Abutua, commonly known as Cissampelos pareira, is a plant traditionally used in South American and some Asian systems of herbal medicine. Its use for canker sores (aphthous ulcers) is based primarily on ethnobotanical practices and oral traditions rather than on robust scientific study. Traditional healers have employed Abutua preparations for a range of inflammatory and mucosal conditions, sometimes including mouth ulcers, due to its reputed anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antimicrobial properties. However, these uses are documented mostly in herbal compendiums and ethnomedicinal surveys rather than in peer-reviewed clinical studies.

To date, there is very limited direct scientific evidence specifically examining the efficacy of Abutua for the treatment of canker sores. Some laboratory studies have identified general anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects in extracts of Cissampelos pareira, but these findings are preliminary and not directly linked to oral ulcer healing in humans. Clinical trials or comparative studies for this specific indication are lacking. Therefore, while its use persists in some traditional medicine contexts, the evidence supporting Abutua for canker sores is weak and primarily anecdotal or traditional rather than scientific.