Synonyms: Copaifera, Jesuit’s balsam
Copaiba, a tall, dense tree that grows abundantly in the tropics of
South America, is used topically as a reliever of pain and in am- mation, and as a disinfectant. Typically, the tree’s resin is har- vested by drilling holes into its trunk and collecting the deposits that drip out, similar to maple syrup. Each tree yields an abundant amount of this resin - about 40 liters each year - without losing health or sustaining permanent damage.
Copaiba functions as a topical remedy for all manner of skin pain and irritation, from insect bites and rashes to various skin disor- ders, such as gonorrhea and psoriasis. It can also be ingested as a treatment for internal in ammation from urinary tract infections, stomach ulcers, swelling from Crohn’s disease, and other such symptoms.
