Butterfly blossom plants
Plant description
A stately tree, native to Central Africa
Medicinally used plant parts
The balm of twigs and the trunk. The extraction of the balsam is very complex. The bark is removed and the trunk is smouldered with burning torches.
After some time the balsam emerges from this wound and is collected. This is the raw balsam which has to go through various cleaning processes. The final product is a dark, syrupy and fragrant balsam. There are very different qualities in the trade. Contents materials: Cinnamein, a mixture of benzoic acid benzyl ester and cinnamic acid benzyl ester, resin, Cumarin, vanillin.
Curative effects and application
Peru balsam stimulates the healing of wounds. Used for purulent wounds, frostbites and for hemorrhoids also as suppository. Peru Balsam is often used in veterinary medicine.
Side effects can only be observed with long and extensive application on the skin. It can cause kidney irritation.