For centuries, the indigenous tribes of the rainforest have relied on Brazil nuts as an important and significant staple in their diet. It was so important, that the nuts have even been used as a trade commodity, much like money. Indigenous tribes eat the nuts raw or grate them and mix them into gruels. This food is a valuable source of calories, fat, and protein for much of the Amazon's rural and tribal peoples. The husks of these seed pods have also been used in Brazilian folk medicine to brew into tea to treat stomach aches, and the tree bark is brewed into tea to treat liver ailments. Also used for liver problems and used as a food, emollient, soap, and insect repellent.