Morning glories (Ipomoea) are native to Mexico and, in many herbal sources, lumped together. However, it’s worth the time and effort to unravel the specific uses. Today’s post focuses on jalapas.
Ipomoea purga
Ipomoea purga, as the name implies, has been used as a purgative since before the conquest. In Náhuatl, this plant is known as tolómpatl or tlanoquiloni. In Totonaco, it is called Suyu’. The Spanish gave this plant the names mechoacán, from the state Michoacan, and jalapa (xalapa) after the city in Veracruz where these plants grow in abundance.
The root, raíz de jalapa, can be either laxative or purgative, depending on the dosage. High dosages of the root can be toxic. To treat diarrhea with stomach cramps, a spoonful of the chopped root is simmered in a cupful of water. As a purgative for intestinal parasites, a teaspoon of fresh or dried powdered roots is added to a cup of water and drunk on an empty stomach.
Constipation is treated with a cup of water and five grams of powdered root every morning until the person has regular bowel movements. As an appetite suppressant, three grams of the powdered root is ingested in a cup of water one hour before each meal.
In addition to being a powerful purgative, studies have shown that Ipomoea purga demonstrates cytotoxic and antiproliferative activity, making it a potential compound in the treatment of cancer.
Ipomoea stans, another morning glory although more bushy than viney, is most often called tumba vaqueros (knocks down cowboys) in the area where I live. However, there are a plethora of other names including espanta lobos (frightens wolves), limpia tunas (cleans prickly pears), quebra platos (breaks plates), correhuela (run it smells), and campanita (little bell). In Náhuatl, this plant is known as cacamótic, cacastlapa (cacaxtlapa), flor de casclapa (caxtlapa) or castlapa canibata. Still other areas use the terms galuza, manto, maromero, tanibata, den-tzee’ or tlaxcapan (with spelling variant tlascapan).
The rhizome is boiled in remedies for kidney ailments and bilis (excessive rage). It’s also used to treat el mal de San Vito (Huntington’s disease), chorea (involuntary movement disorders), and epilepsy. For movement disorders, the recommended dosage is 15 grams of rhizome boiled in one-half liter of water and drunk three times a day. Studies have shown Ipomoea stans does have anticonvulsant properties as well as neuroprotective activity.
As an anti-anxiety treatment, it is made into an infusion along with flor de azahar (Citrus sinensis), flor de manita (Chiranthodendron pentadactylon), salvia (Salvia mexicana), palo de Brasil (Haematoxylum brasiletto), and flor de tila (Ternstroemia lineata). Another nerve tonic used in the states of Guanajuato, Hidalgo, and Puebla is to make a tincture with the rhizome, allowing it to steep for eight days. When it is ready, the tincture is applied to the back of the neck. An infusion for nervous disorders is made with two grams of the rhizome boiled in a one-half liter of water. Half is drunk in the morning and the other half in the evening. Research has demonstrated that tumba vaqueros possess anxiolytic and sedative effects.
The chopped rhizome is eaten to calm coughing. An infusion made from boiling chopped root and allowing it to steep for ten minutes before straining is drunk three or four times daily during menstruation as an anticontraceptive. A tincture made from the plant is rubbed on the abdomen to reduce cramping.
In one form or another, tumba vaqueros is also used for headaches, nephritis, bone pain, dysentery, and dizziness in different areas of Mexico. As with jalapa (Ipomoea purga), the root also has purgative properties. It’s considered a “hot” remedy.
To treat dystenery, ten flowers are boiled in one liter of water and sweetened with honey. It’s drunk before breakfast and then three or four times additionally during the day.
Identifying this plant proved to be quite tricky. Finally, I found confirmation that Ipomoea corymbosa, Ipomoea sidaefolia, Turbina Corymbosa, and Rivea corymbosa all refer to the same native Mexican plant whose seeds are used in religious ceremonies as a hallucinogenic. The botanical name listed depends on the date and source origin.
The Mexican name for the plant is also widely varied, although the uses are similar throughout the country. The most common name used in central Mexico is ololiúqui which in Náhuatl means “round thing,” referring to the seeds rather than the plant. In Náhuatl, this variety of morning glory is Coatlxoxouqui, Coaxihuitl, or Coaxoxouque (snake-plant); in Maya, Xtabentún or x-táabentun, badoh in Zapotec; in Mixtec, Yucu-yaha or Yugu-yaha. The Chinantec use the terms Huan-mei or Huan-men-ha-sey. In the Mazatec language, it is Mo-so-le-na. The Tlapanec refer to it as Yuguá. Spanish names include tripa de pollo (chicken intestines) and tumba caballo (knocks a horse down). In English, common names include Christmasvine and Christmaspops.
Ipomoea corymbosa is a viney plant with heart-shaped leaves and white bell-shaped flowers. The seeds contain the hallucinogens d-lysergic and d-isolysergic acids, comparable to LSD, and have long been a part of religious ceremonies in Mexico by the Chantec, Mixtec, Mazatec, and Zapotec for divination, finding lost objects and people, and diagnosing illnesses. One source also reported that the seed was given to those intended for sacrifice to induce euphoria and drowsiness.
X-táabentun (which translates roughly as one that is tied to the stone or stone vine) root infusions are given to women by parteras (midwives) in especially difficult delivery situations in some areas in the Yucatán. The infusion is prepared with three fingers of x-táabentun root, and nine spikes of koke’ (Smilax spinosa Miller) sweetened with Melipona honey. In Oaxaca, the seeds are used instead of the root.
Lysergic acid (d-lysergic acid) found in both the Ipomoea corymbosa and Ipomoea tricolor causes uterine contractions within fifteen minutes of ingestion. This compound is also hemostatic and has been shown to reduce hemorrhaging after childbirth if given after the placenta has been delivered.
Among the Maya, this plant is representative of the departure of the rains and the rainy season, during which plants (and humans) are more at risk for death. Baalche’ is a ritual drink made from the seeds, fermented maíz (Zea mays), and melipona honey. It is drunk to induce visions and also rubbed on pregnant women’s abdomens.
Ipomoea tricolor
Ipomoea tricolor (also known as Ipomoea violacea and Ipomoea rubrocaerulea) seeds have a hallucinogenic effect but not as intense as the seeds from the Ipomoea corymbosa plant. This plant shares the names ololiúqui and badoh negro as their stronger counterpart. Other names include bodongás, manto del cielo, hiedra, and Mich-doh. In English, these plants are known as grannyvines or heavenly-blue morning glories. Ipomoea tricolor typically has blue, purple, or white blossoms.
The hallucinogenic effect is dependent on the dosage. Anything over 200 seeds is a high dosage and can result in undesirable effects, including suicidal tendencies. Other side effects include panic attacks, incoherent speech, coldness in the hands and feet, nausea, uncontrollable laughter or weeping, and extreme body odor.
In some areas, the bright blue flowers of the Ipomoea tricolor (also known as Tlitliltzin in Náhuatl) are ground and mixed with corn flour to make colored ceremonial tortillas.
In addition to the aforementioned properties, Ipomoea tricolor also has significant cytotoxic activity against breast cancer cells and antibacterial properties.
Surviving Mexico 
