SOLÉA HERBAL — Plants, their properties, your balance.

Identity & origin

BOTANICAL IDENTITY

The right name is the first step.

Alnus acuminata is an accepted species in Plants of the World Online, in the Betulaceae family. Bussmann and Sharon’s survey documents it in northern Peru under the local names Aliso Blanco (Liso), Aliso Colorado (Arrugado). Recorded material: fresh bark; leaves also mentioned in an external application. ISA18, ISA17 and RBU/PL292 are the cited references. The survey says not to ingest the alcoholic maceration intended for wounds: this restriction is specific to that preparation and does not validate the other reported uses. This entry follows the botanical identity and context of the record; it is not an identification key for collecting plants.

Part used: Fresh bark; leaves also mentioned in an external application
Origin & distribution: Native range reported by Kew: Mexico to N. Argentina. The uses presented come from the northern Peru survey; the interview location does not establish where a marketed batch grew wild.

Also known as: Alnus acuminata var. genuina Regel, Alnus jorullensis var. acuminata (Kunth) Kuntze, Aliso Blanco (Liso), Aliso Colorado (Arrugado)

Check the binomial Alnus acuminata and the actual plant part. The local names Aliso Blanco (Liso), Aliso Colorado (Arrugado) alone do not guarantee botanical identity; properties of a related species cannot be transferred.

An illustration is not enough to identify a plant for consumption. Do not forage for a species based solely on this profile.

Uses & evidence

UNDERSTANDING THE USES

Properties & uses.

Reported historical use

Uses reported in northern Peru

Bark is reported in external preparations for wounds and irritation, and in an oral preparation for joint or digestive complaints. The text also mentions leaves in a fatty base. Routes and plant parts differ; their safety and effectiveness are not compared. These reports establish neither a causal relationship nor clinical effectiveness. Described methods are ethnographic observations, without advice to prepare or take the plant.

Use reported in a survey or inventory. This establishes neither benefit nor safety.

Read the source

The traditional uses described are not clinical proof of effectiveness. Evidence for one preparation cannot automatically be applied to another.

Precautions before use

BEFORE ANY USE

Precautions & contraindications.

This guidance does not cover every individual situation. Missing information is not a guarantee of safety.

The following warnings do not constitute a complete review of interactions or contraindications. An unstudied combination cannot be considered compatible.

Contraindications & precautions

The selected sources provide no complete clinical assessment of contraindications for this species. Their silence does not establish safety.
Medical or pharmaceutical advice is required before medicinal use, particularly with a chronic condition or persistent symptoms.

Medicine interactions

Interactions with medicines are not evaluated in the cited ethnobotanical survey. Ask a pharmacist to assess the exact species, plant part and product; do not discontinue prescribed treatment.

“Reported” does not prove causality; “possible” may reflect indirect evidence. “None reported” means none in the cited source, not that all combinations have been studied. Do not stop a prescribed treatment based on this profile.

Adverse effects

The use inventory contains no monitoring that could establish the frequency or severity of adverse effects. No safe dose is inferred from the described practices.

Pregnancy & breastfeeding

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: the selected sources do not establish safety for this medicinal use. Do not self-medicate; seek appropriate professional advice.

Children & adolescents

Any uses reported in children validate neither safety nor a paediatric dose. Do not independently use this plant medicinally in children; consult a professional.

If symptoms persist, worsen or are unusual, consult a healthcare professional. In an emergency, contact the emergency services.

Bussmann & Sharon (2006) — Additional file 1, p. 17, Alnus acuminata Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew — Plants of the World Online: Alnus acuminata Kunth Bussmann & Sharon (2006) — Traditional medicinal plant use in Northern Peru: tracking two thousand years of healing culture

Sources & last review

CHECKING REFERENCES

Sources for this profile.

Bussmann & Sharon (2006) — Additional file 1, p. 17, Alnus acuminataAccessed on 09/10/2026
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew — Plants of the World Online: Alnus acuminata KunthAccessed on 09/10/2026
Bussmann & Sharon (2006) — Traditional medicinal plant use in Northern Peru: tracking two thousand years of healing cultureAccessed on 09/10/2026

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