Matico / Matico

Matico (Piper aduncum) is a wonderful Andean medicinal shrub with long, pointed aromatic leaves and slender flower spikes that give the plant a very distinctive appearance. It grows into a generous, leafy bush and has that slightly wild look I love in a medicinal garden. When the leaves are crushed, they release a strong aromatic scent that immediately tells you this is a plant full of character and medicine.

Matico has a long history of traditional use throughout the Andes, particularly for wounds, cuts, bruising and irritated tissues. The fresh leaves can be crushed and used externally as a poultice, and preparations of the leaf have also been used as washes for the skin. Internally, Matico is commonly prepared as a tea or tincture and has traditionally been used for the digestive system, stomach discomfort, cramping, diarrhea, respiratory complaints and general inflammation. It is also valued for supporting circulation and the healing of tissues.

One of the things I particularly like about Matico is how useful the whole presence of the plant feels. It is not delicate or difficult. Once established, you can harvest leaves regularly and the plant continues to grow, making it a very practical medicine to keep close to the house. The leaves can be used fresh or dried for later use, and their strong aromatic nature makes Matico easy to recognize once you become familiar with it.

Matico enjoys warmth, moisture and fertile living soil rich in organic matter. It grows well in sun or partial shade, although in our climate it appreciates some protection from the strongest afternoon sun while young. Keep the soil consistently moist while it establishes, but allow good drainage so the roots are not sitting in water. It can grow quite quickly once happy and may eventually become a substantial shrub, so give it some room to develop.

This is a beautiful plant for a medicinal garden because it is hardy, generous and useful in so many different ways. Matico carries a strong tradition of Andean plant medicine and is one of those plants that is worth learning to recognize, grow and keep close at hand.

Matico is in our Ecuadorian Plant Book