URUCUM POWDER TEA (Bixa orellana) -  2 OZ / 60 gr

Ethnomedical Uses: Throughout the rainforest, indigenous tribes have used Urucum seeds as body paint and as a fabric dye. It has been traced back to the ancient Mayan Indians, who employed it as a principal coloring agent in foods, for body paints, and as a coloring for arts, crafts, and murals. Although mostly only the seed paste or seed oil is used commercially today, the rainforest tribes have used the entire plant as medicine for centuries. A tea made with Urucum is used as an aphrodisiac and astringent, and to treat skin problems, fevers, dysentery, and hepatitis.

Today in Brazilian herbal medicine, a decoction of Urucum is used to treat heartburn and stomach distress caused by spicy foods, and as a mild diuretic and mild laxative. It is also used for fevers and malaria, and, topically, to treat burns.

Urucum is very rich in pigments named bixin and norbixin, which are classified as carotenoids. Bixin, is extracted and used as a food colorant, but is a very effective protection against ultraviolet rays and has antioxidant and liver protective properties proven in clinical researches. Urucum powder is also recommended for prostate and urinary difficulties as well as for high cholesterol and hypertension if taken as standard decoction by the half-cupful two or three times daily.

Urucum is also used in paste as a natural dye for cloth and wool and is sometimes employed in the paint, varnish, lacquer, cosmetic, and soap industries. Urucum seed paste produced in Brazil is exported to North America and Europe, where it is used as a food coloring for margarine, cheese, microwave popcorn, and other yellow or orange foodstuffs. Many times, this natural food coloring replaces the very expensive saffron in recipes and dishes around the world.


Properties/Actions Documented by Research: aldose reductase inhibitor (linked to diabetic complications), antibacterial, antihemorrhagic (reduces bleeding) and antivenin.

Cautions: It may potentiate medications used to treat hypertension. The seed extract was reported to elevate blood sugar levels, and it is therefore contraindicated for people with diabetes.