Forget aloe vera – in 2020, ethnobotany is all about Africa’s miracle marula, Amazonian camu camu berries and Australia’s age-defying banksia flower
The latest luxury spa treatments draw richly from indigenous ethnobotany ingredients native to Africa and the Amazon, employing the traditional wisdom of Aboriginal Australian and Native American tribal practices
Far from your usual aloe vera and turmeric potions, luxury resorts from the Amazon to Australia are harnessing traditional wisdom and indigenous ethnobotany ingredients for contemporary healing and well-being menus.
Nature and wellness go hand in hand for Peruvian Amazon foragers
The indigenous Ese Eja people of the Amazon basin, southeastern Peru, are considered by anthropologists as one of the rainforest’s most botanically knowledgeable tribes. The huge inventory of jungle plants they use for wellness owes to the biodiverse region they inhabit. The cherry-like fruits of the camu camu, for example, are gathered from the small bushy riverside trees, Myrciaria dubia.
The oil infusion extracted from them offers a super antioxidant boost – four teaspoons contain as much Vitamin C as 40 oranges – and they’re also a great brightening potion used in skin foods and sera.
Where to try? Another local plant used at the spa of the Refugio Amazonas lodge is Piper aduncum, or spiked pepper leaf. “Its common name, matico, recalls the Spanish soldier who inadvertently discovered its antiseptic and healing properties when wounded in Peru,” says Luwin, an Ese Eja tribesman who guides guests on an ethnobotanical walk, and exposes “jungle miracles” even for cancer.
“The shamans have been using ancient methods for generations to heal patients who prefer natural options to modern medicine.”
During the Intense Jungle Massage, matico leaf and eucalyptus oils are heated and applied to calm the muscles, revitalise the body, soften the skin and provide a deep sense of relaxation.
The 4D/3N wellness packages at the Rainforest Expeditions lodge combine these ancient healing treatments with immersions into Amazonian nature and culture.