Steffensia Elongata (Matico)

Other Names: Artanthe elongata, Stephensia elongata, Piper granulosum, Yerba soldado, Soldier's Herb, Thoho-thoho, Moho-moho, Metico.

Part Used: Dried leaves.

Where It Grows: Found mainly in Peru, but has spread to many tropical regions of America. While it can grow in English botanical gardens, it doesn't flower there.

Description:
Matico is a shrub that can grow up to 8 feet tall. It has many branches that are thick at the joints, with younger branches covered in hairs that fall off as they grow older. The leaves are bright green, shaped like a long oval with a wide base and a pointed tip. Each leaf is about 5 to 7 inches long, thick, with a fine network of veins that are more noticeable on the underside. The plant has long spikes made up of tiny yellow flowers that grow tightly around a fleshy center. The seeds inside the black fruit are about the size of a poppy seed. There are two types of leaves, one with a broad base and one with a narrower base. The plant has an aromatic smell and taste.

Main Ingredients:

• Volatile oil (a type of oil that evaporates easily)

• Matico camphor (in some plants, but not always)

• Asarol (found in some later specimens)

• Artanthic acid (a crystallizable acid)

• Tannin and resin (types of plant compounds)

Medicinal Uses:
In South America, Matico is used similarly to cubeb (a type of spice). The plant's oil helps stop bleeding and is used to treat wounds, ulcers, and infections in the urinary system. It is also used for treating diarrhea and dysentery. In Peru, Matico is thought to be an aphrodisiac (an herb that increases sexual desire). The plant is helpful for minor injuries like cuts, bites from leeches, or after tooth extraction. The underside of the leaf is especially useful for these purposes, and it is preferred over powdered Matico for treating wounds.