Bobinsana plant medicine (Calliandra angustifolia): the Amazonian Heart Opener, Benefits, Effects and How to Work With it

By Dr Ifey Ihonor | Doctor, herbalist & founder of 8 Within

Bobinsana is one of those ‘if you know, you know’ plants. You don’t really stumble across it… especially here in the UK. Most people I’ve met who love bobinsana didn’t find it, they were introduced to it. It tends to be a plant that’s passed along, almost secretly, from one person to another. And that’s also how it happened for me.

I first came across bobinsana plant medicine in Sweden (yes, Sweden… of all places). I was about to take part in a kambo ceremony and, if I’m honest, I was a little nervous. I needed something gentle, yet powerful to help me relax into the experience. The night before, someone had mentioned bobinsana in passing and in that moment, something told me to ask for it.

I was given bobinsana hapé and soon after, I felt my resistance melt and the ceremony flowed.

Forty minutes later, while lying on a straw mat recovering, I caught myself thinking: I need to find out more about this plant. Full disclosure, I couldn’t even pronounce its name properly at the time… but I knew there was something special about it.

When I got home and started researching bobinsana, I found a beautiful plant, a handful of small studies and a smattering of personal accounts.

What I didn’t find was an in-depth exploration of what bobinsana is and how it works, both on a science and soul level.

So this, right here, is my attempt to offer that.

What is bobinsana? An introduction to Calliandra angustifolia

Bobinsana (scientifically known as Calliandra angustifolia) is a shrubby tree native to the Amazon Basin. It grows along rivers and streams in Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil and beyond, reaching up to six metres high. I first saw it in Costa Rica, and its flowers stopped me in my tracks because they looked like fluffy, pink little bursts of silk… kind of like tiny hearts.

That softness is part of why it’s known as sirenita bobinsana, which means “little mermaid bobinsana.” And that’s because there’s something gentle and otherworldly about it. 

In Amazonian plant medicine, bobinsana is considered a master plant. Not because it’s psychedelic (it isn’t), but because of how deeply it works -  emotionally and spiritually.

Bobinsana in traditional Amazonian medicine: the history of a heart opener

Bobinsana has been used across South America for centuries. Yes, it’s renowned for physical health, but it’s also deeply respected when it comes to emotional and spiritual work.

Traditional physical uses of bobinsana across the Amazon

In the Peruvian Amazon, the Shipibo-Conibo people prepared bobinsana as a bark tincture. They would steep it in cane sugar alcohol for weeks to extract its active compounds. The resulting liquid was then used for rheumatism, arthritis, bone pain, colds and even uterine issues.

In other parts of the region, it was used as a blood cleanser, or brewed as a root tea for energy.

They were simple preparations with wide-ranging uses, and the same remains true today.

Bobinsana as a plant teacher: spiritual and emotional uses

Bobinsana is considered a master plant teacher - that's a plant thought to have such powerful intelligence and consciousness, it acts as a teacher to those ready to work with it.

People can use it for a traditional dieta, during which they isolate with it for an extended period of time. The goal is to strengthen their spiritual connection with it and absorb its teachings, which they can then apply to their own lives.

Spiritually, bobinsana is the go-to plant for matters of the heart, including grief, heartbreak, loss and emotional trauma.

In Shipibo traditions, it’s also used in soul retrieval work, where shamans guide people back to moments of past trauma where it’s believed a fragment of their soul was left behind. It’s believed that unless that part of their soul is retrieved and reintegrated, the person will be unable to move past that specific trauma and its effects.

You’ll also find bobinsana in some ayahuasca brews, where it’s added to deepen the emotional and heart-opening aspects of the ceremony. 

And that’s because bobinsana is believed to deepen connection to the plant spirit world and curanderos say it makes people more receptive to whatever the plants are trying to show them.

Bobinsana benefits: what the research actually says

Research on bobinsana is, well… limited, so this is going to be a short section. But here’s what we know.

The COX inhibitor study: Bobinsana's most documented property

The most cited study (Dunstan et al., 1997) looked at a bark tincture and found that bobinsana inhibited COX-1 prostaglandin production (a compound that causes pain and inflammation), similar to how ibuprofen and aspirin work.

This may explain its traditional use for inflammatory conditions like arthritis and rheumatism.

But it’s worth mentioning that this study was done on rats, not humans.

Alkaloids and the case for mood support

Bobinsana contains several alkaloids (calliandrine, angustine, angustidine and caliandrinone) alongside serotonin-boosting tryptophan and flavonoids.

Some sources suggest these compounds may influence serotonin pathways, which could explain why some people say they feel more uplifted when they take bobinsana.

But once again, the research here is far from conclusive.

Bobinsana effects: what people actually experience

This is where things get interesting.

I’ve worked with bobinsana for a few years now, making tinctures, teas and cacao blends. As a result, I’ve watched how differently people respond.

Here are just a few of the patterns I’ve noticed.

The emotional and heart-opening effects of bobinsana

The most consistently reported effect is a feeling of being more open and receptive to the emotional side of life.

It’s not typically dramatic (although sometimes it is) and most people describe:

• Warmth in the chest

• Quieter thoughts

• Emotional spaciousness

• Buried feelings rising to the surface

• More compassion for themselves and others

The phrase that seems to come up time and time again is "heart healer" or "heart opener".

Bobinsana has a particular way with grief. It doesn’t remove it, but it does seem to help you make peace with it. This isn’t limited to grief over the death of a loved one, it’s all types of grief - that feeling of mourning over something precious that feels gone forever. 

Bobinsana and lucid dreaming

Then there’s the dream side of things.

This is less talked about, but once you hear about it, your own experience may start to make more sense. In general, people report:

• More vivid dreams

• More emotional dreams

• Lucid dreaming

• Being caught in that strange in-between state where you’re not quite asleep, not quite awake

I’ve experienced that last one myself, and it’s a very weird experience.

I can’t say exactly why this happens. It could be biochemical (beta-carboline activity affecting REM) or it could be something less tangible.

But if you’re working with bobinsana consistently, expect your nights to get interesting… or not. Remember, everyone is different. And what I’ve found is that the person who desperately wants to have a specific experience is usually the one who doesn’t. So, stay open and have no expectations when working with bobinsana - just see what happens..

Most importantly, keep in mind that bobinsana's dream effects tend to build over time, so you’re unlikely to notice much after a single dose. 

The energising and stimulating quality

This side of bobinana surprises people because despite being such a gentle plant, bobinsana is also considered a stimulant in Amazonian herbal medicine.

It doesn't deliver a sharp or jittery energy boost like coffee, instead, it tends to deliver a subtle sense of presence and activation. 

I haven’t personally felt this strongly, but enough people have mentioned this effect (especially when taking root decoctions - see the next section for what this is) that it’s worth mentioning.

How to work with bobinsana: preparation, dose and ritual

At 8 Within, we offer bobinsana as a tincture - that’s an alcohol extract of the bark. It’s the most practical and widely used format.

But you can also work with the plant by making a decoction in which you boil the roots, stems, leaves or flowers. You’ll need to simmer it for 15 to 20 minutes, making sure the pot doesn’t dry up.

Bobinsana tincture: preparation and dosing

You can take it directly under the tongue or add it to water, cacao or another drink.

I generally recommend:

• 15 for 20 drops, once or twice a day for daily support

• 20 to 30 drops before sleep (empty stomach) for dreamwork

• 20 to 30 drops before journalling, meditation or inner work

Again, remember that the effects are subtle and build over time. Be patient and manage your expectations and you may be pleasantly surprised at what 28 days with bobinsana delivers. 

Intention and setting

Bobinsana is a plant remedy that responds well to patience and stillness. If you’re working with it for emotional healing, set aside time (even just 10 minutes daily) to just be. Pay attention to any changes in your emotions and how you respond to the events around you. 

While bobinsana is used for healing the heart, what I’ve found is that its support appears in a roundabout way. It doesn't make you magically feel better, like an antidepressant can. Instead, it seems to help put you in a state of mind in which you are more open and trusting. 

Often when we hold onto feelings of loss, heartbreak and grief, we tend to lack trust in life going well for us and in ourselves, our judgement and worthiness. But when we can trust in life and ourselves, it becomes easier to move forward and fully participate in life again. 

Learn more about 8 Within's Heart Healer tincture, which features bobinsana: Heart Healer Herbal Tincture

Bobinsana contraindications: who should be careful

Bobinsana is generally gentle, but it’s still a biologically active plant that can be unsafe for some people.

MAOIs and antidepressants

There are claims it contains MAO-inhibiting compounds, so you’ll need to take care if you’re taking MAOI antidepressants (e.g. phenelzine, tranylcypromine and moclobemide).

Potential interactions between these medications and bobinsana could affect your blood pressure.

It’s also worth being cautious if you’re taking SSRIs. Start low, observe your response carefully and speak to your doctor if you’re unsure.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Bobinsana is traditionally used as a contraceptive in some regions, although the biochemical reason why isn’t clear. Regardless, it’s safest to avoid it during pregnancy, when trying to conceive and while breastfeeding.

Blood pressure and cardiovascular conditions

There’s a chance that bobinsana may affect blood pressure, so speak to your doctor if you have a related condition.

General caution

As with all plant medicines, the best way to proceed is to start low and go slow.

More doesn’t mean better with bobinsana. In fact, higher doses tend to just increase the chance of digestive upset, without increasing the benefits.

What I still don't know about Bobinsana

The honest answer is… quite a lot. It's a poorly researched plant and many of its effects don’t have clear explanations.

Does it actually prevent pregnancy or is that an old wives tale? Why does it affect dreaming so strongly for some people and not others?

Bobinsana is one of those plants that brings more questions than answers, but this is the part of working with plant medicines I love the most,

Because while science gives us safety and structure, it doesn’t explain everything.

And with plants like this, there’s always a layer that sits just beyond explanation, in a space between what we know and what we feel.

And it’s this mystery that keeps me hooked.

Research references

1. Dunstan CA et al. Evaluation of some Samoan and Peruvian medicinal plants by prostaglandin biosynthesis and rat ear oedema assays. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 1997; 57: 35–56. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9234163/

2. Rain-Tree Tropical Plant Database. Bobinsana (Calliandra angustifolia) technical data report. https://rain-tree.com/bobinsana.htm

3. Romero JT. Insecticidal imino acids in leaves of Calliandra. Biochemical Systematics and Ecology, 1984; 12(3): 293–297.

4. Politi M, Friso F. Study on indigenous use of Bobinsana. Horticulture International Journal.

5. Maya Herbs. Bobinsana ethnobotanical summary. https://mayaherbs.com/ethnobotanicals/aya-plants/bobinsana/

Written by Dr Ifey Ihonor - NHS-trained doctor, folk herbalist and founder of 8 Within. This article is for educational purposes and is not intended to be medical advice. If you have a medical condition or are taking medication, please consult your GP or healthcare provider before using bobinsana.