Amor seco

(Desmodium adscendens)

Family: Fabaceae
Genus: Desmodium
Species: adscendens
Common Names: Amor Seco, Strong Back, Carrapicho, Pega Pega, Margarita, Burbur, Manayupa, Hard Man, Hard Stick, Mundubirana, Barba de Boi, Mundurana, Owono-bocon, Dipinda Dimukuyi, Dusa Karnira
Phytochemicals: Astragalin, Beta-phenylethylamines, Cosmosiin, Cyanidin-3-o-sophoroside, Dehydrosoyasaponin I, Hordenine, Pelargonidin-3-o-rhamnoside, Salsoline, Soyasaponin I, Soyasaponin II, Soyasaponin III, Tectorigenin, Tetrahydroisoquinolines, Triterpenoid Saponins, Tyramine
Parts used: aerial parts, leaves

HERBAL PROPERTIES AND ACTIONS

Main Actions: reduces pain blocks allergies reduces asthma reduces convulsions blocks histamine reduces inflammation reduces spasms dilates bronchials relaxes muscles

Other Actions: cleanses blood detoxifies increases urination mildly laxative heals wounds

Standard Dosage: Leaves, Whole herb. Infusion: 1-3 cups daily; Tincture: 4-6 ml daily; Capsules: 4-5 g daily.

Amor seco is a weedy, perennial herb that grows to 50 cm tall. It is indigenous to many tropical countries and grows in open forests, pastures, along roadsides, and like many weeds - just about anywhere the soil is disturbed.

Amor seco is known to be rich in flavonoids, alkaloids, and chemicals known as soyasaponins. A novel soyasaponin in amor seco is dehydrosoyasaponin. It is considered a highly active chemical with therapeutic actions for asthma. Amor seco also contains a chemical called astragalin, which is a well-known antibacterial chemical found in the popular medicinal plant astragalus.

Herbalists in Ghana have long used amor seco leaves to treat bronchial asthma. The treatment was so successful that it attracted attention from the scientific community. In 1977, a clinical observational study on humans showed that 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried amor seco leaf powder daily (in three dosages) produced improvement and remission in most asthma patients treated. In following ten different studies, researchers found that amor seco interfered with the production of many of the chemicals normally produced during an asthma attack: chemicals called spasmogens that cause contractions in the lung; histamine that triggers the allergic response; and chemicals called leukotrienes that are known to stimulate bronchoconstriction and increase mucus production in the airway - all key features of asthma. Many substances and allergens can cause a life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylactic shock, or anaphylaxis. Several of these animal studies reported that amor seco had an anti-anaphylactic action against many known substances that trigger such allergic reactions.

Amor seco's documented anti-allergic activity acts to inhibit not only contraction of smooth muscle in the airways of the upper respiratory tract but also muscle contraction at multiple other sites throughout the body.

Today, tribes in the Amazon rainforest use amor seco medicinally much as they have for centuries. A tea of the plant is given for nervousness, and it is used in baths to treat vaginal infections. Some tribes believe the plant has magic powers, and it is taken by lovers to rekindle a waning romance.
Amor seco is also quite popular in herbal medicine throughout South and Central America. In Peruvian herbal medicine today, a leaf tea is used as a blood cleanser; to detoxify the body from environmental toxins and chemicals; as a urinary tract cleanser; and to treat ovarian and uterine problems such as inflammation and irritation, vaginal discharges, and hemorrhages.

Following- up, a brief summary of worldwide ethnomedical uses.

Region	Uses
Africa	for asthma, bronchitis, central nervous system disorders, colic, ringworms, wounds
Amazonia	for backache, convulsions, headache, inflammation, muscle spasms, nervousness, pain, stimulating breast milk, and as a contraceptive
Belize	for aches (back, joint, muscle), headache, kidney disorders
Brazil	for body aches, cough, diarrhea, excessive mucus, excessive urination, inflammation, malaria, ovarian inflammation, spasms, vaginal discharge
Ghana	for anaphylaxis, asthma, colic, constipation, dysentery, wounds
Nicaragua	for diarrhea, digestive disorders, venereal disease
Peru	for detoxing blood, hemorrhage, inflammation, nervousness, ovarian problems, urinary problems, vaginitis
Trinidad	for detoxing blood, malnutrition, urinary disorders, venereal disease
United States	for asthma, backache, headache, impotency, joint aches, kidney, muscle pain, muscle spasms
Elsewhere	for asthma, constipation, convulsion, cough, fractures, scabies, sores, stimulating milk flow, tuberculosis, venereal disease, worms, wounds

AMOR SECO PLANT SUMMARY

Main Actions (in order):	anti-asthmatic, antispasmodic, bronchodilator, muscle relaxer, antihistamine
Main Uses:	for asthma and allergies for respiratory problems (bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD], emphysema, excessive phlegm/mucous) as a general antispasmodic, muscle relaxant, and pain-reliever for colic, stomach and bowel cramping, arthritis, muscle/joint aches, pain, injuries and spasms for menstrual disorders (cramps, excessive bleeding, pain, vaginal discharge) for convulsions (allergic reactions and epilepsy)
Properties/Actions Documented by Research:	analgesic (pain-reliever), anti-anaphylactic (stops allergic reactions), anti-asthmatic, anticonvulsant, antihistamine, antispasmodic, bronchodilator, muscle relaxant, potassium maxi-K inhibitor
Other Properties/Actions Documented by Traditional Use:	antidiuretic, anti-inflammatory, antihemorrhagic (reduces bleeding), blood cleanser, central nervous system (CNS) tonic (tones, balances, strengthens), contraceptive, cough suppressant, digestive stimulant, lactogogue (promotes milk flow), laxative, nervine (balancing/calming nerves), vermifuge (expels worms), wound healer
Traditional Preparation:	Generally, 1-3 cups of amor seco leaf tea (standard infusion) daily, 4-6 ml of a standard tincture, or 4-5 g of powdered leaves in capsules daily are used for most conditions.
Contraindications:	None known.
Drug Interactions:	None known.

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