Ipecac
Carapichea ipecacuanha

Family: Rubiaceae

What it is like

Ipecac, Carapichea ipecacuanha, is a small flowering shrub that only grows up about 50 cm tall. It is native to Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, Colombia, and Brazil. Mainly a medicinal plant, its roots are used against many ailments such as coughs, fever, amoebic dysentery, and bronchitis. It is used to make a powerful emetic known as “syrup of ipecac”. However, when consumed in high amounts, severe vomiting and diarrhoea will be experienced.

Carapichea ipecacuanha is an evergreen Shrub growing to 0.5 m (1ft 8in) by 0.5 m (1ft 8in) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) or semi-shade (light woodland). It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 0.5

Where it is found

An understory shrub of rainforests.

S. America - Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador; through Central America to Nicaragua.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed

Countries/locations it is found in

Coming Soon

How it is used

Food

Rating: 0

Medicine

Rating: 4

The roots of ipecac contain a number of medically active constituents including isoquinoline alkaloids, tannins and glycosides. They have a violently irritant action, stimulating the gastric and bronchial systems, lowering fevers and preventing cyst formation in amoebic dysentery. The roots are used internally in the treatment of coughs, bronchitis, whooping cough and amoebic dysentery. One of the surest of emetics, even moderate doses will induce vomiting until the contents of the stomach have been voided making it especially useful in the treatment of drug overdoses. It is used in a syrup to induce vomiting in children who have ingested toxins. Smaller doses are strongly expectorant and it is a common ingredient in patent cough medicines. The plant needs to be used with caution since excess causes severe vomiting and diarrhoea. The roots are harvested, usually when about 3 years old and the plants are in flower, and are dried for later use. The plants are replanted after partial removal of the roots. The plant is used in homeopathy in the treatment of nausea.

Antitussive: Prevents or relieves coughing.

Dysentery: Used in treating dysentery - an infection of the intestines that causes diarrhoea containing blood or mucus.

Emetic: Induces vomiting.

Expectorant: Clears phlegm from the chest by inducing coughing.

Febrifuge: Reduces fevers.

Homeopathy: A plant used in homeopathic treatments.

Other

Rating: 0

Other Uses: None known

How it is grown

Prefers a minimum temperature in the range of 15 - 18°c. Prefers a well-drained humus-rich soil and a shady position. Plants need ample moisture and humidity if they are to thrive.

Propagating it: Seed - Greenwood cuttings in a sandy compost. Root cuttings.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Shrub

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Medium

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Full shade, semi-shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

The plant can be toxic in doses larger than recommended for medicinal use.

Its other names

Local names

Ipecac, Carapichea ipecacuanha.

Synonyms

Callicocca ipecacuanha Brot. Cephaelis acuminata H.Karst. Cephaelis ipecacuanha (Brot.) A.Rich. Evea