Tepezcohuite

Plant Medicine

Tepezcohuite is the powdered bark of the Mexican tree Mimosa tenuiflora, used traditionally and in cosmetics as a topical remedy for burns, wounds and skin conditions. In this skin-care use it is not psychoactive.

Also known as: Tepescohuite, Skin Tree, Mimosa tenuiflora, Mimosa hostilis, Jurema Preta, Calumbi, Tepezcohuite bark

Written by Psymerge Editorial Team · Last updated June 4, 2026

Key facts

Category
Plant Medicine
Onset
Not applicable (topical use)
Peak
Not applicable
Total duration
Not applicable
After-effects
None expected from topical use

Overview

Tepezcohuite (Mimosa tenuiflora), known as the "skin tree", is a shrub-tree native to Mexico and Central and South America. Its dried, powdered trunk bark is applied to the skin to support healing of burns, wounds and ulcers, and it is now a common ingredient in regenerative and anti-ageing cosmetics. It gained wide attention in Mexico after being used on burn victims during disasters in the 1980s (Zippel et al., 2009).

Used this way — topically, on the skin — tepezcohuite is not a psychoactive substance. It is important not to confuse the topical skin remedy with the entheogenic use of the same species' root bark, which contains DMT and is used in jurema (vinho da jurema) and ayahuasca-analogue brews; those are entirely different preparations with different risks. This page covers the traditional and cosmetic skin-healing use. It is educational and is not medical advice.

History & origins

Mimosa tenuiflora has a long history of folk-medicine use in Mexico and Central America, where the powdered bark was applied directly to skin lesions or as an aqueous extract. Its modern reputation grew after the 1984 San Juanico disaster and the 1985 Mexico City earthquake, when it was used on large numbers of burn victims, prompting scientific investigation of its wound-healing properties (Zippel et al., 2009; Rivera-Arce et al., 2007).

Pharmacology & how it works

The skin-healing activity of tepezcohuite bark is attributed mainly to its high content of condensed tannins (proanthocyanidins), which have antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory and astringent (cicatrizing) effects. Arabinogalactan polysaccharides isolated from the bark have been shown to stimulate dermal fibroblast activity, which may help explain its support of tissue regeneration (Zippel et al., 2009).

Chemical class
Botanical (bark of Mimosa tenuiflora); rich in condensed tannins (proanthocyanidins), with saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids and arabinogalactan polysaccharides
Routes of administration
Topical (powdered trunk bark or standardized extract), Cosmetic formulations (creams, soaps, serums)
Tolerance
Not applicable to topical use.

Pharmacokinetics

Used topically, tepezcohuite acts locally on the skin; there is little evidence of meaningful systemic absorption in normal cosmetic use. Pharmacokinetic data in humans are limited.

Effects

Physical Effects

  • Supports wound and burn healing when applied to the skin
  • Antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory action (attributed to tannins and saponins)
  • May stimulate skin (fibroblast) regeneration
  • Soothing and skin-conditioning effects in cosmetic use

Psychological Effects

  • None — topical tepezcohuite is not psychoactive

Dosage Information

Used topically as powdered bark or as standardized extracts; clinical studies of venous leg ulcers used preparations such as a 5% bark extract. There is no established oral or ingested dose for skin-healing use, and ingestion is not part of this traditional application. Follow product directions for cosmetic formulations. Educational only and not medical advice.

Risks & safety

Contraindications

Topical tepezcohuite is generally well tolerated, but caution applies to:

  • Known allergy to Mimosa species or to plant tannins.
  • Open, deep or infected wounds — these need professional medical care rather than self-treatment.
  • Pregnancy and breastfeeding: safety has not been established, and some traditional sources caution against internal use of Mimosa tenuiflora in pregnancy.

Drug interactions

No clinically significant drug interactions are documented for topical use. As with any botanical applied to the skin, avoid combining multiple active topical products on the same area without guidance, and patch-test first to check for irritation.

Psychological distress & bad trips

Not applicable. Topical tepezcohuite has no psychoactive effects and does not cause psychological distress.

Rare but serious risks

Serious risks from topical, skin-care use are uncommon. The main cautions are:

  • Allergic or irritant skin reactions in sensitive individuals.
  • Product quality and adulteration: powders sold online vary in purity and authenticity; pharmacognostical studies note adulterants in commercial samples.
  • Confusion with entheogenic root-bark use: the root bark of the same species contains DMT and is psychoactive when prepared as a brew (often with an MAOI), which carries entirely separate and significant risks. Do not assume tepezcohuite skin powder is interchangeable with jurema preparations.

Vulnerable populations

People who are pregnant or breastfeeding, and those with sensitive or allergy-prone skin, should be cautious and seek professional advice. Serious burns and non-healing wounds in anyone should be assessed by a healthcare professional rather than self-treated.

Dependency & addiction potential

Tepezcohuite has no known potential for dependence or addiction in topical use.

Overdose

Overdose is not a meaningful concern for topical application, which shows low toxicity. Ingesting bark products is not part of the skin-healing tradition and is not advised, as oral safety has not been established.

Harm Reduction

  • Use tepezcohuite for skin care only as directed; it is intended for topical, not internal, use.
  • Patch-test a small area first to check for allergy or irritation.
  • Have serious burns, deep cuts or infected or non-healing wounds assessed by a healthcare professional rather than self-treating.
  • Buy from reputable suppliers — commercial bark powders vary in authenticity and purity.
  • Do not confuse tepezcohuite skin powder with jurema (DMT-containing root-bark) preparations, which are psychoactive and carry separate risks.

Cultural & spiritual context

Across its range, Mimosa tenuiflora is woven into both traditional medicine and, separately, indigenous and Afro-Brazilian entheogenic practice. As tepezcohuite it is valued as a skin and burn remedy; as jurema preta its root bark is central to Brazilian jurema rituals. The plant therefore sits at the intersection of ethnobotany, dermatology and entheogenic tradition, but the skin remedy and the ritual brew are prepared and used in completely different ways.

Legal Status

Laws vary widely by country and change frequently, so we don't track legal status here to avoid showing outdated information.

Check current worldwide legal status on Psychedelic Alpha

Frequently asked questions

Is tepezcohuite psychoactive?

No. The bark used for skin care (tepezcohuite) is not psychoactive. The psychoactive, DMT-containing material from the same species comes from the root bark prepared as jurema or in ayahuasca-analogue brews — a completely different preparation and use.

What is tepezcohuite used for?

Traditionally and in cosmetics it is applied to the skin to support healing of burns, wounds and ulcers and as a regenerative, anti-ageing ingredient. Small clinical studies suggest benefit for venous leg ulcers, but evidence for other skin claims is limited (Rivera-Arce et al., 2007).

Why does tepezcohuite help skin?

Its bark is rich in tannins (proanthocyanidins) with antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, and contains arabinogalactan polysaccharides shown to stimulate skin (fibroblast) activity (Zippel et al., 2009).

Is tepezcohuite safe?

Topical use is generally well tolerated, with allergic or irritant skin reactions being the main concern. Patch-test first, buy from reputable suppliers, and have serious burns or non-healing wounds assessed by a healthcare professional. Internal use is not part of the skin-healing tradition and is not advised.

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References & further reading

  • Zippel, J., Deters, A., & Hensel, A. (2009). Arabinogalactans from Mimosa tenuiflora (Willd.) Poiret bark as active principles for wound-healing properties: specific enhancement of dermal fibroblast activity and minor influence on HaCaT keratinocytes. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 124(3), 391–396.
  • Rivera-Arce, E., Chavez-Soto, M. A., Herrera-Arellano, A., et al. (2007). Therapeutic effectiveness of a Mimosa tenuiflora cortex extract in venous leg ulceration treatment. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 109(3), 523–528.
  • Rivera-Arce, E., et al. (2007). Pharmacognostical studies of the plant drug Mimosae tenuiflorae cortex. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2007.06.023
  • Phytopharmacological aspects of Mimosa tenuiflora (Willd.) Poir.: a systematic review of preclinical data. Phytochemistry Reviews (2024), 23, 1183. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11101-024-09945-9
  • Plants For A Future / botanical databases. Mimosa tenuiflora profile. https://pfaf.org/

About this article

Written by:
PE
Psymerge Editorial Team
Last updated June 4, 2026