Agave, tequila plant (Agave species).Plant Part Used: Leaf, husk/bark, root.Dominican Medicinal Uses: Leaf: tea, orally, for stomach ache, ulcers; fresh juice added to mixture for asthma, lung infection; applied externally for headache, sprains and muscle strain; alcohol tincture for sexually transmitted infections; decoction, douche for vaginal infection. Bark/husk: decoction, orally for arthritis, joint pain and to cleanse the blood; multi-herb internal mixture for cysts, fibroids, tumors.Safety: Little data on toxicity; contact dermatitis reported due to oxalate crystals in leaves.Contraindications: Pregnancy.Laboratory & Preclinical Data: In vivo: anti-inflammatory (plant extract).In vitro: inhibition of cell division and capillary permeability (plant extracts and constituents).* See entry for Maguey in “Part 3: Dominican Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more information, including references.
Health Encyclopedia