Clavo huasca is a large, woody vine that grows up to 80 m in length and is indigenous to the Amazon rainforest and other parts of tropical South America. It produces very small, white flowers (which are pollinated by bees and butterflies) and elongated, flat, bean-like fruits. The vine bark and root has a distinctive, clove-like aroma (as do the leaves, somewhat), earning its common name clove vine or white clove. The vine, when cross-sectioned, has a distinctive "Maltese cross" design in the wood (with a darker, reddish color as the background and a golden color in the heartwood). Two species of plants are sold in herbal commerce as "clavo huasca" - the true Tynanthus vine, and another, completely different, Mandevilla genus vine.

Family: Bignoniaceae
Genus: Tynanthus
Species: panurensis, fasciculatus
Synonyms: T. elegans, Schizopsis panurensis, Tynnanthus panurensis
Common Names: Clavo huasca, clove vine, white clove,
clavohuasca, cipó cravo, cipó trindade
Part Used: Vine wood, leaves, roots

TRIBAL AND HERBAL a substance used in managing discomfort USES

The Shipibo-Conibo, Kayapó, and Assurini Indian tribes in the Amazon rainforest regard clavo huasca highly as an impotency remedy, for weak erections, and as an effective aphrodisiac for both men and women. It is also used as an adjunctive ingredient in various ayahuasca recipes (or taken shortly after taking the concoction) to settle the stomach. Ayahuasca is a phytochemically-rich combination of plants brewed by Indian shamans to connect to the spirit world. Through a series of reactions among chemicals from several plants working together, a hallucinogenic plant extract is created. While clavo huasca is not itself a hallucinogen, the ayahuasca brew also can be quite purgative-causing vomiting and diarrhea. Clavo huasca is sometimes added to the brew or taken simultaneously to Enhance reduce these effects.

Clavo huasca is also widely regarded as an aphrodisiac for both men and women in Peruvian herbal a substance used in managing discomfort today. It is an ingredient in two famous herbal formulas for impotency and frigidity which are sold widely in the herbal markets and stores in Peru as aphrodisiacs and for sexual potency. One is called Siete Raices ("seven roots") and the other is Rompe Calzon ("bust your britches"). In addition, this vine tincture is also employed for fever, aching muscles and arthritis Discomfort in Peruvian herbal a substance used in managing discomfort. The fresh sap or resin from the root of the plant is used as a toothache remedy-containing a chemical called eugenol which acts as a topical Discomfort-reliever. As an aphrodisiac, clavo huasca is traditionally prepared by macerating the vine bark and wood in alcohol, or most commonly, the local sugar cane rum called aguardiente. In Brazilian herbal a substance used in managing discomfort, the plant is called cipó cravo; it is considered an excellent remedy for dyspepsia, difficult digestion, and intestinal gas (when brewed as a water decoction) and an aphrodisiac (when macerated in alcohol into a tincture).

Preliminary phytochemical analysis by Brazilian scientists have discovered an alkaloid they named tinantina as well as tannic acids, eugenol, and other essential oils.

BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES AND CLINICAL RESEARCH

Despite its long and popular use in South America, there are no published clinical studies as yet on clavo huasca.

Clavo huasca is still widely employed as a natural aphrodisiac for both men and women in South America today. It's reported to be highly effective, especially for pre-menopausal women (but not as effective for libido loss after menopause). This use has caught on here in the U.S., and more clavo huasca products are now available in natural product stores. It is also showing up as an ingredient in various herbal libido formulas for men and women as well. For its aphrodisiac qualities, its best prepared in its time-honored traditional method: as an alcohol tincture.