Ritualistic use of the holly Ilex guayusa by Amazonian Jívaro Indians.
J Ethnopharmacol
; 33(1-2): 25-30, 1991.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-1682531
In Amazonian Peru and Ecuador leaf decoctions of the rainforest holly Ilex guayusa with high caffeine concentrations are used as a morning stimulant. After daily ingestion, ritualistic vomiting by male Achuar Indians, better known as Jívaros, reduces excessive caffeine intake, so that blood levels of caffeine and biotransformed dimethylxanthines do not cause undesirable CNS and other effects. Emesis is learned and apparently not due to emetic compounds.
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Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Plant Extracts
/
Indians, South American
/
Culture
Aspects:
Determinantes_sociais_saude
Limits:
Humans
/
Male
Country/Region as subject:
America do sul
/
Ecuador
/
Peru
Language:
En
Journal:
J Ethnopharmacol
Year:
1991
Document type:
Article
Country of publication:
Ireland