Alternanthera brasiliana

AKA Joyweed

Native to the rain forests of Central and South America this month’s plant is known in Brazil by many names, among them are joyweed, penicillin, and terramycin. Why, you may already be wondering, would a plant be called penicillin or terramycin? These are, respectively, a bacteria killing fungus and an antibiotic ointment for treating ophthalmic conditions in animals. You might be thinking, “huh, weird.”

As it turns out, A. brasiliana is used widely in Brazil to treat wounds, diarrhea, and inflammation. And unlike many plants, some of these uses are backed up by science. This article in Science Direct lauds the deep red plant as an antioxidant, antibacterial, antinociceptive (a type of pain killer), wound healer, and antiproliferative (useful against cancer and infection).

And while I did find a study in Research Gate that declared A. brasiliana did not deserve its penicillin and terramycin monikers, that study only tested the plant against three bacteria strains. Presumably, there are others it is effective against. There is a lot of bacteria out there.

If you’re like me, you wanted to know why the plant is also called joyweed. Sure, it’s looking like a sweet panacea, but come on, there must be more. You don’t earn such a transcendent name for nothing. Oh, reader, there is more. I found one mention of the plant as an aphrodisiac, but as a charming companion fact, it also has shown activity as an herpes-simplex antiviral, according to the NIH. One stop shopping, am I right?

Additionally, if you’re running out of food for your ewes, the weedy and easily grown Alternanthera brasiliana could be a good substitute. According to this other Science Direct study, up to “90% inclusion levels promote body mass growth with no harmful effect on blood parameters.” Bon appésheep!

But wait! There’s more! Humans can eat it, too. According to a study published in My Food Research, “A. brasiliana leaves and H. sabdariffa calyces are good sources of vitamin B1, B2, B3, and vitamin C as well as other health-promoting components such as flavonoids and phenols. The results implied that infants consuming these foods may have an improved appetite, a healthier nervous system and a higher release of energy from the complementary foods as well as be able to fight cancer better.” For research purposes I tasted some of mine. It’s fine, a little fuzzy, but it doesn’t taste bad. Can’t say I’ve started adding it to my salads or anything, but I could if I were so inclined.

And finally, the humble Alternanthera brasiliana can be used as a food dye to make yogurt look beautiful. There are no yogurt pics, which, for real?

This plant is very easy to care for. It likes to be outside, looks gorgeous in full sun, and handles pruning very well. I haven’t seen any pests on it, which is lovely. It doesn’t like to dry out, so make sure to water regularly. It can be used as ground cover, but I have mine in a container.

So here’s the deal, I’ll pick some aspect of this research to turn into a spooky tale at the end of the month. Plus, I’m adding some new content to my newsletter this month. But all of that will be behind the paywall. Want to check it out? Subscribe below.