What Health Issues Is Tepezcohuite Good for, and Are There Any Side Effects?

Tepezcohuite has been in the spotlight lately thanks to celebrity Salma Hayek coming out about using tepezcohuite in her skincare routine. According to Hayek, tepezcohuite powder helps prevent aging. 

Still, there’s a lot to understand about tepezcohuite, including what it is and its effects. For example, where does tepezcohuite come from, and does it have health benefits? 

Let’s take a closer look. 

Tepezcohuite is more commonly known as Mimosa tenuiflora, Mimosa hostilis, jurema preta, calumba, and binho de jurema. It is a perennial tree native to South and Central America, primarily Mexico and Brazil. Its extract contains many beneficial ingredients and has many therapeutic and antimicrobial properties. 

Tepezcohuite has several health benefits. In South America, tepezcohuite root bark is said to promote healthy minds and help those who have experienced trauma overcome their turmoil and recover from depression. Therefore, the root bark is commonly used in South American entheogenic brews. 

Many other health benefits are also attributed to tepezcohuite. Some contend that: 

Tepezcohuite is a natural antibiotic 

Tepezcohuite is known to help promote the healing of cuts and burns. It has anti-inflammatory compounds and natural antibiotics. These natural properties help prevent infections while promoting healing from various wounds and diseases. The powder found in tepezcohuite’s bark also contains antimicrobial and antifungal compounds. This helps prevent bacteria, fungi, and other infectious agents from causing illness. 

Due to these properties, tepezcohuite can be found in many health-related products, including acne and eczema creams, hair loss products, and herpes creams. 

Tepezcohuite helps strengthen the immune system 

Bacteria often invade our bodies surreptitiously and can threaten our immune systems. However, tepezcohuite seeds have amazing properties that help strengthen immune systems and keep you from contracting illnesses that would otherwise affect you in various ways. 

Tepezcohuite's health benefits may stem from the phytochemicals it contains, including rhamnose, phytosterols, lupeol, arabinose, glucosides, lipids, alkaloids, and saponins. 

Tepezcohuite has cosmetic properties 

Tepezcohuite has been called "the tree of skin" because of its skin-healing properties. As such, it has been used within the cosmetic industry to improve formulas and improve skin health. It is particularly valued in this industry for its antiseptic properties. 

Tepezcohuite relieves pain

Tepezcohuite appears to possess antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties, which make it a great product to help manage pain. The effects of tepezcohuite have been evaluated using mice.

Tepezcohuite helps with bronchitis and coughs 

The tepezcohuite tree has been recognized as having antifungal and antibacterial properties, which are thought to play a role in treating throat issues. To effectively treat problems such as bronchitis and simple coughs, you could try to boil and consume the stem-bark and leaves of the tepezcohuite tree.

Aside from improving physical health, tepezcohuite also has many other benefits. These include: 

Tepezcohuite has holistic mental health properties 

Many people have used the root bark of the tepezcohuite tree as an herb to treat symptoms of depression and mood disorders. It’s thought to help calm hearts, improve spirits, and aid people who experience insomnia, sorrow, grief, anger, and irritability. 

These reported effects may occur because the root bark from the tepezcohuite tree contains dimethyltryptamine (DMT), which is known to help people recover from depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, trauma, and other mental health conditions. 

Tepezcohuite can be used as a natural dye 

Besides its effects on physical and mental health, tepezcohuite can also be used as a natural dye, producing rich shades of browns and purples. Many people have used it as a textile dye due to its endurance and consistency. 

Tepezcohuite has even more uses 

Tepezcohuite helps animals in times of drought. It offers animals a place to forage and gives them access to beneficial nutrients, including protein. Tepezcohuite can survive well even during droughts and may become a good food source for local livestock and animals. 

In addition, tepezcohuite bark can be a great source of firewood and is often used in leather production. 

How tepezcohuite is applied depends on what it's being used for. For example, when applied to burns and wounds, the bark and root of the tepezcohuite tree are dried, pulverized, and topically applied to burns and wounds. In the case of stomach ulcers, powdered bark is turned into capsules to be internally digested.

To help with bronchitis or coughs, stem bark and leaves are boiled in water. The water is then used to make a tea or syrup that is given to the patient until the symptoms subside. To treat skin ulcers and vaginal infections, the leaves and stem bark are extracted through water and applied as an external wash to the affected areas.

Tepezcohuite is generally safe, and there are no known side effects. However, if you are purchasing a tepezcohuite product, it's essential to check any ingredients for possible allergic reactions and to consult your doctor if you're unsure about adding tepezcohuite products to your skincare routine. 

Additionally, you may want to avoid products made from this plant if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Studies on the safety of tepezcohuite products have not considered their effect on pregnant people, but in the cases of animals, fetal abnormalities and embryonic deaths have been associated with this plant.