Medicinal plants of Paraguay: Underground organs

We have identified underground organs belonging to 13 species in 9 families that are being sold as medicinal in the Market #4 of Asunción currently known as “Pettirossi.” Eleven of those 13 species grow wild in Oriental Paraguay, one is naturalized, and one is only cultivated. These organs are locally used to combat rheumatism, diabetes, hepatitis, syphilis, stomachache, flatulence, arthrosis, parasites, diarrhea, and throatache, and as postfebril cooling, diuretic, and laxative.