THE VAST JUNGLE of the Amazon rainforest ensconces some of the greatest
biodiversity on the planet with its 1,300 species of birds; 3,000 species of freshwater
fish; and an astonishing 40,000 species of plants. It’s no wonder that some of the most
potent botanical remedies originate from this incredibly rich ecosystem. Among these
species grows the copaiba (pronounced co-pie-EE-ba) tree (Copaifera spp.), towering
up to 100 feet tall into the rainforest canopy. Resin extracted from the copaiba tree
has only recently caught the attention of Western scientists, but it’s quickly becoming
one of the greatest medicinal discoveries of the plant world.The richly biodiverse Amazon
rainforest houses the 100-foot-
tall copaiba tree, whose resin
holds healing properties.12 motherearthliving.com
HEALTH PLANTS
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Copaiba Oil: On the
Cutting Edge of Science
Discover the latest medical research on this emerging
botanical remedy from the Amazon rainforest.|^ LEARN MORE |Hope for
Parkinson’s
& Alzheimer’s
Diseases
Because of copaiba’s interaction
with the nervous system through
the endocannabinoid system,
it may hold the potential to
counteract neurodegenerative
diseases, such as Parkinson’s and
Alzheimer’s. Parkinson’s disease
results from a perpetual death of
the dopamine neurons in the brain;
but a preliminary study published
in Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy
medical journal found that
copaiba’s beta-caryophyllene (BCP)
interactions with the CB2 receptors
might help protect and restore
brain and nerve cells involved with
the production and regulation of
dopamine. With copaiba’s ability to
shield dopamine from destruction,
it may hold the key to hindering the
progression of Parkinson’s disease.A 2017 study published in Evidence-
Based Complementary and Alternative
Medicine explored the effects of
copaiba on brain cells affected
by Alzheimer’s disease, in which
researchers found that copaiba
provided significant antioxidant, anti-
inflammatory, and neuroprotective
properties. Researchers also
found that copaiba prevented the
destruction of the brain hormone,
acetylcholine, a deficiency of
which has been heavily linked to
Alzheimer’s disease.