Hebanthe paniculata f. ovatifolia (Heimerl) Borsch & Pedersen
Hebanthe virgata Mart.
Iresine erianthos Poir.
Iresine paniculata (Mart.) Spreng.
Iresine tenuis Suess.
Iresine virgata Spreng.
Pfaffia erianthos (Poir.) Kuntze
Pfaffia laurifolia Chodat
Pfaffia paniculata (Mart.) Kuntze
Pfaffia paniculata f. lanceolata R.E.Fr.
Pfaffia paraguayensis Chodat
Xeraea paniculata (Mart.) Kuntze
Hebanthe erianthos (many synonyms, including Iresine erianthos and Pfaffia paniculata),[1] known as suma or Brazilian ginseng, is a species of plant in the family Amaranthaceae. The specific epithet is also spelt "eriantha", although the basionym is Iresine erianthos.[2]
The root of this rambling ground vine found in South America is used traditionally as a medicine and tonic. Nicknamed "para tudo" in Brasil, which means "for everything", suma is a traditional herbal medicine.[3] The indigenous peoples of the Amazon region have used suma root for generations for a wide variety of health purposes, including as a general tonic; as an energy, rejuvenating, and sexual tonic; a calming agent; to treat ulcers; and as a cure-all for at least 300 years.[4]
