Becchete

Description

Tabernaemontana undulata, the Becchete or Bëcchëte (pronounced B'-chéw-teh, a Matis and Matsés word for a medicinal plant) is a milkwood species in the family Apocynaceae. It occurs in the Amazon rainforest. Effects: When applied directly to the eye, Becchete is reported by tribes to have the effect of giving the environment greater texture and dimension, making it easier to spot animals during hunting. The effects are reported to be long-term, lasting days or weeks, not just a few hours. In addition to visual enhancement, there is also an increase in energy. On application, the eyes sting, however this would be expected considering that Becchete is extracted with Amazonian river water that is high in tannic acid, which on its own would sting and burn the eyes. In the Amazonian Ethnobotanical Dictionary by James A. Duke and Rodolfo Vásquez, it is reported that Amazonian Indians from the Ticuna tribe mix the latex from a closely related species, Tabernaemontana sananho, with water in order to treat eye wounds. In addition to be applied to the eyes as the Matis and Ticuna tribes do, it is most commonly taken orally by the Matsés.