Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Matico (Piper aduncum) has a long history of traditional use in South American herbal medicine, particularly for treating external ulcerations, wounds, and other skin injuries. Indigenous peoples and local healers have used crushed leaves or poultices of Matico as a topical application to help stop bleeding, promote wound healing, and reduce infection. The plant's common name, "soldier’s herb," reflects its historical use by soldiers to treat wounds in the field. The traditional rationale is attributed to the plant's astringent and antiseptic properties, believed to derive from its rich content of essential oils and flavonoids.

While some preliminary laboratory studies have suggested that Matico extracts exhibit antimicrobial activity and may aid in wound healing, robust scientific clinical data are lacking. No large-scale, well-controlled human trials have been conducted to definitively validate its efficacy for ulcerations. Therefore, the primary justification for its use remains traditional, supported by ethnobotanical records and centuries of empirical use, rather than modern scientific validation. The evidence rating is 2, reflecting suggestive but not conclusive support from in vitro studies and historical use, but not from clinical research.

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