A Closer Look at Erva Tostão Root
by Jennifer Good

Looking for the perfect natural remedy to help with almost any liver disorder? If you eat a typical Western diet that is hard on the liver, then you may want to hear about this week’s featured ingredient, erva tostão root. It can be found in the roots of the vigorous, low-growing spreading vine that is indigenous to Brazil. It is also indigenous to India, where it is found in abundance in the warmer parts of the country. Sometimes considered an invasive weed, erva tostão produces white and yellow flowers and can be found in tropical and warm-climate countries. The roots of erva tostão have held an important place in herbal medicine in both Brazil and India for many years.

In India, Erva tostão is called punarnava, where it has a long history of use by indigenous and tribal people and in Ayurvedic herbal medicine systems. There, the roots are employed as a diuretic, stomachic, laxative, and emmenagogue to increase menstrual flow. It is also used to address gonorrhea, internal inflammation of all kinds, dropsy, jaundice, menstrual problems, anemia, and liver, gallbladder, and kidney disorders.

It is employed in Brazilian herbal medicine both as a cholagogue to promote the flow of bile and as a diuretic. It is used for all types of liver disorders (including: jaundice, hepatitis, cirrhosis, anemia, flukes, detoxification, and chemical injury), gallbladder aches and stones, urinary tract disorders, cystitis, kidney disorders including stones, and nephritis. In fact, G. L. Cruz, one of Brazil's leading medical herbalists, reports that erva tostão is "a plant medicine of great importance, extraordinarily beneficial in the treatment of liver disorders."

While herbalists have been using this root as a natural remedy for years, more recent studies have validated many of its medicinal uses. For instance, researchers demonstrated in 1980 and again in 1991 that a root extract provided antihepatotoxic properties in animals which protected the liver from numerous introduced toxins.1

And more recent studies have shown that it may even be effective in inhibiting the growth of cancer cells. It has also been used to tone, balance, and strengthen the adrenal glands as well as for adrenal exhaustion and excess cortisol production.2

Traditionally, you can take erva tostão as a tonic or tincture. You can also find it in capsule or tablet form.

Learn more on how Jon Barron uses this ingredient in his liver flush tea here.

For more great topics on natural health visit the website, JonBarron.org!