Capifera species
Other names: Balsam Copaiba, Copal, Jesuit’s Balsam, Mal-dos-sete-dias
Copaiba is a giant tropical legume found in the rain forests of Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela
Copaiba offers quick relief of skin inflammation and irritation. Copaiba shampoos relieve dandruff, and the herb has also been used to treat basal cell carcinoma, the most common type of skin cancer. Copaiba has beneficial effects on mucous membranes.
Benefits of copaiba for specific health conditions include the following:
Arthritis, eczema, gonorrhea, herpes, psoriasis, and syphilis. Copaiba relieves the symptoms of a wide range of diseases that cause inflammation of soft tissue or mucous membranes. Laboratory tests show that the resin acts by reducing the permeability of capillary walls to histamine, the chemical responsible for painful swelling in all of these conditions. The volatile oil is antimicrobial and prevents secondary infections in eczema, herpes, and psoriasis.