Foxtail copperleaf (dégonflé)
Acalypha alopecuroidea · Euphorbiaceae
Foxtail copperleaf
dégonflé
Zouti bata
Acalypha alopecuroidea
Acalypha alopecuroidea Jacq., Acalypha alopecuroides, ortie pompon, degonfle, dengonfle ou gwo tèt
Euphorbiaceae
Traditionally used
Foxtail copperleaf — a small annual herb of Haiti's disturbed ground, recorded across the TRAMIL Caribbean network as 'dégonflé' for its carminative use: a leaf decoction with a little salt, taken by the cup after each meal, eases bloating and gas. Traditional practice is short — not more than three days at a time, and never for children under five, pregnant women, or nursing mothers. Fresh preparation each day; discard what is not used within twenty-four hours.
Prepared as
Leaf decoction (dozing): 30 g fresh leaves in 1 L water with ~1 tsp salt, boiled uncovered for at least 10 minutes; one cup taken after each meal, not more than three consecutive days. Fresh preparation each day; discard unused liquid after 24 hours.
In three languages
Kreyòl — Dégonflé (yo rele l tou "degonfle" oswa "dengonfle ou gwo tèt") se yon ti plant zèb ki pouse nan tè ki deranje. Nan tradisyon TRAMIL la, yo bouyi fèy yo ak yon ti sèl epi yo bwè yon tas apre chak repa pou trete gonfleman vant ak gaz (flatilans). Pa bay timoun ki poko gen 5 an, fanm ansent oswa fanm k ap bay tete, epi pa depase 3 jou youn dèyè lòt.
Français — Acalypha alopecuroidea (« dégonflé » en créole haïtien ; « zouti bata » aux Antilles) est une petite herbe annuelle des terrains perturbés. Selon la pharmacopée caribéenne TRAMIL, une décoction de feuilles avec un peu de sel se boit, une tasse après chaque repas, pour traiter les ballonnements intestinaux et les flatulences ; l'usage est déconseillé aux enfants de moins de 5 ans, aux femmes enceintes ou allaitantes, et ne doit pas dépasser 3 jours consécutifs. En Amérique centrale, les Mayas emploient aussi des décoctions de la plante en lavages externes contre les plaies et affections cutanées, et en tisane pour les troubles gastriques et urinaires.
Safety
Not for use in pregnancy or while nursing, and not for children under five. Keep to the traditional short course — no more than three consecutive days — and prepare it fresh each day, discarding any left after twenty-four hours. No poisoning has been recorded for dégonflé itself, but a related species is toxic, so it is treated with a careful hand.
Plants can look similar and be misidentified — always verify with a local herbalist or guide before use.
Sources & lineage
Kept alongside