Camu Camu, Powder (Myrciaria dubia) – Dried Herb, Organic

Camu Camu is a berry packed with nutrients is considered a superfood. The shrub is found all the way from the north of Peru to the south of Brazil. Camu Camu is a small, 3-5 metre shrubby tree that grows along riverbanks within the Amazon Rainforest. It has bushy feathery foliage, small flowers with waxy white petals and a sweet-smelling aroma, and its fruits are light orange in colour and about the size of a lemon.

Camu Camu plants flower at the end of the dry season and fruit at the peak of the rainy season. Fortunately, Camu Camu is extremely tolerant of flooding, withstanding four to five months of the year with its roots and much of its aerial parts submerged in water. Because Camu Camu fruits mature during the flooding season they are wild-harvested by the local indigenous peoples in their canoes.  The berry which is grown on the Camu Camu plant was discovered in the early 1990’s as a rich of vitamin C for exportation, even though it has been used for medicinal purposes by the Amazonian Indians for more than 700 years.

As a traditional medicine, Camu Camu fruit was used for pain relief, to fight infections and an infusion of the bark or stem was used to treat diabetes. Its tree bark was used in a decoction to treat rheumatism and a poultice from the bark was used topically to treat wounds. Its high levels of natural vitamin C support the immune system and studies suggest that there are hundreds of natural compounds found in Camu Camu; including bioflavonoids that have such a potent beneficial effect on the body compared to synthetic vitamin C.

Properties:

The taste and energetics of Camu Camu are sour, bitter, acidic, astringent and cooling. Camu Camu has an affinity towards the immune system, cardiovascular system, adrenals, eyes, nervous system, musculoskeletal system, liver, digestive system and skin.

How to use:

Camu Camu powder can be easily added to smoothies, oats, yogurts, and salad dressings. Combining it with other flavours masks the sour taste and makes it more palatable. A good tip is to always add Camu Camu to food after cooking to prevent the loss of nutrients from the heat, especially vitamin C.

This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease or illness. Please consult your healthcare provider before the use of this product if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications or have a medical condition. Individual results may vary.