In this territory there are more than 20 species, the most abundant being C. Copaifera officinalis is a tree found mainly in Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela.
It has reddish-brown wood and grows up to 25 m. The leaves are composed, divided with 2 to 10 small, alternating or sub-opposite leaves, apiculate and unevenly rounded at the base.
They are cm long and cm wide. The white flowers, usually sessile, are grouped in inflorescences of cm. The fruits are small pods swollen at maturity with a diameter of mm, glabrous, apiculate with an ovoid seed. Located in secretory channels anastomosed from the secondary wood and the bone marrow, its extraction requires very deep incisions in the trunk, which allows it to flow naturally from the tree.
It has a long history of use in traditional Brazilian medicine, in the treatment of wounds and removal of scars, such as febrifuge, antiseptic of the urinary tract,.
Considered a general tonic, its indications were: venereal disease, respiratory disease, asthma, rheumatism, secondary skin lesions, ulcers. In low doses, it is a stimulant with direct action on the stomach. Copaiba oleoresin reduces excessive mucus secretion caused by inflammation. Today, copaiba oleoresin is sold in capsules at pharmacies in Brazil, where it is indicated for all types of internal inflammation and stomach ulcers.
