What is crajiru?

Crajiru is a climbing vine from the Amazon, used as a leaf tea and as a skin wash. Its botanical name is Fridericia chica. The leaves hold a deep red pigment that stains skin, cloth and water.

In Brazil and nearby countries it is also called pariri or chica leaf. Healers used it for wounds, skin rashes, gut cramps and "weak blood". Today it is sold as dried leaf, capsules, liquid extracts and skin gels.

Here is the honest verdict on the evidence. Nearly all the testing has been in test tubes and in animals. Good human trials are very few and very small.

So the health claims made for crajiru are not proven in people. Long traditional use is not proof that a remedy works, and it is not proof that it is safe. That point applies to everything on this page.

How does crajiru work?

No one has shown how crajiru works in the human body. The ideas below come from lab and animal work, not from people.

In test tubes, the red pigments and flavonoids in the leaf mop up reactive molecules. In rats and mice, leaf extracts have reduced swelling and helped skin wounds close faster. Whether the same happens on human skin is not established.

Lab studies also report that leaf extracts slow the growth of some bacteria and fungi. One lab theme is an effect on the parasite that causes leishmaniasis. These are early findings in dishes and animals only.

Animal work has also hinted at lower blood sugar and some stomach protection. These results are small, mixed and not confirmed in humans. Treat any mechanism story you read about crajiru as a hypothesis, not a fact.

What forms does crajiru come in?

Crajiru is sold and used in a few simple forms.

- Dried crushed leaf, brewed as a red tea or infusion - Capsules of powdered leaf - Liquid extracts and tinctures in alcohol or glycerine - Skin gels, creams and ointments made with leaf extract - Fresh leaf washes and poultices, used at home in growing regions

The raw leaf has long been used as a body and face paint. Product strength is not standardised, so two brands can differ widely.

Where it comes from:

Crajiru has deep standing in Amazonian plant medicine. Indigenous peoples of Brazil, Peru, Colombia and Venezuela used the red leaf as paint for skin and craft.

Healers also applied leaf washes and poultices to cuts, sores and skin eruptions. Teas were taken for gut cramps, diarrhoea and vaginal discharge. The plant also carried a reputation as a blood tonic for tiredness and pale skin.

Written records of these uses appear in Brazilian folk medicine surveys from the 1900s onward. The plant later entered Brazilian lists of medicinal species of interest for study. That listing marks research interest, not proof of benefit.

This history explains why people reach for crajiru. It does not tell you that the old uses hold up, and it is not a reason to self-treat a serious problem.

What does crajiru help with?

• Minor wounds, cuts and grazes (applied to skin): This is the main traditional use, as a wash or poultice on the skin. In rats, leaf extracts have sped up wound closure and reduced swelling. Human testing is almost absent, so the effect on your skin is unknown. Deep, dirty or spreading wounds need medical care, not a leaf wash.
• Skin rashes and irritation: Traditional healers used leaf washes for itchy or inflamed skin. Lab tests show the extract slows some bacteria and fungi in a dish. Whether that helps a rash on real skin has not been shown. The red pigment can also stain skin and clothes.
• Mouth and throat soreness: Cooled tea was used as a gargle for sore gums and throat. The tannins in the leaf have a drying, astringent feel, which may be why it was liked. There are no human trials for this use.
• Diarrhoea and gut cramps: Tea was taken for loose stools and cramping belly pain. Tannin-rich plants can firm stools, and animal work hints at a calming effect on the gut. Human evidence is lacking. Diarrhoea with blood, fever or signs of dehydration is a reason to see a doctor, not to self-treat.
• Vaginal discharge (traditional wash): Leaf washes were used for discharge and irritation. There is no human evidence that this helps, and it may delay care. Discharge can signal an infection that needs testing and treatment.
• Tiredness blamed on "weak blood": The red colour gave crajiru a folk name as a blood builder. This is colour symbolism, not iron content. The leaf is not a treatment for anaemia (low red blood cells), and anaemia needs a blood test to find its cause.
• Joint and muscle aches: Tea and rubs were used for aches and swelling. Animal studies report an anti-inflammatory effect from leaf extracts. No human trial supports using crajiru for arthritis or injury pain.

What are the side effects of crajiru?

• Nausea or stomach upset from strong tea
• Loose stools, or the opposite, constipation from tannins
• Red or dark staining of skin, cloth and the tea cup
• Skin redness, itching or rash where it is applied
• Allergic reaction, which is rare but possible
• Possible drop in blood sugar, seen in animals, not confirmed in people

Good to know:

Crajiru has no record of serious harm, but that is partly because it has barely been studied. Reported effects are mild and mostly involve the stomach or the skin. Stop using it if you get a rash, swelling, or belly pain that does not settle.

How much crajiru should you take?

• Recommended daily: No safe or effective human dose has been set. The human studies needed to set one do not exist. Labels on dried leaf often suggest a teaspoon of leaf per cup of hot water, once or twice a day. Capsule labels commonly carry 400 to 500 mg of leaf powder per capsule. These are label figures for information only, not advice for you. Ask a doctor or pharmacist before you use any amount. This matters most if you take medicines.
• Best time of day: Timing does not matter in any way that has been tested. People usually take the tea whenever it suits them. For skin use, the wash or gel is applied when the skin is clean.
• With or without food: Either way is fine, and this has not been studied. Some people find strong leaf teas sit better with food. Take it with a meal if it upsets your stomach.
• Time to effect: There is no reliable answer, because the effects are not proven. People who use it for gut upset or skin often judge it within a few days. It may also do nothing at all. If a wound or rash is not improving in a few days, see a doctor.
• How long to take it: There is no tested safe length of use. Traditional use was short and problem-led, such as a few days for a wound or an upset gut. Long daily use has not been studied for safety in people. Do not treat it as a long-term daily supplement without medical advice.