Folk Remedies, Ecuador
Health Benefits

  1. Home
  2. World

Traditional Folk Remedies from Ecuador

| Modified on Sep 19, 2016
Add New Post Comments

In addition to the vast treasure of traditional remedies from the Ecuadorian Amazon tribes, various villages from around Ecuador have centuries of collected folk medicine wisdom passed down the generations. For example, research in the southern highlands of Ecuador located 131 plant species that were used for medicinal purposes, with reports that over 900 plants are used for herbal medicine in the country!

Particularly, the shamans of the Quichua culture are esteemed as holders of powerful medicine, and along the coast the Tschachila healers are likewise respected. In fact, respect and support for traditional healing methods is written into the country's constitution.

Holistic Treatments: Examination of the urine and tongue as indicators of general health or disease is common among the country's indigenous healers. Ecuador's Sangre de Drago tree is becoming well-known for the anti-cancer proanthocyanidins in its tree sap (supplements are available). Ayahuasca as a healing and revelatory agent has a long history of use in Ecuador and attracts increasing interest from medical researchers.

The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Sort by Default New Loved

Cinnamon

2 User Reviews
5 star (2) 
  100%
Write a review
Posted by Dries Degel (Guayaquil, Ecuador) on 01/12/2013
 ★★★★★

For flus and fever: Tea from cinnamon bark and lemon. Boil cinnamon and add the juice of one or two lemons. Drink hot. Then layer yourself with pants and sweater and sweat all night. Also drink lots of water. You will be cured in the morning.

Cinnamon
Posted by Dries Degel (Guayaquil, Ecuador) on 01/12/2013
 ★★★★★

Incontinence: My grandmother used this remedy for incontinence. Chew on a little piece of cinnamon bark. It cures it.

Colds

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%
Write a review
Posted by Yvonne Torres (Galapagos Islands, Ecuador) on 01/12/2013
 ★★★★★

For sore throats, colds: A hot drink made of ginger, anise, and honey.

Replied by Susan
(NY)
01/12/2013

How much anise and ginger in your tea?

Coughs

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%
Write a review
Posted by Paulina Ratti (Galapagos Islands, Ecuador) on 01/12/2013
 ★★★★★

For coughs: Ingredients: Radish, Red Onions, Sugar. Slice a radish, put in a small bowl and add a small amount of sugar. Cover overnight. Pour liquid out and drink it first thing in the morning.

Headache

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%
Write a review
Posted by Dries Degel (Guayaquil, Ecuador) on 01/12/2013
 ★★★★★

Migraines and Headaches: Drink very strong coffee with the juice of two lemons. I use this one frequently and it works.

Muyoyu

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%
Write a review
Posted by Yvonne Torres (Galapagos Islands, Ecuador) on 01/12/2013
 ★★★★★

Cough remedy - infusion of muyoyu flowers. In latin the name is Cordea Lutea. Add a handful of these bright yellow flowers to boiling water. Turn off water and let steep for 15 minutes. Drink. I believe this is a Galapagos remedy. I haven't heard of anyone in Ecuador ever using these flowers for coughs.

Sangre De Drago

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%
Write a review
Posted by Staff (Earth Clinic) on 01/18/2013

Blood of the Dragon!

Ecuador, one of the first countries we looked more deeply into, ranks Sangre de Drago near the top of that nation's list of national treasures. This deeply red sap of the Croton lechleri tree has been a central remedy in the medical lore of many of that nation's peoples for generations going back at least to the 1600's. Increasingly, it's emerging as a favorite in health stores and supplement catalogs as well!

Proanthocyanodins are the health blessing and tongue-tangling curse to have splattered Dragon's Blood onto the natural health scene. These super-efficacious antioxidants make up 90% of the Sangre de Drago sap used in traditional medicine. This is the same family of anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer compounds that makes grade seed extract a coveted health aid. They seem to have adaptogenic abilities to positively affect the immune system, oxidation, and regulation of inflammatory responses.

So not only do sangre supplements offer all of us improved immune function and helpful antioxidants, but this appealing tree sap may help those with autoimmune disorders as well—potentially dampening out-of-control immune responses.

Sangre de Drago Remedies: As a local remedy the latex sap, also known as Sangre de Grado in Peru (still talkin' about exsanguinated dragons), is used to bind and disinfect wounds. Such use can speed wound healing by 4-20 times normal healing rates while also reducing pain, inflammation, and itchiness quite substantially. Applied more generally to the skin, its component taspine can renew and improve the look of skin by supporting cell growth and collagen strength.

Internally, it has been taken to relieve inflammation and diarrhea as well as to treat and soothe ulcers of the mouth and stomach. In fact, the FDA has approved an extract from the sap as an anti-diarrheal drug for those with HIV or AIDS. Anti-carcinogenic, tumor-killing, and herpes remedies using sangre de drago are likewise being investigated with some hopefulness!

Sources:
Study: Sangre de Drago modulates immune function.

Sangre extract approved as anti-diarrheal HIV/AIDS drug.

Replied by Tom
(Uk)
02/11/2014
★★★★★

Sangre de Grado does all that and more, this is the most in depth write-up I have seen - it's well referenced and properly researched: http://www.rain-tree.com/sangre.htm. They seem to have closed sales on that site but I foundhere http://www.raintreeformulas.com/sangre-de-grado-resin-439. I think its the same company! Raintree had the amazing amazon herbs.

Stomach Pain

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%
Write a review
Posted by Paulina Ratti (Galapagos Islands, Ecuador) on 01/12/2013
 ★★★★★

For Stomach Pain and Gas: Fresh Oregano leaf and a large scallion - the white part down by the roots. Add oregano and scallion to some water. Once it boils, turn off the heat and leave for a few minutes. Then drink very hot. When I went to the hospital a few years ago for severe stomach pain, they gave me medicines that did not work. Finally a nurse told me to go home and try this. My stomach pain went away immediately.



Please note that we use cookies necessary for the functioning of our website, cookies that optimize the performance. To learn more about our cookies, how we use them and their benefits, please read our Privacy Policy