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Hierba de pollo or Mexican dayflower, was a difficult plant to identify positively. One of the issues was that several herbal sources had photographs of Tradescantia plants rather than the bright blue flowers that are the hallmark of hierba de pollo. To complicate matters further, Tradescantia is one of the ten genera in the Family Commelinaceae. In fact, several varieties are very similar in appearance, albeit most, but not all of, the flowers are more purplish than blue.
Let’s make it even more tricky and list the botanical synonyms for hierba de pollo (Commelina coelestis): Commelina acuminata; Commelina coelestis; Commelina graminifolia; Commelina linearis; Commelina stricta; Commelina graminifolia var. stricta; Commelina dianthifolia var. longispatha; Commelina linearis var. longispatha; Commelina dianthifolia var. filiformis; Commelina tuberosa var. inflata; Commelina tuberosa var. nana; Commelina coelestis f. albipetala; Commelina dianthifolia f. alba.
Then we have the list of local names used to identify this plant as well as other Commelina varities. In addition to hierba (or yerba) de pollo, it is called, chipil de piedra, matlalina, ewe, carrodo, canutillo, pata de pollo, tripa de pollo, tripa de pollito. In Veracruz, it’s chic-ze, cañita, or cielo azul. Indigenous names include coapatli, zaca-matlalín, zoyalxóchitl, matlalitzic and matlalxóchitl.
In Quintana Roo, hierba de pollo is prescribed as an eye wash. In Hidalgo, a decoction from the entire plant is given for burning back pain (el ardor de espalda) and rickets. It’s also used as an anti-inflammatory aid and in post-partum baths. In Yucatán, a root infusion is given when there is pus in the urine. In Sonora, hierba de pollo is most often prescribed for wound healing and hemorrhaging, although it is also found in fever reduction remedies.
In other areas in Mexico, hierba de pollo leaves are used to stop hemorrhaging after childbirth as a vaginal wash and infusion. The wash and infusion are made with 100 grams of leaves in one liter of water. Powdered leaves are inhaled to treat nose bleeds, while fresh leaves are applied as a poultice to stop bleeding after tooth extraction and wound healing.
For bloody flux and intestinal discomfort five grams of hierba de pollo leaves are brewed as an infusion in one liter of water and drunk every six hours for 15 days. Honey and limón (Citrus aurantifolia) can be added to flavor the beverage and have their own medicinal properties. Commelina coelestis has been shown to have an antidiarrheal effect.
For a fever treatment, the stems are boiled and added to the bath water as well as drunk as an infusion.
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Tropaeolum spp. is native to Central and South America, from Chile to Mexico. As seems quite common among plants, there are some naming issues that cause confusion. First, in English, this plant is often called nasturtium. However, it does not belong to the watercress genus Nasturtium officinale. Tropaeolum was given this common name because it produces a similar oil as watercress.
Another language name issue is the term mastuerzo used for this plant from the Spanish nastuerzo, meaning “de nariz torcida” (crooked nose). Mastuerzo is also used to identify the plant Lepidium virginicum, known as pepperwort in English and Mexixquilit in Nahuatl. I’ve seen several reputable herb texts make this misidentification error with the Nahuatl term. The matter is made clear with this illustration for a hiccup remedy from The Classic Codex of 1552. The plant Mexixquilit in no way resembles the climbing Tropaeolum majus but is a fair representation of Lepidium virginicum.
Pelonchile from the Nahuatl pelonchili is a more precise name for this plant. The etymology gives us even a little history. Pelon from the word pelun meaning from Peru, and chili the term for anything spicy. This breakdown suggests that the plant originally came from South America and lets us know that it has a spicy taste. Nicolás Monardes, author of the 1569 herbal Historia medicinal de las cosas que se traen de nuestras Indias Occidentales introduced pelonchile to Spain.
Other names include capuchina, cachaco de muladar, espuela de caballero, mexiquelite from the original pelonmexixquilitl meaning edible plant from Peru, texao, marañuela, taco de reina, curutziti, chimbindo in the Bajio region of Mexico, cuitziquiendas in the Tarascan language, and jauaxola in Purépecha.
The Tropaeolum genus has about 80 species. The climbing varieties belong to the family Tropaeolum majus, and the bushier types are classified as Tropaeolum minus. The flowers and leaves are edible for all varieties. Juice is made from a handful of crushed fresh leaves drunk before breakfast for at least 15 days as a tonic. The leaves are also added to soups for a lightly spicy flavoring.
Pelonchile is full of trace elements and bioactive compounds easily absorbed by humans. The flowers contain potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, copper, and zinc. Because of the plant’s high content of vitamin C, anthocyanins, and polyphenols, it provides antioxidant activity.
Melasma, a condition that causes dark, discolored patches, and chloasma, the same condition that occurs in pregnant women, is treated with a decoction made with Pelonchile flowers drunk two or three times a day.
Pelonchile essential oil demonstrates antimicrobial, antifungal, anti-diabetic, hypotensive, anticancer, and expectorant effects. It has been shown to be effective in the treatment of digestive and respiratory illnesses, especially bacterial infections in the bladder and upper air tract.
An infusion made from the dried plant is prescribed for colds, flu, bronchitis, and cough. To make this, five grams of pelonchile are added to one cup of boiling water. Allow it to steep for ten minutes before straining. Drink two cups per day for three or four days.
The seeds contain a high content of erucic acid, which can be used to treat adrenoleukodystrophy, a hereditary condition that damages the myelin sheath that insulates nerve cells in the brain. It is a strong diuretic. A cold infusion for digestion is prepared by adding a pinch of stems, leaves, or seeds to a cup of cool water and allowing it to steep overnight before drinking.
The leaves have been shown to be useful in the treatment of liver cancer. The plant is antibiotic. It also shows the potential to prevent and treat obesity. It demonstrates anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
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