Mimosa hostilis | Jurema Preta | Root Bark | Mimosa tenuiflora | Brazil

Mimosa hostilis is found growing in the northeast region of Brazil, and found as far north as Mexico, including El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, Colombia and Venezuela. It prefers lower altitudes, but can be found growing as high as 1000m. In Brazil, the first tribes to ritualistically use this plant for its psychoactive properties are now extinct. The use of this plant was kept secret and passed from father to son by the descendents of this original tribe out of fear of severe prosecution by the white man. It was revived as the Jeruma Cult (O Culto de Jeruma). The traditional ritual itself is very complex. The inner root bark was the part traditionally used.

Centuries ago, the tree was used for charcoal production and wood, due to its durable nature. Otherqualities of Mimosa tenuiflora are antimicrobial, analgesic, antifungal, cicatrizing (to heal by scar formation), regenerative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-aging.