Hombre Grande (Quassia)

Organic Hombre Grande Bark 

Botanical: Quassia amara | Also called Bitter Wood, Quassia, Amargo, Pau Amargo
Intensely bitter wood from a tropical tree native to Suriname, Brazil, and the Caribbean. Named “hombre grande” — big man — for its powerful action as a digestive bitter and cleansing herb. Used in traditional medicine for over 300 years. Considered one of the strongest bitters in the plant kingdom. Naturally caffeine-free. Extremely bitter — use small amounts.

Herbal benefits
Hombre Grande is prized for its quassinoid compounds that make it 50x more bitter than gentian:

Digestive bitter: #1 traditional use. Intensely bitter flavor stimulates digestive juices, bile flow, and enzymes. Used for sluggish digestion, bloating, gas, and poor appetite
Liver & gallbladder support: Strong cholagogue action increases bile production and flow. Traditional remedy for sluggish liver, jaundice, and gallstones
Parasite cleansing: Classic antiparasitic herb. Bitter quassinoids create inhospitable environment for intestinal worms, amoebas, and candida. Used in cleansing protocols
Fever reducer: Traditional febrifuge used for malaria, fevers, and chills. Bitter compounds help break fevers through diaphoretic action
Blood cleanser: Used in folk medicine to “clean the blood” and support detoxification. Stimulates elimination organs
Hair & scalp tonic: Topical #1 use. Bitter wash used for dandruff, lice, and scalp infections. Stimulates circulation to hair follicles
Appetite stimulant: Strong bitter reflex increases hunger. Used for wasting, convalescence, and poor appetite
Diabetes support: Traditional use to support healthy blood sugar levels. Bitter compounds may improve glucose metabolism
Insect repellent: Topical wash repels mosquitoes, lice, and insects. Used as natural bug spray in the tropics
Tonic & restorative: Used after illness to rebuild strength and digestive fire. “Tones” the entire system

Taste & use
Extremely bitter, woody, and astringent. Most bitter herb most people will ever taste. Not for casual sipping.

How to use:
Tea: ¼ tsp or less per cup. Steep 10 minutes. Sip slowly before meals for digestion. Very small dose due to intensity.
Topical wash: Strong decoction for hair/scalp issues or insect repellent. Do not drink this strength.
Cold infusion: Soak 1 tsp in cold water overnight for less bitter, more mineral-rich extraction.

What makes it different
Hombre Grande means “big man” because it gives strength and power to weak digestion. The tree was named after a Surinamese healer named Quassi who used it to treat fevers in the 1700s. Quassinoids are so bitter they can be detected at 1 part per 60,000 — 50x more bitter than quinine. Unlike most bitters, it contains no tannins so it won’t constipate. The wood is naturally insect-resistant and was used to make medicine cups — water left in the cup became bitter medicine. One of the few herbs that acts on parasites, digestion, and liver all at once.