The Living Rainforest > Explore > Different potions, different places

Different potions, different places

The trumpet tree or embauba (Cecropia peltata) is widely used in traditional medicine throughout Central and South America.

Trumpet tree (Cecropia peltata)

Virtually every part is used - bark, roots, sap, leaves and fruit - to treat a diversity of ailments. Each country has different uses for extracts of this plant - a medicine to treat bronchitis and snakebites in Trinidad is a cure for diabetes and hypertension in Guatemala.

Recent scientific research on embauba has shown potential for treating obesity, as well as bacterial infections and cancer. Embauba is regularly used throughout the world by herbalists for treating respiratory disorders and diabetes.

In the wild, these trees are almost always inhabited by biting Azteca ants.