Every day across Paraguay, yuyeros (herbal vendors) sell bundles of medicinal herbs in markets, roadside stalls and neighbourhood stands. Infused in tereré, a cold drink, or mate, its hot counterpart, as well as tea, yuyos (which are medicinal plants used in traditional remedies) attract locals and newcomers seeking natural cures. Long part of daily life, they are now gaining scientific validation, turning Paraguay’s green treasure into a symbol of health and identity.
Tradition alive in the market
Estela Velastiqui, a 55-year-old vendor, learned the trade from her mother, who sold healing plants for many years. She now arrives at the Mercado 4 in Asunción as early as 3:00 AM, often finding customers already waiting.
“All day long people come to buy, thankfully, a lot,” she says. For her, healing leaves are not just remedies but part of everyday survival.
She explains that the most popular varieties include peppermint (menta’i), bermuda grass (kapi’i katĩ), pink-sorrel (agrial) and root beer plant (Santa Lucía), used in refreshing mixtures for the heat. Others serve specific purposes: horsetail (cola de caballo) for kidney health, cat’s claw (uña de gato) and wormwood (ajenjo) for diabetes, water hyacinth (camalote) for hepatitis and liquorice verbena (burrito) for digestive issues.
Estela’s own story reflects this knowledge. After suffering from a persistent cough for three months that did not improve with antibiotics, she turned to her own herbal remedy, moonflower (batatilla) combined with chamomile (manzanilla). “In just two days I was cured,” she recalls, smiling. For her, such experiences confirm what her family always knew: natural cures are sometimes more effective than pharmaceuticals.
From nightclubs to herbal wisdom
For Óscar Villalba (40), yuyos became his livelihood during the pandemic after losing his job in a nightclub. At first, he missed nightlife, but soon he embraced the calm of the market. “I do not want to go back, I got used to this quieter life,” he admits. Like Velastiqui, he inherited the business from his mother and now continues the family tradition.
His stand offers a wide range of flora, but he points out some favourites: lippia (perdudilla), valued as a refreshing herb that helps with internal fevers; lemon verbena (cedrón paraguay), known for its calming effect; Jacaranda plant (taropé), another refreshing choice; fennel (hinojo), widely used as a digestive aid; and sarsaparilla (zarzaparrilla), appreciated as a traditional diuretic.
Óscar welcomes the growing attention of researchers. “Through science more will be known, and that helps us all,” he comments, convinced that Paraguay could one day become a global reference for medicinal herbs.
His perspective, alongside Estela’s, reflects how traditional vendors are not only preserving ancestral knowledge but also adapting to a future where these natural solutions gain recognition far beyond Paraguay’s borders.
The science behind the yuyos
In Guaraní, yuyos are known as pohã ñana, a term that means “healing herbs”. Local people have relied on them for generations, and recent pharmacological studies are now confirming many of their effects. For example, spearmint (hierbabuena) aids digestion, rosemary (romero) strengthens the respiratory system, and rue grass (ruda) is used for circulation and spiritual rituals, showing how health and culture meet in these practices.
Other botanicals also reveal remarkable properties. Borage (borraja) works as a depurative and expectorant, sage (salvia) is valued as an antiseptic and for controlling excessive sweating, and valerian root (valeriana) is widely used as an ancestral tranquilliser. This mix of customary practice and scientific confirmation gives Paraguay a unique voice in global conversations on health.
At the same time, specialists warn about responsible use. They recommend adding no more than three herbs to each preparation and ensuring that all are aimed at the same ailment. Combining preparations for different conditions can reduce their effectiveness and even cause toxicity, a risk that highlights the need to educate consumers without dismissing ancestral wisdom.
Where body and spirit meet
Yuyos also serve spiritual purposes, with rue grass often used in rituals of protection, cleansing and fortune. Many Paraguayans still prepare baths or keep branches at home, believing these traditions bring prosperity or ward off negativity. At the same time, ruda is valued in popular medicine for circulation and other ailments, embodying a symbolic strength that keeps it present in both daily life and special occasions.
Such uses remind us that health in Paraguay is understood holistically, blending physical wellbeing with emotional and spiritual balance. Rather than separating body and spirit, people see remedies, rituals and everyday practices as parts of the same system, where harmony itself is the true measure of wellbeing.
Paraguay’s green future
The popularity of medicinal plants reflects more than heritage; it also connects with global interest in natural foods and sustainable health practices. In an era where “superfoods” dominate trends, Paraguay’s herbs stand out for their authenticity and cultural depth. This blend of tradition and science strengthens the country’s voice in global health conversations.
Paraguay’s green treasure is thus not only rediscovered by science, but also revitalised by its people. Whether through the persistence of yuyeras like Estela, the reinvention of vendors like Óscar, or the curiosity of new generations, yuyos continue to thrive, healing bodies, sustaining traditions and opening doors to an international stage.
To experience where much of this tradition comes alive, explore Mercado 4, Asunción’s vibrant central market, one of the main hubs where yuyos are still sold today.
