Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spectabilis)

Common names: Bougainvillea

Taxonomic name: Bougainvillea species

Family: Nyctagineacea

Uses: Sore throats, stomach acidity, type 2 diabetes

Area of origin: South America

Warnings: Contact with the sap can cause skin rashes in some people.

You might be surprised to learn that Bougainvillea plants are used in herbal medicine.

There are two varieties Bougainvillea spectabilis and B. glabra that can be used. I would assume that the older varieties are more reliable than newer hybrids.

You can eat the fresh flowers too – they are a little bitter but still tasty.

A tea made from flowers and leaves is used for coughs and sore throats. It is also used to reduce acidity in the stomach and helps protect our livers.

A wash of Bougainvillea is also used for leucorrhoea and tea is used for regulating menstrual flow. I’m not sure of the energetics of Bougainvillea at this point in time. I need to do more research.

Also, there have been reports of its beneficial use in cases of type 2 diabetes it contains a chemical called ‘pinitol’ that mimics insulin. Contemporary research has found compounds in Bougainvillea that helps kill cancer cells.

I’ve only used Bougainvillea tea for sore throat and at another time for stomach acidity and it worked a treat on both.

There you go. Another useful medicinal plant that you may have in your garden.