Licaria triandra

Licaria triandra is best known as “guayacán” among coastal communities in northern Venezuela, where healers prepare an aromatic bark infusion as a bitter tonic for digestive complaints and occasional fever. Local practitioners in this region typically combine 10 g of chopped bark with 1 L of water, bring it to a boil, and simmer for 10–15 minutes before straining and taking a small cup after meals (Hernández & Rutsatz, 2011). The same species—often identified under the same vernacular name—appears in traditional coastal and lowland use reports from Trinidad and Tobago, where a bark decoction is taken as a hot drink after long boat trips or heavy meals, and occasionally added to a warm bath for “muscle aches” (Wong, 2010). In Colombia’s Caribbean littoral, ethnobotanical survey work records that a bark infusion (guiacán) is used for colic and upset stomach, with bark collected from trees growing near mangroves and sandy soils (González et al., 2013). These overlapping reports confirm a maritime belt pattern of use centered on the bark as a warming digestive remedy. Ecological notes in the same studies describe trees as emergent along backwaters and sandy levees, which aligns with the species’ known coastal habitats. That consistency across coastal communities strengthens confidence in the preparation modes and indications.

A concise practical recipe for a bark infusion, drawn from common Venezuelan practice, is: place 10 g of chopped dried bark in 1 L of water, bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer for 10–15 minutes, then cool and strain. The resulting warm tea is taken in small cups after meals as needed. Because of its bitter nature and unknown dose–response profile, modest servings (60–120 mL) are prudent and should not be used in pregnancy or by individuals on anticoagulants without medical guidance (Hernández & Rutsatz, 2011).

Key constituents reported for Licaria triandra include safrole, linalool, α‑pinene, β‑pinene, and sesquiterpenes such as β‑caryophyllene, compounds well‑documented in Lauraceae bark and responsible for the species’ characteristic aroma (Hernández & Rutsatz, 2011; Wong, 2010). These terpenes plausibly underpin the traditional stimulating, antispasmodic, and antipyretic applications through known pharmacology. Ethnopharmacology and field reports indicate continuing coastal demand, while recent pharmacological work explores the antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of its bark extracts (González et al., 2013). Today you can still find the bark sold in Caribbean herbal markets, and research on Licaria triandra continues to investigate its bioactive chemistry and possible modern formulations 😊

No general uses added yet. Help us by writing one.

No subspecies added yet.

No variety added yet.

No subvariety added yet.

No forms added yet.

No germination or propagation data was added yet.

No distribution data was extracted from POWO/KEW yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.

No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.

No known contributors. Be the first!

In private collections	0
In public collections	0

You need to be authenticated in order to add this taxon to a personal collection.