The Uses of Mimosa Hostilis

Historical Shamanic and Ritual Uses

• The root bark is used to make a concoction called Jurema wine by indigenous people and by Afro-Brazilian cults. The drink supposedly enhances spiritual and ritual proceedings. The plant is considered sacred with a spiritual identity in shamanic use. No outsider is allowed to know the process of concocting the drink or the exact use of it in ritual. The plant is also important to the indigenous Brazilian population because of its status in the ecosystem. The plant drops its leaves in the beginning of the dry season and resprouts in the rainy season. This represents the cycle of life, death and rebirth.

Firewood, Building and Art

• The plant is used for firewood in the Brazilian area known as caatinga. The heavy wood is also used for building fences and other smaller structures such as animal pens and corrals. The plants are placed close together making living, green fences. In South America, many countries use the wood for charcoal. The tannins are extracted from the bark and used for tanning hides. The tannin is also part of a strong dye for fabric and leather.

Beauty Products

• Consumers are looking for natural beauty products, and Mimosa bark extract is used in shampoos, conditioners and topical creams. The bark is said to stimulate collagen formation, which makes hair and skin appear young and healthy. The bark has a high amount of tepezcohuite, the impetus for the collagen production. Many beauty products sold online require no testing or governing approval, so it is best to take these claims with skepticism.

Medicinal Uses

• The bark is rich in tannins, alkaloids, lipids, phytosterols and other healing compounds. It is used to heal skin disorders and burns. It cures infections and treats inflammations. The Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology cite several studies showing the plant effective in treating eczema, inflammations, wounds and even venous leg ulceration disease.