Manacá-de-cheiro
BRUNFELSIA UNIFLORA
Origin BRAZIL
Active ingredient ESCOPOLETINE AND HOPEANINE
MEDICINAL, RITUAL use
The manacá-de-cheiro has medicinal properties and is used to treat skin diseases, fevers and inflammations, as well as being part of purification rituals in candomblé and umbanda. Its marginalization, associated with "witchcraft", reflects the repression of African and indigenous practices and the role of women in the preparation of home remedies and healing rituals. There are reports of the psychoactive use of the plant added to ayahuasca to intensify visions and auditory effects.
References:
Luz, Pedro. Psychonautic Letter. Rio de Janeiro: Dantes Ed., 2015.
Martins, Maria Bernadete Gonçalves, Rebeca de René Graf, Alberto J. Cavalheiro, and Selma D. Rodrigues. "Anatomical, chemical and antibacterial characterization of Brunfelsia uniflora (manacá) leaves found in the Atlantic Forest." Revista Brasileira de Farmacognosia 19 (March 2009): 106–14. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0102-695X2009000100020.