Hebanthe paniculata f. ovatifolia (Heimerl) Borsch & Pedersen
Hebanthe virgata Mart.
Iresine erianthos Poir.
Iresine paniculata (Mart.) Spreng.
Iresine tenuis Suess.
Iresine virgata Spreng.
Pfaffia erianthos (Poir.) Kuntze
Pfaffia laurifolia Chodat
Pfaffia paniculata (Mart.) Kuntze
Pfaffia paniculata f. lanceolata R.E.Fr.
Pfaffia paraguayensis Chodat
Xeraea paniculata (Mart.) Kuntze
Hebanthe erianthos (many
synonyms, including Iresine erianthos and Pfaffia paniculata),[1] known as suma or Brazilian ginseng, is a species of plant in the family
Amaranthaceae. The
specific epithet is also spelt "eriantha", although the
basionym is Iresine erianthos.[2]
The root of this rambling ground vine found in
South America is used traditionally as a
medicine and tonic. Nicknamed "para tudo" in Brasil, which means "for everything", suma is a traditional
herbal medicine.[3] The indigenous peoples of the Amazon region have used suma root for generations for a wide variety of health purposes, including as a general tonic; as an energy, rejuvenating, and sexual tonic; a calming agent; to treat ulcers; and as a cure-all for at least 300 years.[4]