Pao pereira
Geissospermum vellosii
Herbs & Roots. Dr. Sebi's list and Latin American & Amazon.
Also called Pau pereira, Pereira bark, Geissospermum bark
Alkaloid bark, little safety dataA Brazilian tree whose bitter bark is used for fevers and malaria in folk medicine. Its alkaloids have been studied in cells and animals, not in people.
Did you know? Pereirine, a bitter alkaloid from this bark, has been used in herbal medicine since the early 1830s.
What it may help, and how strong the proof is
- Pain & headaches. Animal studies show strong pain relief from its preparations. No human trials were found.Traditional proof
- Infections. Lab and mouse studies show activity against malaria parasites, but some mice showed toxicity.Traditional proof
Parts of the body
Traditional use
In Brazil the bark has been used for pain, fevers, malaria, liver trouble and poor appetite. These uses come from folk practice, not tested trials.
How it is classified
How people take it
Bark is simmered into a bitter tea or tincture. No tested dose exists in people.
Decoction and tincture.
Where to get it
Grows in the rainforests of Brazil and the Amazon region. Sold as bark chips, powder and tinctures, often without clear species names.
Be careful
Alkaloids in the bark can affect the nervous system. Mouse studies show toxic effects at some doses, and no safe human dose is known. Avoid it in pregnancy.
Avoid if: pregnancy; breastfeeding.
Mixing with other things
No specific mixing notes on file. That doesn't prove it's safe with everything; ask a pharmacist about your full list.
The honest take
Pao pereira has real lab and animal work on malaria and pain, but no good human trials. Claims about cancer and HIV are unproven in people. Its alkaloids can be toxic in animals, so caution is needed.