Description

Copaiba is a handsome shrub or trees (most of them middle or large-sized), full of small leathery leaves, and adorned with white blossoms.  Copaiba oil is a natural product that is harvested in the upper Amazon basin of Peru.  It is derived from the deteriorated cell walls of the copaiba tree trunk.  Copaiba is the tree's resin and contains essential oil. 

Uses and Cultivation

Copaiba is the most sustainable rainforest resource that is harvested without cutting through the entire tree or destroying the forest in which it grows.  It is traditionally used as an herbal remedy either topically or internally for dermatitis and psoriasis.  In larger doses, copaiba is an irritant; in medicinal doses it is a stimulant and diuretic.  It acts on mucous tissues of the system, diminishing excessive secretions.  Copaiba is also believed to have disinfectant properties. 

Closely resembling turpentine, copaiba is a transparent liquid of the consistency of olive oil, pale yellow with a peculiar odor and bitter taste.  Copaiba is used in making varnishes and lacquers.  The oil can be used for industrial production of perfumes and pharmaceutical items, as well as developing photographs.  This oil, however, is used mostly for medicinal purposes.

Copaiba oil is considered a staple medicinal plant in Peru with a wide variety of uses.  Copaiba resin is sold in gel capsules in stores and pharmacies in Brazil and recommended for all types of inflammation, stomach ulcers and cancer.