Ecuadorian Herbs: Authentic Medicinal Plants from the Andes and the Amazon

Short answer

Ecuadorian herbs are medicinal plants from Ecuador's two great plant regions, the Andes highlands and the Amazon rainforest, used for generations by Kichwa, Quechua and other communities. Kawsaypac sells wild-harvested Ecuadorian guayusa, cat's claw, chuchuhuasi, soursop, matico and valerian, sourced directly from the communities who gather them and shipped across the USA.

Key takeaways

• Ecuador's herbs come from two regions: the Amazon (guayusa, cat's claw, chuchuhuasi, soursop) and the Andes (matico, valerian, tipo).
• Authenticity comes down to a named species, a named region and a harvester you can trace, not a flag on the label.
• Not every herb in our blends is Ecuadorian. Senna, licorice, ginger and elderberry come from elsewhere, and our product pages say so.

Ecuador is a small country with an outsized plant heritage. Within a few hours, you can travel from Amazon rainforest to high Andean paramo, and each zone has its own medicinal plants and the communities who know them.

This page explains which Ecuadorian herbs we carry, where each comes from and how to tell an authentic Ecuadorian herbal product from a vague one.

Herbs from the Ecuadorian Amazon

In the Ecuadorian Amazon, Indigenous communities such as the Kichwa grow and gather leaves, barks and vines. Our Amazonian herbs are guayusa (the caffeinated holly leaf), cat's claw (vine bark), chuchuhuasi (canopy tree bark) and soursop (graviola) leaf. See our Amazonian herbs page for more.

Herbs from the Ecuadorian Andes

In the Andes, matico grows wild near mountain creeks and streams, valerian is wild-harvested from highland regions and tipo (Minthostachys mollis) has been used for centuries by Quechua and Aymara communities as a digestive herb.

Traditional Ecuadorian medicine: what to know

Traditional Ecuadorian medicine is a living practice: knowledge passed down by elders and healers, combining plants, food and community. Our founders, Raisa and Brian, began traveling the Ecuadorian Andes and Amazon in 2022, learning from Indigenous communities, traditional healers and Kichwa elders, and moved to Ecuador in 2025. Our formulas reflect what they were taught, and the families who steward these plants are paid directly.

We are careful to say what traditional use is and is not. It records how people have used a plant. It does not prove a plant treats any disease, and we make no medical claims. For plants with published research, our plant guides link every study.

How to tell if an Ecuadorian herb is authentic

• A botanical name: Ilex guayusa, Uncaria tomentosa, Piper aduncum, Valeriana officinalis. A common name alone is not enough.
• A named region and community: Amazon or Andes, and the people who harvested it.
• Wildcrafted or farmed, stated plainly: see wildcrafted herbs.
• Whole material: whole leaf, bark and root you can inspect.
• No disease promises.

Ordering Ecuadorian herbs in the United States

We ship worldwide. Within the United States we use USPS and UPS, and orders are processed in about 5 business days unless you choose overnight shipping. See shipping and returns for details.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I find authentic Ecuadorian herbal products?

Look for a named species, region and harvester. Kawsaypac sources wild-harvested herbs directly from Indigenous communities in the Ecuadorian Andes and Amazon and ships across the USA: see the shop.

What herbs come from Ecuador?

Among our products: guayusa, cat's claw, chuchuhuasi and soursop leaf from the Amazon, and matico, valerian and tipo from the Andes.

What is traditional Ecuadorian medicine?

A living tradition of plant use passed down through Kichwa, Quechua and other communities, combining herbs, food and ritual. Traditional use is not clinical proof.

Is Ecuadorian guayusa different from other guayusa?

Guayusa (Ilex guayusa) is native to the upper Amazon of Ecuador and neighboring countries. Ours is wild-harvested from Kichwa communities in the Ecuadorian Amazon.

Are all your herbs from Ecuador?

No. Some blend ingredients such as senna, licorice, ginger and elderberry come from other regions, and we say so on each product page.

Do you ship Ecuadorian herbs to the USA?

Yes. We ship worldwide, and USPS and UPS within the USA.