Description

Guaco is a climbing vine of Asteraceae family.  The leaves are large; those of the mikania laevigata species exude a vanilla aroma when crushed together. ‘Guaco” is a common name, used for several species of mikania vines that look very similar and are used for similar purposes. However, guaco plants are all thornless, shrubby vines reaching about two meters in height and sprawling out two meters in diameter.  Natives refer to any viney plant with a heart-shaped leaf that is white and green on the top and purple on the underneath, as a guaco; naturalists disagree and are more specific about the each species of guaco.

Uses and Cultivation

Guaco is a popular and well known Brazilian herbal remedy for a variety of respiratory conditions.   Brazilian research validates much of its traditional uses but it is virtually unknown to North American consumers and health practitioners. In current herbal medicine systems in Brazil in the form of a medicinal tea, it is used as an expectorant and cough suppressant employed for all types of upper respiratory problems including bronchitis, pleurisy, colds and flu, coughs, and asthma; as well as for sore throats, laryngitis, and fever.