The 15+ Benefits Of Copaiba and Copaifera

Copaiba oil has been used for more than 390 years with benefits in treating bronchitis, skin diseases, ulcers, syphilis and more. R

Copaiba (pronounced "cupa-yba" for the "deposit tree," is also known as Pau-De-Óleo) comes from the Copaifera tree in the Amazon and is traditionally used in Brazil. R R

It has many benefits such anti-inflammatory, gastroprotective, pain-reducing, wound-healing, anti-tetanus, anti-microbial, anti-tumor, and anti-anxiety effects . R

1. Improves Wound Healing

Copaiba can improve wound healing. R R

This is because copaiba can reduce inflammation while increasing elastic fibers and collagen synthesis. R R

It has been traditionally used to treat lesions from parasitic infections, including Leishmaniasis. R

2. Improves Skin Health

Copaiba may inhibit inflammation of the skin and improve skin tolerance to irritants. R R

Copaiba may also help with psoriasis. R

For example, in a preliminary clinical trial of three patients affected by chronic psoriasis, treatment with an oral intake or topical application of the Copaiba significantly improvement their psoriatic symptoms (such as erythema, skin thickness, and scaliness). R

Copaiba can help with acne. R

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, copaiba oil was able to treat mild acne. R

3. Improves Oral Health

Copaiba can replace mouthwash and help clean teeth. R

Copaiba may prevent the development of dental cavities, gingivitis, and periodontitis. R R R R R

Copaiba resin meets the requirements of the American Dental Association's (ADA) requirements for root canal sealers and can be used a replacement to root canal sealers (for up to 1 year). R R R R R

When taken orally or topically, it can improve healing of the bone sockets after tooth extractions. R

4. Protects The Brain And Immune System

Copaiba can reduce neuroinflammation (decreasing activation of neutrophils, microglia and macrophages). R

One way it does this is by modulation of the immune system. R R

For example, copaiba is high in β-caryophyllene (BCP), a sesquiterpene that binds to (and activates) the cannabinoid type 2 receptor (CB2). R

This inhibition can also protect against N-Methyl-D-Aspartate (NMDA)-induced excitotoxicicity. R

β-caryophyllene from copaiba may also help with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) by modulating TH1 and TH17 inflammatory cytokines. R

Copaiba may be beneficial for conditions like Alzheimer's Disease (AD), as it can increase the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) by inhibiting the breakdown of ACh in the brain. R

5. Helps With Arthritis

Copaiba may help improve inflammation in arthritis. R

For example, in animal models with rheumatoid arthritis, copaiba improved the swelling of joints, adrenals and lymph nodes. R

6. Protects The Vascular System

Copaiba may protect against inflammation-induced hypertension (high blood pressure). R

It can also promote angiogenesis (growth of new blood cells). R

7. Protects Against Sepsis

Copaiba may improve the outcome of sepsis. R

For example, in a study where mice were subjected to severe sepsis, mice given copaiba had a significantly higher survival rate than mice that were not treated with copaiba. R

8. Is An Anti-Microbial

Copaiba can inhibit biofilms. R R R R

Copaiba has anti-bacterial activity against:

• Actinomyces naeslundii R

• Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans R

• Bacillus cereus R

• Bacillus subtilis R

• Enterococcus faecalis R

• Escherichia coli R

• Fusobacterium nucleatum R

• Lactobacillus casei R

• Listeria monocytogenes R

• Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) R

• Mycobacterium avium R

• Mycobacterium kansasii R

• Mycobacterium tuberculosis R

• Paenibacillus alginolyticus R

• Paenibacillus azotofixans R

• Paenibacillus borealis R

• Paenibacillus gluconolyticus R

• Paenibacillus larvae R

• Paenibacillus pabuli R

• Paenibacillus thiaminolyticus R

• Paenibacillus validus R

• Peptostreptococcus micros R

• Porphyromonas gingivalis R R

• Prevotella nigrescens R

• Pseudomonas aeruginosa R

• Staphylococcus aureus R

• Staphylococcus epidermidis R

• Streptococcus agalactiae R

• Streptococcus capitis R

• Streptococcus constellatus R

• Streptococcus mitis R

• Streptococcus mutans R

• Streptococcus oralis R

• Streptococcus pneumoniae R

• Streptococcus salivarius R

• Streptococcus sanguinis R

• Streptococcus sobrinus R

Copaiba has anti-fungal activity against:

• Aspergillus flavus R

• Aspergillus niger R

• Aspergillus tamari R

• Aspergillus terreus R

• Candida albicans R R

• Candida glabrata R

• Candida guilliermondii R

• Candida krusei R

• Candida parapsilosis R

• Candida tropicalis R

• Microsporum canis R

• Trichophyton mentagrophytes R

• Trichophyton rubrum R

Copaiba has anti-parasite activity against:

• Aedes aegypti (larvae that induce dengue and urban yellow fever) R R R

• Clostridium tetani (having anti-tetanus effects) R

• Leishmania amazonensis (very strong) R R R R R R

• Leishmania chagasi R

• Plasmodium berghei (having anti-malaria effects) R

• Rhipicephalus microplus R

• Schistosoma mansoni R

• Trypanosoma cruzi R R

In combination with Horsetail, copaiba can inhibit the development of Herpes Simplex Virus 2 (HSV-2). R

9. Protects The Gut

Copaiba protects the gut and can help with gut healing and inflammation. R R R

It may protect against ulcer development by enhancing gastric acid production and mucus secretion. R

It can reduce the ulcer-forming effect of H. Pylori, but does not have any activity on killing the bacteria. R

By reducing inflammation, copaiba can improve hernia repair. R

10. Helps With Pain

By working on the opioid system and endocannabinoid system, copaiba can help with pain. R R

Another mechanism as to how copaiba regulates pain is by reducing excessive serotonin and histamine release. R

Copaiba may also have muscle-relaxing effects by decreasing oxytocin and acetylcholine in muscles. R

Copaiba can reduce the development of endomitrisis and pain associated with it. R R

It may also help with neuropathy. R

11. Reduces Anxiety

Copaiba may reduce anxiety. R

It can dose-dependently decrease anxiety levels, without affecting normal executive functions. R

12. May Prevent Cancer

Copaiba can reduce tumor cell numbers by causing cancer cells to self-destruct (apoptosis). R R R R

High doses of copaiba oil may reduce DNA damage, while copaiba fruit's antioxidant levels may prevent any excessive oxidative damage. R R R

Copaiba may be useful for:

• Breast Cancer R

• Colon Cancer R R R

• Gastric Cancer R R

• Prostate Cancer (by decreasing the activity of androgen receptors) R

• Skin Cancer R

Copaiba can also prevent some of the excessive cell-toxic damage (such as reduction in white blood cells) from some chemotherapy drugs, for example, the antibiotic, Doxorubicin. R R

13. Protects The Liver

Copaiba can protect the liver against Acetaminophen (Tylenol)-induced damage. R

Copaiba can normalize biomarkers in the liver similarly to N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC). R

14. May Prevent Kidney Stones

Copaiba is high flavonoids and other phenolic compounds which may beneficial for preventing calcium oxalate kidney stones. R

Copaiba helps by enhancing excretion of minerals, not allowing stones to build up in the bladder. R

15. Reduces Pneumothorax

Pleurodesis is a procedure used to reduce pneumothorax (when air leaks into the space between the lungs and chest wall). R

Copaiba oil injections can be used to induce pleurodesis and reduce inflammation of the lungs. R

This is currently being fully evaluated and I will report back soon.

Based on anecdotal experience, it may combine well with Damiana. 

Copaiba can be used both orally or topically (using just a few drops). R

• Copaiba Lotion - Shampoo and Soap

• Copaiba Oil - Gum (resin), Mouth Wash, and Toothpaste

Copaiba is safe to take orally and topically. R

Only one incident I could find had a bad reaction such as liver damage - it's important to note that the patient was also taking Hypericum perforatum, levothyroxine, omega 3s, glucosamine and chondroitin - so there may be some unknown interaction there, but I don't see it. R

Taking it vaginally has shown to have no ill effects on reproduction in animals, but may increase the chances of developing uterine cancer. R R R

Simple:

• Increases ACh R

• Increases ATM R

• Increases CB2 R

• Increases CHK2 R

• Increases CK R

• Increases Collagen R R

• Increases GSH R R

• Increases IL-10 R R

• Increases TP53 R

• Reduces AChE R

• Reduces AR R

• Reduces Alpha-Crystallin R

• Reduces BCL2 R

• Reduces CASP3 R

• Reduces CAT R

• Reduces CCND1 R

• Reduces COX-2 R

• Reduces H2O2 R

• Reduces Histamine R

• Reduces HSP27 R

• Reduces IFN-γ R

• Reduces IL-1β R R

• Reduces IL-6 R R

• Reduces IL-8 R

• Reduces IL-17 R

• Reduces MPA R

• Reduces MPO R R

• Reduces MYC R

• Reduces NF-kB R

• Reduces NO R R R R R

• Reduces PGE2 R

• Reduces ROS R

• Reduces TLR4 R

• Reduces TNF-alpha R R R

• Reduces Trypsin R

• Reduces 5-HT R

Advanced:

• Copaiba oil is an oleoresin obtained from the Copaifera L. genus (Leguminoseae) and comprised of of sesquiterpenes (such as beta-caryophyllene, α-humulene, α-copaene, α-bergamotene, δ-cadinene, and β-bisabolene) and diterpenes (copalic acid, clorechinic, hardwickiic acids, kaurenoic, and kolavenic acids). R R R

• The copaiba fruit has a high polyphenol content (gallic acid, epicatechin gallate, catechin, epicatechin and isoquercitrin/quecirtin) and antioxidant capacity (such as vitamin E). R R

• Copalic acid can inhibit the chaperone function of α-crystallin and heat shock protein 27kD (HSP27) and decrease the activity of androgen receptor (AR). R

• Copaiba resins can modulate the inflammatory process by decreasing the recruitment of inflammatory cells.

• In the liver of of arthritic animals copaiba oil can decrease glycolysis (-65%), glycogenolysis (-58%), and gluconeogenesis (-30%). R

• In the uterus, kaurenoic acid depressed oxytocin and acetylcholine, thus providing relaxation. R

• Copaiba oil may act as an anti-nociceptive agent and induce plasmatic Creatine Kinase (CK) increase by a mechanism involving probably the splenic overproduction of megakaryocytes. R

• Kaurenoic, 3-acetoxy-copalic and copalic acids increase interleukin-10 (IL-10) production, while copalic acid and hardwickiic acid inhibit nitric oxide (NO) production. R

• Copaiba helps with pain by binding opioid and endocannabinoid receptors, and inhibiting histamine and serotonin pathways. R R

• In food, the seed can be used as a thickening agent. R

• Copaiba can be used as a source for biodiesel. R

• Topically nanoemulsion has better absorption. R R