An Amazonian Traditional for accelerated
healing of wounds and cuts

Chima Matiku

AO Chima Matiku
(Aristeguietia glutinosa L.
with Piper aduncum L. from Peru)
("CHEE'-mah Mah-TEE'-koo")

Code 805 -- Price: $8.95
8 fl. oz. (236 ml.)

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Summarized Description: Chima Matiku (its Quechuan name, also commonly known as simply "Matico") is a wound-healing plant found only in Ecuador. The term "matico," however, has become, in South America, a term which relates more to function than to exact plant species. The two plants used in this formula, by way of example, don't even belong to the same taxonomical family. The information available on Piper aduncum L. (Piperaceae), which is prolific and grows in far more diverse environs, is -- as one would expect -- much more abundant. Taylor [ 1 ] tells of the South American legend of a wounded Spanish soldier named Matico, who "probably learned from the Indians that applying the leaves to his wounds stopped them from bleeding, hence the name 'matico' or 'soldier's herb or tree.' I cannot verify this legend from independent sources, but I have spoken extensively with friends, veteran Ecuadorean army soldiers of the Orienté, many of them veterans of the Alto Cenepa War, and an inordinate number claim to have carried "matico" leaves when they were in battle. So important was it to be able to heal wounds quickly -- particularly when fighting in the jungle.
Duke also mentions a source relating how "matico" was introduced in the U.S. and Europe as a styptic and astringent for wounds by a Liverpool physician in 1839. [ 2 ] Regardless, I know from my own indigenous sources that the use of "matico" for accelerating the healing of cuts and wounds goes far back into antiquity.
Because H3O is, itself, a wound accelerant and was used for this purpose by physicians prior to the FDA destruction of our U.S. lab in 2003, we wanted to know if there was a synergistic effect from using Matico with H3O -- and although results were preliminary, we could clearly see that it did.
Out of this effort comes our Chima Matiko.


aticos (both varieties) are widely used traditionals found primarily throughout the lower level Andes mountains. The leaves and stems are the primary medicant used. It has many medicinal uses, but the focus of our formulation is as a wound healer. Although Aristeguietia glutinosa L. is making a comeback in Loja province, where we obtain our leaves -- and we even have friends who are cultivating it -- it is still listed as an "endangered species" due to past deforestation in the Andean highlands. And so, if nothing more than out of respect, we formulated this product together with its namesake from Peru, whose leaves have the same wound-healing property.
This formula is designed for external use only.


Uses & Protocols
Our Chima Matiko is anti-microbial across all classes of pathogenic organisms. It is an astringent; accelerates blood clotting; and initiated a series of actions that speeds up the healing process.
It can be poured liberally over a cut or wound, or, if the wound not severe, dabbed with cotton gauze, pad, or a Q-tip®.

Ingredients
Extract of Peruvian matico (Piper aduncum L.), Chima Matiku (Aristeguietia glutinosa L.),, H3O solution, hydrogen peroxide.

Shelf-Life
This product has a shelf-life of not less than five years from the date of purchase.

James Duke's Handbook of Medical Plants of Latin America
Medicinal Activities
Further information for practitioners: World-famous botanist Dr. James Duke attributes the following activities to "matico" (Piper aduncum L. -- Piperaceae family), (p. 548-552; see hardcopy cover at right), drawn from the extant literature. (See his "level of efficacy" classification on our amazon traditionals page; followed by Duke's bibliographic abbreviations (in capital letters), which we identify on a separate page.)

  • Antigonorrheal (1; X8583798);
  • Antihemorrhagic (f: RA2);
  • Antiinflammatory (f; RA2);
  • Anti-leishmanic (1; RA2; X10223942; X10390243);
  • Antinauseant (f; RA2);
  • Antiseptic (f1; DAV; MD2; RA2);
  • Antispasmodic (f; RA2);
  • Antiviral (1; RA2);
  • Antiyeast (1; RA2);
  • Aphrodisiac (f; HHB);
  • Astringent (f1: MAD; MD1, RA2);
  • Bactericide (1; RA2; X15894143; X8158163);
  • Candidicide (1; RA2, X17234373);
  • Carminative (f; RA2);
  • Cholagogue (f: MPB; RA2);
  • Cicatrizant (f; DLZ; RA2);
  • Cytotoxic (1; RA2; X8158163);
  • Decongestant (f; RA2);
  • Depurative (f: RA2);
  • Digestive (f; RA2);
  • Diuretic (f; HHB; JFM; RA2);
  • Expectorant (f; RA2);
  • Fungicide (1; RA2);
  • Gram(+)icide (1; RA2; X15894143);
  • Gram(-)icide (1; RA2; X15894143);
  • Homostat (f1; MAD, MD2, PH2, RA2);
  • Insecticide (f1; JFM; RA);
  • Laxative (f; JFM);
  • Moluscacide (1; RA2; X8302955);
  • Mucolytic (f; RA2);
  • Nervine (f: RA2);
  • PAF-Inhibitor (1; X15693713);
  • Panacea (f; RA2);
  • Pectoral (f; DLZ);
  • Purgative (f; RA2);
  • Resolvent (f; RA2);
  • Sedative (f; JFM);
  • Stimulant (f; JFM; MAD; RA2);
  • Stomachic (f; RA2);
  • Styptic (f; RA2);
  • Tonic (f; MAD, RA2);
  • Uterotonic (f; RA2);
  • Vulnerary (f; MAD; RA2).


Indications
Further information for practitioners: Duke provides the following indications for this plant:
  • Bacteria (f1; HHB; PH2; RA2; X15894143; X8158163; X8302955).
  • Bites (f; PH2);
  • Bleeding (f1; HHB; MAD; MD2; PH2; RA2);
  • Bronchosis (f; DAV; RA2);
  • Cancer, stomach (f; RA2);
  • Candida (1; RA2; X17234373);
  • Catarrh (f; MAD; RA2);
  • Cholera (f; MPB);
  • Colds (f; RA2);
  • Congestion (f; RA2);
  • Constipation (f; JFM);
  • Coughs (f; RA2);
  • Cystitosis (f; JFM; MAD; RA2);
  • Diarrhea (f; JFM; PH2; RA2);
  • Digestion (f; RA2);
  • Dysentery (f; JFM; PH2; RA2);
  • Dysmenorrhea (f; DAV; DLZ);
  • Dyspepsia (f; DAV; RA2);
  • Dysuria (f; MAD);
  • Enterosis (f; DAV; RA2);
  • Epistaxis (f; MAD);
  • Fever (f; RA2);
  • Fungus (f; RA2);
  • Hematuria (f; DLZ; MAD);
  • Hemoptysis (f; JFM; HHB);
  • Hemorrhage (f; RA2);
  • Hemorrhoids (f; JFM; MAD);
  • Impotence (f; HHB);
  • Infection (f1; DAV; HHB; JFM; MD2; PH2, RA2; X158947143; X8158163; X8302955);
  • Inflammation (f; DAV; JFM; RA2);
  • Insomnia (f; JFM);
  • Kidney Stones (f; RA2);
  • Leishmania (f1; MD2; RA2; X10223942; X10390243);
  • Leucorrhea (f; JFM; MAD; MPB; RA2);
  • Malaria (f; DAV);
  • Menorrhagia (f; JFM; MAD; MD2);
  • Menstrual Colic (f; RA2);
  • Nausea (f; RA2);
  • Odontosis (f; PH2);
  • Pain (f; MD2);
  • Parasites (f; DLZ);
  • Pleurisy (f; RA2);
  • Pneumonia (f; RA2);
  • Polio (1; RA2; X12165336);
  • Prolapse (f; JFM; MPB; RA2);
  • Pulmonosis (f; MAD);
  • Rheumatism (f; DAV; RA2);
  • Sores (f; PH2; RA2);
  • Sore Throat (f; MD2; RA2);
  • Spasms (f; RA2);
  • Stomachache (f; RA2);
  • Tonsilitis (f; RA2);
  • Trichomonas (f; RA2);
  • Ulcers (f; RA2);
  • Urethritis (f; RA2);
  • Urogenitosis (f; PH2; RA2);
  • Uterosis (f; JFM; MAD; MPB; RA2);
  • Vaginosis (f; DAV; RA2);
  • VD (f1; JFM; MAD; RA2; X8583798);
  • Vomiting (f; RA2);
  • Wounds (f1; DLZ, HHB; MAD; PH2; RA2);
  • Yeast (1; RA2; X17234373).



Greg Caton --- Founder
Alpha Omega Labs
Guayaquil, Ecuador



To U.S. Users: This product have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Vilcabamba - taken from Montesueños - Sept. 19, 2009
Sourcing From
The Andes

Our Chima Matiku is sourced from the Andes mountains. (Piper aduncum L. is sourced from Northern Peru). Click photo to enlarge.

Matiku Leaves

The leaves are the most commonly used part of the Matiku tree. In addition to its wound-healing properties, both species of "matico" in this formula are aromatic. Click to enlarge.

Matiku tree

Ecuadorean Matiku trees thrive in the Andes mountains of Southern Ecuador. This picture was taken on the Vilcabamba hacienda of Mike Adams, "Health Ranger" and publisher of NaturalNews.com.
Click to enlarge.

Matiku tree

Matikus are often used as ornamentals -- as seen in this photo, also taken in Vilcabamba, Ecuador. Click to enlarge.

Herbs of Southern Ecuador

My first exposure to Matiku was in the excellent, bilingual field guide, "Herbs of Southern Ecuador: A Field Guide to the Medicinal Plants of Vilcabamba" -- based largely on the life long work of herbalist and curendero, Don Cruz Roa, who lives just north of the town itself. [Therein, the plant is referred to as Matico (Piper augustifolium L.; which we believe to have been a small taxonomical error). ]
Click to enlarge.

Ethnobotanical
Usage
Duke provides a wide variety of ethnobotanical usage and dosage examples. Below, we include just a sampling of the historic use of this plant as it relates to wound healing:
  • Amazon Indians sprinkle crushed or powdered leaves onto cuts, ulcers, and wounds, or use the leaf tea infusion as a wash, or heated and pounded leaves as a poultice (RA2)
  • Amazon Indians use the leaves as antiseptic, for bleeding, infection, and wounds (RA2).
  • Americans (native) consider (the plant) astringent, diffusive, hemostat, soothing, urinary tonic, and vulnerary, taking leaf infusion for blennorrhagia, cholera, diarrhea, dysentery, dyspepsia, gonorrhea, hemorrhoids, leucorrhea, pulmonary or postpartum hemorrhages, and as a birthing aid, using topically as an astringent and styptic on ulcers, wounds, and top stop bleeding. (RA2).
  • Brazilians take leaf infusion as antiinflammatory, antispasmodic, carminative, diuretic, stomachic, tonic, and vulnerary, for blennorrhagia, cholera, cystitis, diarrhea, digestive disorders, dysentery, liver problems, pyelitis, wounds, and as uterine tonic to prevent prolapse (MPB; RA2).
  • Colombians use for pulmonary hemorrhages (RA2) . . . constipation, leucorrhea, kidney stones, pneumonnia, and stomachaches, inhaling powdered leaf for nose bleeds.
  • Guyanans paste macerated leaves and stems onto sores and wounds as vulnerary (RA2).
  • Haitians use the plant as aphrodisiac and hemostat, for blennorrhagia, dropsy, hepatoses, leucorrhea, rheumatism, skin problems and sores. (RA2)
  • Hondurans take leaf decoction for aches, pains, and as a digestive aid, applying topically as a skin cleaner (RA2).
  • Karijona Indians use as styptic and vulnerary, sprinkling dried leaf onto wounds (DAV; RA2; SAR).
  • Madre de Dios Peruvians use leaves as antiseptic and hemostat, the decoction for colds, conjunctivitis, and sore throats, and leaf tea for bleeding following childbirth and kidney pains, and apply leaves in honey to leishmanial sores (MD2).
  • New Guineans take leaf infusion for colds and diarrhea, using topically as antiseptic and to heal wounds (RA2).
  • Panamanians use the plant for bronchitis, cancer, decubitus ulcers, pleurisy, pneumonia, respiratory problems, stomach problems, trichomoniasis, ulcers, uterine disorders, vaginitis, and wounds. (RA2)
  • Puruvians eat the leaves as a "cure-all" (RA2)
Footnotes

  1. Taylor, Leslie. 2005. The Healing Power of Rainforest Herbs. SquareOne Publisher, Garden City Park, NY, as quoted in Duke's Handbook of Medicinal Plants of Latin America, CRC Press, 2009. Again, by Dr. James A. Duke, p. 549.
  2. Ibid., taken from RA2.