La Bitter Quassia belongs to the Simaroubaceae family. It is a shrub usually 3 meters high but which can reach 8 meters in height. It is native to tropical South America and in particular to Guyana and Brazil, but is cultivated in many other countries. It has opposite and pinnate leaves, 15 to 25 cm long and bright red flowers developed on an inflorescence about twenty centimeters long. The fruit produced by the Q. Bitter it is a small blackish drupe of just over one centimeter in length.
What are the active ingredients?
La Quassia a. it contains Indo-alkaloids, terpenoids, bitter-tonic and coumarins.
The various properties of the plant
It is used as a eupeptic digestive, decongestant, purifying, draining, exciting for smooth muscles, tonic, external and internal antiparasitic.
The active ingredients extracted from the wood
The insecticidal and repellent properties of Q. Amara they have been known for some time and are due to its active ingredients quassin and neoquassin. These principles are extracted from the wood, odorless, but characterized by a very strong bitter taste, a characteristic that gives the name to this tree.
The quassins act by direct contact or by ingestion on the insect's nervous system with an action similar to that of the pyrethrum, although less incisive and rather slow; the parasites that come into contact with the bitter Quassia experience a gradual decrease in vital activities, with subsequent paralysis and death. It also creates a repellent barrier effect on the foliage making it unattractive. It does not negatively affect useful insects such as bees and ladybugs.
Other uses
Digestive: 1 teaspoon powder of Bitter Quassia infused in boiling water 10-15 minutes before meals.
Pesticide: 1g of powder 2-3 times a day on an empty stomach. ATTENTION to toxicity.
ectoparasite: macerated nebulized and rinsed after one hour. For lice it is necessary to repeat the operation at least 3 times at a distance of 3 days from each other. In animals, treatment can be done once a month.
Zanzare: it is possible to put a piece of bark in the fountains or in the saucers to neutralize the larvae and reduce the possibility of deposition by the adults.
Macerate of quassio wood
Put the wood in the water Bitter Quassia in proportions of 20 g per liter of water and leave to macerate for about 24 hours, then bring to the boil on a low heat for one hour.
If wood powder is purchased instead, you can leave it to macerate for a few days without boiling.
Spray the compound thus obtained on the plants to obtain a repellent or insecticidal action.
Its action is wide and affects numerous pests including aphids and leaf miners, Colorado potato beetle, rose sawfly, pear and bay psylla, carpocasa, cydia, cochineal cochineal, wax and moth of the vine.
The advantages of the bitter quassia
Its action is similar to that of the pyrethrum, although slower, but it has advantages, in fact the Bitter Quassia it is not toxic to humans, pets or wild animals, including reptiles. It is also harmless for bees and other insects considered useful such as ladybugs, currently in sharp decline due to the unconditional use of polluting and poorly selective chemicals. Thanks to this low toxicity, its extracts can also be used during the flowering period. There Quassi bitter moreover it is not phytotoxic and has a short period of activity in the environment!
A curiosity
The name of the tree comes from Quassi, a slave from Guyana who taught Europeans how to use it to cure fever.
Contraindications
Oral use in pregnancy and pediatrics is not recommended. An overdose can cause vomiting and dizziness. Use under medical supervision.
Union BIO and the bitter quassi
Union BIO, for years used in the research and development of natural products, uses this plant by creating synergistic formulations in which the bitter quassia takes on a fundamental character and to be used in complete safety on our 4-legged friends.
The natural alternative exists, just look for it!
Photo: Drew Avery
