This product is no longer sold by Raintree Nutrition, Inc. See the main product page for more information on why. Click on one of the product search links in the left margin of this page to find other available products. You can also see the rainforest products page to find other companies selling rainforest herbal supplements or rainforest plants in general.
Erva tostão contains flavonoids, steroids, and alkaloids, many of which drive its documented biological activities.* It has a long history of use in the Amazon for various liver and kidney problems.* For more information about erva tostão (Boerhaavia diffusa), please refer to the Database File for Erva Tostão in the Tropical Plant Database. To see pictures of erva tostão, click here.
Traditional Uses:* for liver disorders (jaundice, hepatitis, cirrhosis, anemia, flukes, detoxification, chemical injury, etc.); for gallbladder disorders (stones, sluggish function, low bile production, emptying, and detoxification); for kidney and urinary tract disorders (stones, nephritis, urethritis, infections, renal insufficiency/injury, etc.); for menstrual disorders (pain, cramps, excessive bleeding, uterine spasms, water retention); to tone, balance, and strengthen the adrenals (and for adrenal exhaustion and excess cortisol production)
Suggested Use: This plant is best prepared as a decoction. Use one teaspoon of powder for each cup of water. Bring to a boil and gently boil in a covered pot for 20 minutes. Allow to cool and settle for 10 minutes and strain warm liquid into a cup (leaving the settled powder in the bottom of the pan). It is traditionally taken in 1 cup amounts, 2-3 times daily. For more complete instructions on preparing herbal decoctions see the Methods for Preparing Herbal Remedies Page.