Pareira

Scanty, turbid, heavily loaded urine with a dull aching soreness over the kidneys, in a patient whose urinary complaint is chronic rather than acute

Chronic bladder irritation with thick ropy mucus in the sediment and a general picture of urinary tract debility rather than acute infection

Overview. Pareira is the root of a woody South American vine of the moonseed family, long used in Andean and Amazonian traditional medicine and later adopted into European and North American eclectic practice as a urinary remedy. The dried root was prepared as an infusion, tincture, or fluid extract and given for chronic disorders of the kidneys and bladder marked by irritating, salt-laden urine. The same plant is historically important as one of the botanical sources of curare, though the arrow-poison use depends on injection of the isolated alkaloids and has no bearing on its oral use as a diuretic tonic.

Clinical Notes. Eclectic physicians reached for pareira in chronic, low-grade urinary complaints rather than acute inflammatory ones: a patient with a long history of scanty, turbid urine heavy with urates or mucus, a dull ache over the kidneys, and general debility from prolonged irritation of the urinary tract.

Action and Therapy. Pariera is mostly employed as a tonic diuretic, in chronic inflammation of the bladder, and of the kidneys with excretion of pus. The indications, as given above, should be observed in its use. It is not often employed.

Therapy. Irritation, frequent desire to urinate, and pain in the organs during urination are relieved by this remedy. It is thought to be useful, especially in chronic inflammations of the urinary passages. Pyelitis, pyelonephritis, and cystitis, with large. secretion of pus and mucus are benefited by it. It should be used in mild infusion, in the treatment of phosphaturia, or the condition sometimes known as phosphatic diabetes. It is a good auxiliary remedy in the treatment of all forms of lithemia.