Ficus insipida / Oje / Moraceae (Mulberry family)

Information

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Contents

Phyllosanthine, beta-amyrin or lupeol; lavandulol, phyllanthol, and eloxanthine.

Synergic Combinations

Oje is included among the following plants, which are considered to "teach medicine" if the proper diet is kept, and can be added to the Ayahuasca beverage: Tobacco (a variety called Mapacho in the area), Toe (Brugmansia suaveolens), Uchu-Sanango (Tabernaemontana sp.), Ayahuma (Couroupita guianensis), Caupuri (Virola surinamensis), Tangarana (Triplaris surinamensis), Chuchuhuasi (Maytenus ebenifolia), Hiporuru (Alchornea castaneifolia), Mucura (Petiveria alliacea), Lupuna (Ceiba pentandra), Clavohuasca (Tynanthus panurensis), Bellaco Caspi (Himantanthus sucuuba), Huairacaspi (Cedrelinga catanaeformis), Huacapu (Vouacapoua americana), Chullachaqui Caspi (Tovomita sp.), Cumala (Virola sp.), Catahua (Hura crepitans), Abuta (Abuta grandifolia), Amasisa (Erythrinaglauca), Nuc-Nuc Pichana (Scoparia dulcis), Bobinsana (Calliandra angustifolia), Chiric sanango (Brunfelsia grandiflora), Remo-Caspi (Pithecolobium laetum), Renaco (Ficus sp.), Tahuari (Tabebuia sp.), Capirona Negra (Capirona decorticans), and Cumaseba Negra, Tamshi, Puca Lupuna, Garabato, Millo Renaquilla, Murure, Palisangre, of which at this point I have only the common names. Some of these plants (Tobacco, Toé, Catahua, Mucura, Chiric Sanango and others) may be taken alone. This is also the case for Suelda con Suelda (Phtirusa pyrifolia), Raya Balsa (Montrichardia arborecens), Ajos Sacha (Mansoa alliacea) and Oje (Ficus insipida)

Historical

The latex was processed into powder in Iquitos and exported to many countries, especially for use by military forces. Many preparation methods exist. The latex is often fermented with sugar cane, orange juice or aguardiente, and then taken orally. If the latex is not fermented it will "burn" the insides of a person. The latex is toxic, and overdoses are dangerous. Despite its efficacy if correctly used, bad experiences make many people fear it and seek other methods to control parasites. Education programs have promoted ojé use in Peru. A common belief is that ojé trees attract mosquitos.(3)

Plant Description

A large tree with big plank buttresses. The trunk is smooth and gray brown, and the buttresses have rounded tops that are characteristic. Leaves are bright, shiny green, with yellow veins. The tip of a branch has a long, yellow, pointed stipule, which falls as the branch grows past it; this leaves a circular scar on the branch at the base of each leaf. Broken leaves drip white latex rapidly. On the ground beneath large trees are typically bright yellow fallen leaves.(2)

References

(1) Reevaluation of risks with the use of Ficus insipida latex as a traditional anthelmintic remedy in the Amazon, Anders Hansson, Julio C.Zelada and Hugo P.Noriega
(2) Ficus isipida Willd., Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
(3) Ficus insipida, Rainforest Conservation Fund