Short answer
Matico (Piper aduncum) is a shrub of the pepper family whose leaves are used across the Andes and Amazon as a wound herb and stomach tea. Research so far is in cell and animal studies and chemistry labs: its leaf extracts protected the stomach lining in mice and rats, supported skin-cell repair in a dish, and its essential oil showed antifungal and antiparasitic activity. No human trials of matico leaf exist. [1] [2] [3]
Key takeaways
- Matico is known as the soldier's herb because of its traditional use on wounds, a reputation Indigenous communities have used for generations.
- In mice, extracts of matico leaf reduced stomach inflammation and ulcer damage caused by a drug, and in rats a leaf phytochemical cut gastric secretion by 72%. [1]
- A protein fraction from the leaf increased human skin fibroblast growth and migration in a dish, a sign of wound-healing potential, not proof it heals wounds. [2]
- Essential oil work is large but mostly about insects, parasites and fungi. Oil composition varies a great deal by origin. [4] [5]
- There are no human trials of matico leaf, so nothing here is a medical claim.
Few plants have as vivid a nickname as matico. Called the soldier's herb because wounded soldiers are said to have pressed its leaves to injuries, it has a long record in folk medicine and a modest but interesting laboratory record.
Here is what is known, what is not, and why a bush that is common across the tropics is still worth buying carefully.
What is matico?
Matico is Piper aduncum, a fast-growing aromatic shrub in the pepper family (Piperaceae). It is very common in the Amazon rainforest and in other subtropical regions, and grows in mountainous and coastal areas of Peru. [4] [6] In Ecuador it grows wild near mountain creeks and streams in the Andean region, where it is gathered, not farmed.
Names get confusing. In Chile, 'matico' sometimes refers to a different plant, Buddleja globosa. This guide is about Piper aduncum, the species on our label.
Traditional uses of matico
Across the Amazon and Andes, matico leaf is used on wounds to help stop bleeding and prevent infection, which is how it earned the name soldier's herb. Taken as a tea it is used for stomach complaints, and it is also traditionally used for skin irritations, the respiratory tract and women's health. The studies below touch some of these ideas. None of them prove that a cup of matico tea does any of these things.
What research says about matico
Stomach protection (animal studies)
A Peruvian study tested matico leaf extracts in mice given indomethacin to induce stomach ulcers. Dichloromethane, chloroform, hexane and methanol extracts reduced inflammation by more than 66%, the ethanol extract abolished the hemorrhagic bands (100% reduction), and the chloroform extract cut ulcers by 75%. In rats whose stomach outlet was ligated, a capsule form of the ethanol extract reduced the volume of gastric secretion by 72% and raised stomach pH. [1] This is good animal evidence for a traditional use. It is also a long way from tea in people.
Skin cells and wound-related activity
In a 2016 study on adult human skin fibroblasts, a matico extract and a protein fraction labeled K2 increased cell proliferation and migration in a scratch assay, and K2 raised expression of platelet-derived growth factor 8.6-fold versus control. [2] That is the kind of activity you would expect from a plant used on wounds. It was done in cells in a dish.
Anti-inflammatory compounds from the leaf
Chemists isolated flavonoid C-glycosides from matico leaves. Several of them reduced production of the inflammatory messengers IL-12 p40 and IL-6 in stimulated immune cells at micromolar concentrations, while having weak or no effect on TNF-α. [7] Another study in mice found a matico leaf extract protected cells against DNA damage from sodium fluoride in a dose-dependent way. [6]
The essential oil: insects, microbes and parasites
Most matico research is about its essential oil, not the leaf you drink. A 2021 review collected 59 papers, concluding that the oil is most promising as an insecticide, with strong activity against the Aedes aegypti mosquito, and also has acaricidal and antiparasitic activity, especially against Leishmania in lab tests. The dominant compound, dillapiole, varies with where the plant grows. [4]
Ecuadorian oil, in a 2009 study, was dominated by dillapiole (45.9%), showed no genotoxicity in the Ames test, and had complete antifungal inhibition at 500 μg/ml, but no pain-relieving effect in lab animals and very limited antioxidant capacity. [3] A Cuban oil was a completely different chemotype, led by piperitone, camphor and viridiflorol, with no notable antibacterial or antifungal activity but real activity against parasitic protozoa. The cluster analysis in that paper found at least nine chemotypes of Piper aduncum oil. [5]
| Traditional use | Evidence level | What we know |
|---|---|---|
| Stomach complaints, gastritis | Animal studies | Gastroprotective and antisecretory effects in mice and rats. [1] |
| Wound healing | Cell study | Boosted skin fibroblast growth and migration in a dish. [2] |
| Inflammation | Cell and chemistry studies | Leaf flavonoids lowered IL-6 and IL-12 p40 in immune cells. [7] |
| Antimicrobial use | In vitro, oil-dependent | Ecuadorian oil inhibited fungi; Cuban oil was not notably antibacterial or antifungal. [3] [5] |
| Eczema, acne, respiratory and urinary use | No studies found | Traditional uses; we found no research testing them. |
Safety and who should be careful
No human safety studies of matico leaf tea exist. The Ecuadorian oil analysis found no genotoxic activity in the Ames test, [3] which is reassuring but narrow. Another oil from a related pepper in the same study, Piper obliquum, contained 45.8% safrole, a compound of toxicological concern, a reminder that species and sourcing matter in the Piper genus. [3]
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding: avoid. There is no safety data, and the traditional use for women's health is a reason for caution.
- Essential oil: do not swallow essential oil. This guide is about leaf tea.
- Medication and health conditions: ask a clinician or pharmacist if you take prescription medication, have a bleeding disorder or take blood thinners (matico showed a limited antiplatelet action in a lab study). [3]
- Wounds: serious wounds need medical care. Do not rely on a leaf poultice.
How to make matico tea
Our label directions: bring 2 cups of water to a gentle boil, add 1 heaping tablespoon of matico leaf, turn the heat off, cover and steep for 30 minutes, then strain and drink warm. We suggest taking it an hour before or after meals. As a leaf, it extracts well in a covered steep. Our tea preparation guide has storage and variation tips.
How to buy matico well
- Botanical name: Piper aduncum on the label, so you are not getting a different plant sold as matico.
- Whole leaf: green-grey, aromatic leaf you can inspect.
- Origin and harvest: wild-gathered matico from clean areas, not roadside shrubs.
- No medical promises: avoid sellers claiming matico treats infections, ulcers or any disease.
Ours is wild-harvested matico leaf from the Ecuadorian Andes, gathered by Indigenous partner communities. View Matico. It is also an ingredient in One Way Out.
Frequently asked questions
What is matico used for?
Why is matico called soldier's herb?
Because it is traditionally pressed on wounds to help stop bleeding and prevent infection. A lab study found a matico extract increased human skin fibroblast growth and migration, consistent with the use. [2]
Is matico safe to drink?
There are no human safety studies. An Ecuadorian oil analysis showed no genotoxicity in a standard bacterial test, but that is not proof of long-term safety. Avoid in pregnancy and ask a clinician if you take medication. [3]
Does matico have antibacterial or antifungal effects?
How do you make matico tea?
Bring 2 cups of water to a gentle boil, add 1 heaping tablespoon of leaf, turn off the heat, cover and steep 30 minutes, strain and drink warm.
Is matico the same as Buddleja globosa?
No. In Chile 'matico' may mean Buddleja globosa. Our matico is Piper aduncum.
Does matico help with ulcers or gastritis?
In mice and rats, extracts protected the stomach and reduced secretion, but there are no human trials. Do not use it in place of treatment for ulcers. [1]
Where can I buy matico leaf in the USA?
Look for whole Piper aduncum leaf with a named origin. Kawsaypac sells wild-harvested matico from the Ecuadorian Andes, shipped across the USA: view Matico.
References
- Arroyo J, Bonilla P, Moreno-Exebio L, et al. (2013). [Gastroprotective and antisecretory effect of a phytochemical made from matico leaves (Piper aduncum)]. Rev Peru Med Exp Salud Publica. PubMed 24448937
- Paco K, Ponce-Soto LA, Lopez-Ilasaca M, et al. (2016). [Determination of the healing effect of Piper aduncum (spiked pepper or matico) on human fibroblasts]. Rev Peru Med Exp Salud Publica. PubMed 27831606 · DOI
- Guerrini A, Sacchetti G, Rossi D, et al. (2009). Bioactivities of Piper aduncum L. and Piper obliquum Ruiz & Pavon (Piperaceae) essential oils from Eastern Ecuador. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol. PubMed 21783920 · DOI
- Durofil A, Radice M, Blanco-Salas J, et al. (2021). Piper aduncum essential oil: a promising insecticide, acaricide and antiparasitic. A review. Parasite. PubMed 33944775 · DOI
- Monzote L, Scull R, Cos P, et al. (2017). Essential Oil from Piper aduncum: Chemical Analysis, Antimicrobial Assessment, and Literature Review. Medicines (Basel). PubMed 28930264 · DOI
- Herrera-Calderon O, Chacaltana-Ramos L, Yuli-Posadas RÁ, et al. (2019). Antioxidant and Cytoprotective Effect of Piper aduncum L. against Sodium Fluoride (NaF)-Induced Toxicity in Albino Mice. Toxics. PubMed 31100918 · DOI
- Thao NP, Luyen BT, Widowati W, et al. (2016). Anti-inflammatory Flavonoid C-Glycosides from Piper aduncum Leaves. Planta Med. PubMed 27286337 · DOI