Botanical Overview
Timaque (Chiococca alba) is a flowering plant in the Rubiaceae family. This plant has earned a place in traditional medicine through its consistent therapeutic benefits, recorded across multiple cultures. The coffee family (Rubiaceae) includes trees, shrubs, and herbs with opposite leaves and interpetiolar stipules. The flowers are typically tubular with four or five petals. The family includes coffee (Coffea), quinine-producing Cinchona, and numerous other medicinal species with alkaloid constituents.
General Description
Common names include David’s milkberry, West Indian milkberry, cahinca and West Indian snowberry. The specific epithet, alba, means “white” in Latin and refers to the color of its fruits.
Family Context
The Rubiaceae family is large and primarily tropical. Notable medicinal members include:
- Indian Mulberry — 56 documented uses
- Madder — 41 documented uses
- Gardenia — 34 documented uses
- Lojabark — 32 documented uses
Geographic Distribution
Timaque has been recorded in 10 countries and territories worldwide, including Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, and others.
Traditional Uses
Timaque has been traditionally used for digestive health, respiratory conditions, and urinary tract health, among other applications.
Digestive health.
- Purgative
For digestive complaints, the herb is typically prepared as a tea or decoction taken before meals. The bitter compounds stimulate digestive secretions and improve nutrient absorption. Some traditions use the powdered root or leaves in small doses as a stomachic tonic.
Respiratory conditions.
- Pectoral
- Expectorant
Respiratory conditions are addressed through steam inhalation of the herb’s vapors or internal use as a warm tea. The hot infusion acts as an expectorant, helping to loosen phlegm and clear congestion. Some traditions combine it with honey for coughs.
Urinary tract health.
- Diuretic
Urinary tract applications typically involve drinking the herb as a mild tea, which increases urine production and helps flush the urinary system. It may be combined with other demulcent herbs to soothe irritated tissues.
Active Compounds
Phytochemical research has identified 3 compounds in this species: alkaloids, methyl-salicylate, tannins.
The identified compounds include the following categories:
- Tannin: astringent compounds that tighten tissues and resist infection