Pfaffia
Pfaffia paniculata

Family: Amaranthaceae

What it is like

Commonly found in South America, Pfaffia paniculata or also known as Pfaffia, Suma, or Brazilian ginseng is a tropical, large and shrubby vine that has a deep and extensive root system. Its root is used in traditional medicine as a general cure all herbal remedy. It is used as treatment for a wide range of health conditions and for restoring general health of a body. It is also used to improve one?s appetite, balance blood sugar levels, enhance immune system, and enhance memory. It is used in the treatment of anemia, diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, PMS, menopause, hormonal imbalance and disorders, and many others.

Pfaffia paniculata is a CLIMBER growing to 1 m (3ft 3in) by 0.2 m (0ft 8in) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

Height (m): 1

Where it is found

Not known

S. America - Amazon rainforest in Brazil to Ecuador, Panama, Paraguay Peru and Venezuela

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Brazil, South America,

How it is used

Food

Rating: 0

Medicine

Rating: 4

Pfaffia root is a very important medicinal herb with a very long history of traditional use amongst the indigenous peoples of the Amazon region. Regarded as a general cure-all, it was and is used as a tonic and rejuvenating herb to treat a wide range of illnesses and restore virility to the body. In modern herbal medicine the root is considered to be an adaptogen and a tonic, able to increase the body's resistance to adverse influences by a wide range of physical, chemical, and biochemical factors and having a normalizing or restorative effect on the body as a whole. It is taken to stimulate appetite and circulation; increase oestrogen production; balance blood sugar levels; enhance the immune system; strengthen the muscular system; enhance memory; and as a general restorative tonic after illness. It is used to treat exhaustion and chronic fatigue; impotence; arthritis; anaemia; diabetes; cancer; high blood pressure; PMS, menopause, and hormonal disorders; and many types of stress. The root contains 19 different amino acids, a large number of electrolytes, trace minerals, iron, magnesium, zinc, vitamins A, B1, B2, E, K, and pantothenic acid. Its high germanium content probably accounts for its properties as an oxygenator at the cellular level; its high iron content may account for its traditional use for anaemia. The root also contains novel phytochemicals including saponins, pfaffic acids, glycosides, and nortriterpenes. Saponins are well known to have a wide spectrum of activities including lowering blood cholesterol; inhibiting cancer cell growth; and acting as antifungal and antibacterial agents. They are also known as natural detergent and foaming agents. Phytochemists report that saponins can act by binding with bile acids and cholesterol. It is thought that these chemicals 'clean' or purge these fatty compounds from the body (thus lowering blood cholesterol levels). The specific saponins found in the roots of suma include a group of novel phytochemicals named pfaffosides. These saponins have clinically demonstrated the ability to inhibit tumour cell melanomas and help to regulate blood sugar levels. Pfaffia has demonstrated analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities in various studies.

Adaptogen: Helps the body

Analgesic: Relieves pain.

Antiarthritic: Treats arthritis.

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.

Appetizer: Improves the appetite

Cancer: Used in the treatment of cancer.

Hypotensive: Reduces blood pressure, it is used in the treatment of high blood pressure

Tonic: Improves general health. Slower acting than a stimulant, it brings steady improvement.

Other

Rating: 0

Other Uses None known

How it is grown

Not known

Propagating it: Seed -

Best place to grow:

Habit: Climber

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Fast

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

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Dry, moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Pfaffia, ginseng brazilero, ginseng de l`amazone, ginseng, amazonisch, suma.

Synonyms

Gomphrena eriantha (Poir.) Moq. Gomphrena paniculata (Mart.) Moq. Hebanthe paniculata Mart. Iresine