Pikrasma High and Kvassia Gorkaya

Pikrasma High and Quassia Bitter: Properties, Applications and Side Effects

Pikrasma tall and bitter quassia are two plants belonging to the Simarubaceae (Simaroubaceae) and used in medicine as pharmaceutical raw materials. Both plants contain bitterness and alkaloids, which have a stimulating effect on the digestive system. In this article, we will look at the botanical description, collection and harvesting process, as well as the uses, side effects and notes of these plants.

Botanical description

Picrasma tall is a tree reaching a height of 20 m, native to the West Indies. It resembles ash in its shape, has feathery leaves with 4-5 pairs of leaflets. The flowers are small, whitish to yellow-green in color, arranged in umbellate racemes. The fruits are black round drupes. The wood, which is a pharmaceutical raw material, is white and splits easily.

Quassia bitterta grows as a shrub or small tree, about 2 m in height, sometimes up to 3-5 m. It grows in Guyana, Panama, Colombia and Argentina. The odd-pinnate leaves have a lobed central axis. The flowers are red or meat-red in color and are grouped in racemes at the ends of the branches. The wood is also white and splits easily.

Collection and preparation

The felled trunks of picrasma and quassia are cut into blocks, branches - into pieces. After removing the bark, the wood is crushed to obtain a material suitable for making tea.

Healing effect and application

Pikrasma and quassia as a means to stimulate appetite and stimulate digestion are now used quite rarely; they are more often used in preparations prescribed for diseases of the stomach, intestines and biliary system. The bitterness and alkaloids contained in these plants speed up the digestion process, increase the production of bile and reduce the level of acidity in the stomach.

Side effects

When taken in large quantities, picrasma and quassia can cause vomiting, since the bitterness irritates the gastric mucosa. Pregnant women and patients suffering from stomach or duodenal ulcers should not drink tea from picrasma and quassia.

Note

Previously, tea from these plants was used in folk medicine as an anthelmintic, however, being ineffective, it is now completely forgotten. Also, picrasma with quassia were used as an insecticide, but now these plants do not appear in this role.

Results

Pikrasma high and bitter quassia are two plants used in medicine as pharmaceutical raw materials. They contain bitterness and alkaloids that stimulate the digestive system. However, if consumed in large quantities, it may cause side effects such as vomiting. Currently, picrasma and quassia are used in drugs prescribed for diseases of the stomach, intestines and biliary system. Although tea from these plants was previously used in folk medicine, its effectiveness was insufficient and it is no longer used.