually wood, plant materials that have been mentioned as being a good fuel.

Furniture: A few miscellaneous uses that do not fit easily into other headings.

Lacquer: A type of varnish.

Resin: Used in perfumery, medicines, paints, soap making etc. This also includes turpentine, which is extracted from many resins and used as a preservative, water proofer etc,

Tannin: An astringent substance obtaied from plants, it is used medicinally, as a dye and mordant, stabilizer in pesticide etc.

Varnish: Plants that can be used as a varnish without any special treatment. Does not include varnishes made from oils etc.

Wood: A list of the trees and shrubs that are noted for having useful wood.

Industrial Crop: Hydrocarbon: Materials, chemicals and energy include bioplastics, rubber, biomass products gasoline, jet fuel, diesel, butane, propane, biogas. Plants are usually resprouting plants and saps.

Industrial Crop: Medicinal: Most pharmaceuticals are synthesized from petroleum but 25% of modern medicines are based on plants.

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

Regional Crop: These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

Industrial Crop: Medicinal: Most pharmaceuticals are synthesized from petroleum but 25% of modern medicines are based on plants.

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

Carbon Farming: Plants that can be a critical part of the solution to climate problems. The Carbon Farming Solution - Eric Toensmeier.

Nitrogen Fixer: Plants that fix nitrogen in the soil

How it is grown

A plant of the moister tropics, it requires a high humidity and a minimum temperature that does not fall much below 13°c. Prefers a well-drained sandy soil and a position in shade. A single copaiba tree can provide about 40 litres of oleoresin annually, making it a sustainable rainforest resource that can be harvested without destroying the tree or the forest in which it grows. The resin accumulates in cavities within the tree trunk and is harvested by tapping or drilling holes into the wood of the trunk and collecting the resin that drips out, much in the same manner as harvesting maple syrup. When tapped, the initial oily resin is clear, thin, and colourless; it thickens and darkens upon contact with air. Commercially sold resins are a thick, clear liquid, with a colour that varies from pale yellow to golden light brown.

Propagating it: Seed

Best place to grow:

Habit: Tree

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Slow

Soil: Light (sandy), medium

Shade: Full shade, semi-shade

Moisture: Dry, moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Copaiba Balsam, Copaifera officinalis. Other Names: Balsam Copaiba, Copahu Balsam, Copaiba Balsam, Jesuit's Balsam, Maracaibo Balsam, Para Balsam. Spanish: amacey; b‡lsamo de copaiba; copaiba; copaiva; palo de aceite; tacamaca. French: copaier officinal. Brazil: b‡lsamo; capa’ba; capaœba; copa’; copa’ba. Dominican Republic: abey hembra; amacey. Germany: Kopaivabaum. Venezuela: copayero.

Synonyms

Copaiba officinalis (L.) Kuntze Copaiva officinalis (L.) Jacq.

Copaiba Balsam, Medicinal Copaiba Copaifera officinalis