tepezcohuite-1

Tepezcohuite or Tepescohuite is traditionally known as "skin tree".

Toast of Tepezcohuite bark was used by the Mayans in the treatment of skin lesions, and there is still employed by their particular efficacy in the treatment of burns. Its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anesthetic and regenerative effects gave it the nickname 'miracle tree'.

Botany

Kingdom: Plants
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Subclass: Rosidae
Order: Fabales
Family: Mimosoidae – Mimosaceae
Species: Acacia tenuifolia (L) Willd

Description:

Thorny tree, woody stem of about 8 m high and 10 to 15 cm. in diameter, slightly pubescent, with leaves of 10 to 25 cm. alternate long or complex of 20 to 40 chips and linear oblong, almost sessile or petiole 1 to 2.5 cm. long, the rachis sometimes thorny. Stipules are linear, 4 to 8 mm. long. White flowers small, sessile, in long dense spikes of 5 to 8 cm. and with shaped pods oblong, 7 cm. wide.

Distribution:

Originally from Mexico. We found it in Chiapas state in Cintalapa Central Valley and the area northwest of the coastal plain of the Pacific. In addition to a small part of the Northwest region of Guatemala.

Habitat:

In warm weather between 50 and 600 meters above sea level. Associated with tropical deciduous forest and xerophilous scrub, and in pasture, which is regarded as climax vegetation.

A little history

The Maya have always been interested in research and application of the plants that populate the vast geography of Mexico, using a food and for other medicinal or cosmetic purposes. Within the wide range of natural products produced by Mexico in the world today, we found a plant, which by their shape and location, in pre-Hispanic times was called "Tepezcohuite”, name roots of nahuatl according to the official experts, tepezcuahuitl comes from the word, meaning "hill of the tree that bleeds." This shrub was used by the Maya for more than 10 centuries as a cure for skin diseases.

Toasted Tepezcohuite was used by the Maya to the tenth century for the treatment of superficial lesions in the skin. Today is used as it has a powerful cellular regenerator. Its brilliance as a civilization coincides with the peak of his classical period (250-900 AD), so when the Spanish navigator Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba arrived in 1517 the coast of the Yucatan peninsula, found only a shadow of its former glory. However the Maya "footprint" is still very clearly in many parts Mesoamerican, and from their customs, habits and traditions we can learn and benefit studies. The
Tepezcohuite had no secrets to the Maya and since immemorial time, it has been used to treat skin lesions. The application of the dust crust on wounds and burns relieves pain especially and greatly accelerates the recovery, avoiding even the appearance of scars.

Such regenerative properties of the skin, made Mayas think it was a sacred tree. Therefore, the inherited traditions of those original Americans relative effects "magic" of Tepezcohuite in the treatment of ulcers, wounds and burns of various kinds. Ancestral knowledge that is not being forgotten, and came to us thanks to the popular traditions.

Interestingly modern science and recent research confirms the excellent properties of this natural product. So we can say that the Tepezcohuite possesses bacteriostatic qualities, antiseptic, analgesic, healing and regenerating.

In 1984, in a factory there was an explosion, leaving 500 people with severe burns. Dr. Leon Roque who was familiar with the Tepezcohuite, wanted to check the healing capacity of the plant by applying it to the people burned. He applied powder from the bark of Tepezcohuite as a cure for skin burn. With that test checked the capacity of anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anesthetic and regenerator it has.

During the earthquake in Mexico, it was used and considered a miracle in action in Tlalnepantla hospitals.

And because these capacities, Tepezcohuite has been widely used in pharmacology and cosmetics as an agent of rejuvenating the skin, mixed with other products such as ginseng, is a more effective treatment. To this end, people have developed products such as creams, soaps, shampoos and lotions.

For all these reasons and more, it is not surprising that the Mayans believed that the plant Tepezcohuite was a "miracle."

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