Cascarilla

Cascarilla is one of the seven plant ingredients in "Seven Raices (ie. seven roots) Spirit Combination", a formula used traditionally as a powerful aphrodisiac. The formula also contains Cat's Claw, Chuchuhuasi, Clavo Huasca, Sanango, Dragon's Blood and Moruro. [3]

Another variation on this formula is called "Peruvian Energizing tea" - and this (also called "Seven Roots Tea") contains Cascarilla as well as Chuchuhuasi, Chirisanango, Iporuro, Maca, Huanarpo, and Renaquilla. This product's marketing states that it is considered as having aphrodisiac properties. [4]

RainTree, which has a database of tropical plants, has information about Cascarilla. It is mentioned that the bark has a long history of use in herbal medicine, and lists its "ethnomedical uses" in different countries - but makes no mention of any aphrodisiac quality it might have. [5]

Botanical.com mentions that Cascarilla bark is sometimes added to tobacco, although in sufficient quantity it may cause giddiness and intoxication. However, again no mention of any aphrodisiac quality is mentioned.[6]

Cascarilla - History

Cascarilla has been known about since old times and is mentioned in several herbal, plant and medicinal texts of the 18th century. Robert James, writing in his 1747 "Pharmacopoeia universalis: or, A New Universal English Dispensatory", gives a good description of the plant and of the medicinal qualities ascribed to it in his day - including use for haemorrhoids, dysentry, coughs and fever. [7]

Is Cascarilla an Aphrodisiac?

Very little material appears on Pubmed in connection with Cascarilla / Croton Eluteria. Of this, none of the papers investigates any aphrodisiac qualities of the plant.

Cascarilla is listed in many herbals and other sources, but it is not specifically stated in any of the old texts that it has aphrodisiac properties, even though such texts list other plants as being aphrodisiac. The Handbook of Medicinal Herbs by James A. Duke has an entry for Cascarilla - but nowhere states that it is aphrodisiac. Such an entry for Cascarilla is typical of other sources - and, unusually, I have not been able to find specific information that explains its inclusion in modern formulas. [8]

Conclusions:

Despite the fact that the Cascarilla bark is included in some aphrodisiac formulas, it does not generally seem to be recognized as an aphrodisiac and there is little or no scientific research to either support or refute the claims.

Cascarilla is listed in the AHPA's "Herbs of Commerce", p.49. [9]

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