Prodigiosa
Brickellia cavanillesii
Herbs & Roots. Dr. Sebi's list and Latin American & Amazon.
Also called La prodigiosa, Planta prodigiosa, Eupatorium squarrosum
Spanish: La prodigiosa
Almost no safety dataA Mexican shrub brewed as a tea for diabetes. Lab work shows some blood sugar effects, but no human trials have been published.
Did you know? Its Spanish name, la prodigiosa, means the wondrous one, a nod to how widely people in Mexico use it for blood sugar.
What it may help, and how strong the proof is
- Blood sugar. Lab tests found enzyme-blocking compounds, and animal studies show lower blood sugar. No human trials were found.Traditional proof
- Blood pressure. Used for high blood pressure in folk medicine. Lab studies only.Traditional proof
- Digestion & gut health. Used for stomach complaints. No human trials were found.Traditional proof
Parts of the body
Pancreas & blood sugar, Heart & vessels, Gut & intestines, Stomach
Traditional use
Brewed as a tea in Mexico and Central America for diabetes, stomach trouble and high blood pressure. Some healers also use it for muscle spasms.
How it is classified
- Herbal actions
- Hypoglycemic, Antispasmodic. Energy: neutral.
How people take it
Leaves are brewed into a tea. No tested dose exists.
Tea.
Where to get it
Grows wild in dry mountain areas of Mexico, Central America and the southwestern United States. Sold as dried leaf in markets and online, often with unproven claims.
Be careful
Safety in people has not been studied. Its leaves contain a chemical that is toxic to other plants, and human effects are unknown. Ask a clinician first if you use diabetes or blood pressure medicines.
Avoid if: pregnancy; breastfeeding; diabetes medicines; before surgery.
Mixing with other things
- Use cautionDiabetes medicine (metformin, insulin, glipizide, Ozempic)
Lab studies suggest it may lower blood sugar, which could add to diabetes medicine effects.
Adds up with others that may lower blood sugar: , , , , , , , , , , , , , and 39 more.
The honest take
Prodigiosa has some lab evidence for blood sugar, but no human trials have been published. Its popularity comes from tradition and word of mouth. Consider it unproven.