Ajo Sacha (Mansoa alliacea): Benefits, Medicinal Uses, and Properties

Before learning more about Ajo Sacha (Mansoa alliacea), including how it works and its potential benefits, it is important to understand what this plant is. Without knowing about the plant itself, it would be difficult to understand its benefits and other uses.

What Is Ajo Sacha?

Ajo Sacha is a climbing shrub native to the upper Amazon rainforest. Although it does not belong to the garlic family, its leaves, vine bark, and roots have characteristics similar to those of real garlic. It also resembles garlic in taste and smell.

The word “Sacha” can be translated as “wild,” so Ajo Sacha means “wild garlic.” However, it is considered one of the mildest plants used in a plant dieta. If you include this plant in your dieta, you are traditionally expected to spend time in quietude and self-reflection.

The plant is commonly used by indigenous tribes living in the Amazon rainforest. They traditionally use it to support digestive health and promote physical energy. The plant is highly respected by local communities, which make use of almost all its parts. Moreover, it can be replanted after harvesting for a plant dieta.

Medicinal Properties of Ajo Sacha

Ajo Sacha is traditionally associated with analgesic and antirheumatic properties and is used in folk medicine for conditions such as arthritis. It is also used as an antiallergic remedy and to relieve muscle tension.

For external application, the leaves, stems, and roots are traditionally macerated and applied to affected areas. The plant is also known for its insect-repellent and antibacterial properties.

In fact, indigenous elders in the Amazon consider this plant to have magical and spiritual powers. According to traditional beliefs, these powers help ward off evil spirits and purify the body.

Ajo Sacha is sometimes used before or during traditional retreats because it is believed to help the body receive the Mother Vine more easily and comfortably.

The plant is also traditionally recommended during periods of significant physical changes because of its strengthening properties. It is believed to inspire people and cleanse the body of negative energy. Some traditional practices also recommend it for headaches, fever, and colds.

Ajo Sacha Vine and Flowering Properties:

Its flowers are very beautiful; corsages of white, purple and nuanced flowers are observed. This spectacular flowering vine is better known abroad than in it’s native places like Brazil and it is easy to check this information, just type Garlic Vine on the search sites and hundreds of articles and images about the plant appear on sites in other countries around the world.

This vine is very vigorous and extremely floriferous, it blooms several times during the year, its flowering appears in great quantity with compact and rounded inflorescences. The newly bloomed flowers are pinkish-purple in color and as they become more mature they change to very light pink, almost white, resulting in a very interesting visual effect, similar to that of manacás.

Uses of the Ajo Sacha Plant

• Crushed Ajo Sacha leaves soaked in bathing water are traditionally used to purify the body before entering a ceremony. This practice is also believed to help eliminate toxins. When crushed, the leaves release a garlic-like smell with a hint of onion.
• The Ajo Sacha plant dieta traditionally begins with drinking a cold infusion prepared from its roots. The roots are generally soaked in cold water for 12 to 24 hours. However, the quantity of roots used in the preparation is determined by the shaman.
• A curandero prepares the traditional medicine and blesses it with prayer songs and jungle tobacco (mapacho). At 6 AM, the shaman visits the participant’s tambo (place of accommodation) and provides instructions on how to consume the preparation.
• Ajo Sacha is traditionally considered to have anti-inflammatory, antirheumatic, and analgesic properties. It is used in folk medicine for conditions such as rheumatism, injuries, uterine disorders, arthritis, body aches, joint pain, colds, and epilepsy.
• The plant generally grows as a cluster of vines and is reported to contain several sulfur compounds similar to those found in garlic, including allicin, as well as ursolic acid.
• Ajo Sacha is also traditionally used for digestive complaints, including Candida overgrowth and other intestinal issues. The dieta is believed to cleanse the blood and purify the body. Furthermore, traditional practitioners believe that it helps open the psyche and other spiritual channels, allowing the Ayahuasca brew to work more smoothly with the physical body.

Special Note on the Uses of Ajo Sacha

It is generally recommended to use Ajo Sacha fresh to obtain its traditional benefits. However, it can also be stored for a limited period of approximately 30 to 50 days.

Favourable Environmental Conditions for Ajo Sacha

Ajo Sacha generally begins growing during the rainy season, usually in November and December in the Amazon region. The plant can reach more than 2 metres in height and grows rapidly when suitable conditions are available.

According to research published on ResearchGate, Ajo Sacha grows in tropical primary forests with annual rainfall ranging from 1,800 to 3,500 mm. It prefers clayey or sandy soils rich in organic matter, shaded or partially shaded areas, and temperatures between 20°C and 26°C. It generally grows away from waterlogged areas because it is not resistant to flooding.

According to some research, the flavour of Ajo Sacha may vary in intensity depending on the season. Its mild flavour can range from slightly onion-like to a combination of onion and pepper, with a spicy finish. These characteristics are similar to those of Allium sativum (common garlic), making the plant suitable for use in various culinary preparations.

In fact, Ajo Sacha has applications in medicinal and culinary practices, as well as in the spiritual realm. According to traditional legends, it is used to ward off negative energy and evil spirits.

Ajo Sacha Vine and Flowering Properties

Its flowers are very beautiful, displaying shades of white, purple, and pink. This spectacular flowering vine is better known internationally than in some of its native regions, such as Brazil. A simple search for “Garlic Vine” reveals numerous articles and photographs of this plant from different countries around the world.

The vine is vigorous and produces abundant flowers. It blooms several times throughout the year, producing large quantities of flowers in compact, rounded clusters.

Newly bloomed flowers are pinkish-purple. As they mature, they gradually change to a very light pink, almost white. This creates an interesting visual effect similar to that of manacá flowers.

More Information About Ajo Sacha (Mansoa alliacea)

• Scientific Name: Mansoa alliacea
• Synonyms: Cydista aequinoctialis, Adenocalymma alliaceum, Adenocalymma pachypus, Adenocalymma sagotii, Bignonia alliacea, Pachyptera alliacea, Pseudocalymma alliaceum, Pseudocalymma pachypus, Pseudocalymma sagotii
• Popular Names: Garlic Vine, Wild Garlic
• Family: Bignoniaceae
• Soil: Various soil types, preferably loose soils rich in organic matter
• Category: Climbing vines
• Climate: Equatorial, subtropical, and tropical
• Origin: Central America and South America, including Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guyana, French Guiana, and Peru
• Height: 3.6 to 4.7 metres
• Light Requirements: Partial shade or full sun
• Life Cycle: Perennial

Medicinal Uses of Ajo Sacha

The inhabitants of Amazonian communities traditionally make use of almost the entire plant, including its leaves, flowers, roots, and bark.

Bark – Antiepileptic Uses: The bark of Ajo Sacha is traditionally used to help prevent seizures and certain conditions described in folk medicine.

Ulcers: Grated bark is traditionally applied to ulcers.

Haemorrhoids: The liquid obtained from a decoction of the bark is traditionally used in sitz baths.

Antiseptic and Antifungal Uses: A decoction of the plant is traditionally used in washes on affected areas.

Leaves – Antiarthritic Uses: The leaves are used in infusions or crushed and applied to affected areas. Macerated stems and roots are also traditionally used to relieve joint pain, swelling, stiffness, and local inflammation.

Another traditional preparation involves crushing fresh stems and roots and placing them in a glass bottle containing brandy or 80% ethyl alcohol. The mixture is left to macerate for two days and then filtered. This preparation is traditionally used for joint, muscle, and tendon pain and inflammation.

Analgesic Uses: The leaves are traditionally prepared as an infusion, while the roots are macerated for use in relieving pain in the muscles, bones, head, and abdomen.

Urinary Infections: A decoction prepared using approximately 250 g of leaves is traditionally allowed to cool. Some folk practices recommend consuming half a glass on an empty stomach for seven days.

Inflammation of the Prostate: The leaves are crushed into a paste and traditionally applied to the affected area for 30 minutes. This practice is repeated for seven days.

In the Peruvian Amazon, Ajo Sacha is traditionally used for arthritis, rheumatism, nervous complaints, and even for good luck.

Other Properties and Benefits of Ajo Sacha

1. Antiepileptic: The bark of Ajo Sacha is traditionally used in folk medicine to help prevent seizures and related conditions.
2. Antipyretic: The stems and leaves are prepared as a decoction for bathing. This traditional practice is associated with relieving fever and cold sores.
3. For Stomach Colic: A decoction of the bark in water is traditionally used to relieve acute stomach pain and intestinal discomfort.
4. For Headaches: Powdered leaves mixed with water or alcohol are traditionally applied externally to relieve headaches.
5. As a Restorative: A decoction prepared from the roots is traditionally consumed as a tonic or physical energiser.
6. Other Traditional Uses: Ajo Sacha is also traditionally used for colds, pneumonia, coughs, nausea, and constipation.