Iporuru is recommended highly for arthritis and rheumatism. The leaves are prepared into a decoction for coughs. The leaves of Iporuru are used in some parts of Peru to increase female fertility (mostly in cases where the male is relatively impotent). Richard Rutter, noted Peruvian ethnobotanist, insists that Iporuru is widely used as an effective aphrodisiac and geriatric tonic for males. Throughout Peru it is regarded as a remedy for impotency as well as for balancing blood sugar levels in diabetics. Iporuru has been gaining popularity among North American athletes and health practitioners recently; reports have it that iporuru provides nutritional support to muscle and joint structures. Here in the U.S., its reported analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties have begun to make it popular also to those suffering from arthritis and other joint problems.