Iporuru and Tayuya for Relief from Joint and Muscle Pain and Soreness
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Iporuru is a shrub that is native to the Amazon Rainforest
and parts of Africa. It grows widely in flood plains along
the banks of the Amazon River in Peru, but can also be
found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay, and
Venezuela. Iporuru is completely submerged underwater
during the rainy season and only harvested during the dry
season. It is believed that Iporuru’s medicinal compounds are only present during the dry season.
Effective medicinal compounds in iporuru are said to be in the bark and leaves. Native Amazonians have traditionally
used the bark and leaves for soothing joint and muscle pain and improving flexibility. Iporuru has been the main constituent used by Native Amazonians for recovery after battle and hard work.
In addition, the Shipibo Indians in Peru use it for treating rheumatism. It has also been used by indigenous Amazonians in Peru to treat osteoarthritis. Much of Iporuru’s effectiveness in joint and muscle health are attributed to high concentrations of flavonoids and alkaloids that stop inflammatory actions at the cellular level. The flavonoids are also believed to relax skeletal
muscles.
One of very few studies done on iporuru was conducted in Sweden. The study showed that iporuru reduced swelling and inflammation in rats when applied topically. It also showed that iporuru inhibited the activity of compounds that promote inflammatory processes and diseases. Other researchers in the United States observed similar anti-inflammatory effects in rats injected with an iporuru extract.
Despite the fact that not much research has been done on iporuru, products containing iporuru are sold in local markets and herbal pharmacies throughout Peru. There it is highly recommended for arthritis and rheumatism. In North America, it is becoming more popular among athletes and holistic health practitioners for the nutritional support it provides to muscle and joint structures. In addition, it has been reported as having analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, making it popular in the United States for addressing arthritis and joint problems.
However, very few iporuru products are sold in the United
States. It is only available through a handful of companies,
which mostly include it in multi-herb combination formulas.
One herb that is often combined with iporuru is tayuya,
which is a vine native to the Amazon Rainforest. Tayuya mainly grows in Brazil and Peru, but is also found in Bolivia. Other species of tayuya are found in West Africa, Madagascar, Indonesia, and warm regions of the Americas. Unlike iporuru, tayuya can only be harvested during the rainy season because during the dry season, the ground is too hard to dig up the root, which is the main component used medicinally.
Tayuya has a long history in Brazilian herbal medicine,
where it was listed in the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia in 1929.
A Brazilian botanist reported use of tayuya to treat pain.
Today it is widely used in Brazil as an analgesic and antiinflammatory agent as well as to treat arthritis, rheumatism, and pain due to arthritis, migraines and headaches, stomach aches, and menstruation. In North America, tayuya is mainly known for its pain-reducing properties. It is also recognized for its ability to combat rheumatism and is being used by athletes to help reduce lactic acid and swelling due to strenuous physical activity.
In general, tayuya is recommended by South American herbalists in combination with other plants, and not as a sole therapy. In the United States, herbal concoctions containing iporuru and tayuya have been successfully used to combat pain. For instance, a holistic practitioner in central Florida has treated many patients from all over North America suffering from chronic pain who were not able to achieve relief from pharmaceuticals.
Overall, both iporuru and tayuya provide nutrients to the joints and muscles and promote faster recovery from workouts, surgeries, and athletic competitions. Yet, while iporuru is known best for its anti-inflammatory and joint and muscle support properties, and tayuya is known for its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, the complex and rich phytochemical makeup of these two herbs make them powerful in other areas as well. For instance, iporuru is known for its ability to combat male infertility and to promote female fertility. It is also used to combat coughs, allergies, and diabetes. Tayuya—as recognized by the National Cancer Center Research Institute in Japan—is also known for its anti-cancer and anti-tumor properties. It is also recognized for its ability to address eczema and other skin problems and syphilis.
Those interested in iporuru and tayuya should seek herbal concoctions provided by reputable suppliers, as only specific species of the plants provide the relief touted by herbalists and researchers.
Deirdre DeVane is the founder of Perpetual Chi, a company now building an online repository of studies and peer-reviewed research articles on the benefits of plantbased diets and the efficacy of plant-based and other natural healing modalities. For more on herbs from the Amazon call 678-642-8615 or 888-300-3507 ext.801. Or visit www.perpetual-chi.amazonherb.net.
