Amargo

(Quassia amara)

Family: Simaroubaceae
Genus: Quassia
Species: amara
Synonyms: Quassia alatifolia, Q. officinalis, Q. amargo, Simaroube officinale
Common names: amargo, bitter ash, bitterholz, bitterwood, bois amer, bois de quassia, crucete, quassia, cuassia, fliegenholz, guabo, hombre grande, jamaica bark, kashshing, maraubá, marupá, palo muneco, pau amarelo, quassia amarga, quassiawood, ruda, simaruba, simarubabaum, quassiaholz, quassia de cayenne, quassie, quina, simaba, Suriname wood
Plant phytochemicals: beta-carbolines, beta-sitostenone, beta-sitosterol, dehydroquassins, gallic acid, gentisic acid, hydroxyquassins, isoparain, isoparaines, isoquassins, malic acid, methylcanthins, methoxycanthins, methoxycantins, nigakilactone A, neo-quassins, nor-neoquassin, parain, paraines, quassialactol, quassimarin, quassins, quassinol, quassol, and simalikalactone D.
Parts Used: wood, leaves

HERBAL PROPERTIES AND ACTIONS

Main Actions: kills parasites kills lice expels worms kills insects kills larva treats malaria prevents ulcers stimulates digestion increases bile reduces fever

Other Actions: reduces inflammation kills cancer cells kills leukemia cells prevents tumors kills viruses dries secretions cleanses blood mildly laxative sedates increases saliva

Standard Dosage: Wood, Bark. Infusion: 1 cup 2-3 times daily; Capsules: 1-2 g 2-3 times daily; Maceration: 1 cup 2-3 times daily.

Amargo is a small tropical tree, growing only 2-6 m in height. It is indigenous to Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, Suriname, Colombia, Argentina, and Guyana. Known botanically as Quassia amara, the common name amargo means "bitter" in Spanish and describes its very bitter taste.

Amargo bark contains many active constituents including bitter principles reported to be 50 times more bitter than quinine. While amargo contains many of the same types of antimalarial chemicals as quinine bark, it also contains another chemical called quassin. The bark also contains the phytochemicals that have demonstrated antileukemic and antitumorous properties in various studies, besides antimalarial, antiviral, antitumor, and anticancer activities.

Several early clinical studies performed on amargo verified its traditional use as a natural insecticide, documenting it as an effective treatment for head lice infestation in humans. One of these studies reported a 99% effectiveness in 454 patients who had only two topical treatments one week apart. In a 1991 double-blind placebo trial on 148 children with head lice, those treated with an amargo bark extract reported fewer new cases, demonstrating a preventative activity against lice. In addition, an amargo water extract has been reported to work quite well against aphids in the garden. Since amargo has long been used for malaria in South America, researchers studied this biological effect as well. One study showed strong in vivo antimalarial activity in mice.
Amargo was also reported to have antiviral activity when scientists at Texas Christian University demonstrated in 1996 that a water extract was active in vitro against cells infected with HIV. A 1978 in vivo study reported that amargo wood and/or sap extracts (as well as the isolated chemical quassimarin) inhibited the growth of leukemia in mice. Most recently, in 2002, an extract of the amargo wood was shown to have antiulcerous actions in mice, inhibiting the formation of gastric ulcers (induced by stress and various chemical means). In another in vivo study, amargo was reported to have pain-relieving, muscle-relaxant, and sedative effects in rats and mice.

Traditionally, amargo has been used in different ways.
Following- up, a brief summary of worldwide ethnomedical uses:

Region	Uses
Brazil	for anemia, anorexia, colic, debility, dental pain, diarrhea, digestion disorders, dysentery, dyspepsia, fever, flatulence, gallbladder problems, gallstones, gastrointestinal disorders, gonorrhea, kidney stones, liver problems, malaria, measles, urinary insufficiency, vaginal discharge, and as a bitter digestive stimulant
Costa Rica	for diabetes, diarrhea, fever, worms
Europe	for bile insufficiency, digestive disorders, fleas, gallstones, liver disease, parasites, scabies, threadworms, and as a bitter digestive stimulant
Guatemala	for constipation, diabetes, high blood pressure, nervousness
Mexico	for digestive disorders, gallbladder problems, intestinal parasites, liver disorders, worms, and as a digestive stimulant
Nicaragua	for anemia, bug bites, intestinal parasites, malaria, stings, worms, and as an astringent
Panama	for hyperglycemia, fever, liver disorders, malaria, snakebite
Peru	for cleansing blood, digestive disorders, edema, fever, gallstones, hepatitis, intestinal parasites, kidney stones, stimulating digestion, tuberculosis, worms, and as an insecticide
South America	for anorexia, cleansing blood, debility, digestive disorders, carcinoma, cirrhosis, constipation, fever, fleas, hyperglycemia, indigestion, leukemia, lice, liver disorders, malaria, parasites, scabies, snakebite, spasms, stimulating digestion, worms, and as a aphidicide and insecticide
Turkey	for diarrhea, digestive difficulty, dysentery, fever, malaria, urinary insufficiency and as an astringent and tonic
United States	for alcoholism, anorexia, bowel cleansing, convalescence, debility, digestive disorders, fever, gallbladder problems, increasing saliva, intestinal parasites, lice, liver support, spasms, stimulating bile production, stimulating digestion, worms
Venezuela	for constipation, dysentery, fever, worms and as a tonic
Elsewhere	for amebic infections, bacterial infections, cancer, carcinoma, fever, liver disorders, malaria, snakebite, stimulating digestion, tumors, worms, and as an insecticide and tonic

AMARGO PLANT SUMMARY

Main actions (in order):	antiparasitic, pediculicide (kills lice), digestive stimulant, bitter digestive aid, liver bile stimulant, antilithic (prevents kidney stones)
Main uses:	for lice and skin parasites for intestinal parasites and amebic infections for malaria for digestive problems (ulcers, dyspepsia, intestinal gas and bloating, sluggish digestion, anorexia) as a liver/gallbladder aid to increase bile and eliminate toxins and stones
Properties/Actions Documented by Research:	amebicide, analgesic (pain-reliever), anticancerous, antileukemic, antimalarial, antiparasitic, antitumorous, antiulcerous , antiviral, bitter, gastroprotective, insecticide, larvicide, muscle relaxant, pediculicide (kills lice), sedative
Other Properties/Actions Documented by Traditional Use:	antibacterial, antilithic (prevents kidney stones), antispasmodic, antivenin, carminative (expels gas), febrifuge (reduces fever), liver and gallbladder bile stimulant, digestive stimulant, hepatoprotective (liver protector), hepatotonic (tones, balances, strengthens liver functions), hypoglycemic, sialogogue (increases saliva), tonic (tones, balances, strengthens), vermifuge (expels worms)
Traditional Preparation:	The traditional remedy as a digestive aid is 1/2 teaspoon of wood powder infused in one cup of boiling water. This is taken 10-15 minutes before or with meals. Alternatively, 1g in tablets or capsules can be taken two or three times daily on an empty stomach for an internal parasite cleanse. Another remedy calls for 2 teaspoons of wood powder or chips to be soaked in 1 cup of cold water overnight (a cold maceration). This is drunk for internal parasites, gallstones, and digestive disorders. This maceration can also be used topically for skin/hair parasites or as a bug spray, especially for aphids on plants and fleas on the dog. For head lice or fleas, prepare a cold maceration (allowing it to macerate/soak for 24 hours). Strain and pour through the hair or apply directly to the skin. It can be washed off in an hour (or simply left on the dog). For lice, repeat every three days for three applications, and for fleas, apply once monthly. Also, a small handful of amargo wood chips can be placed in backyard ponds/fountains (or a few chips in bird baths) to kill mosquito larvae without harming fish or birds.
Contraindications:	It interferes with fertility. Large amounts might cause nausea and stomach irritation. Amargo should not be used during pregnancy.
Drug Interactions:	None reported. However, amargo may interfere with male fertility drugs.

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