In South American herbal medicine, the root of manacá is said to stimulate the lymphatic system. It has long been used for syphilis, earning the name vegetable mercury (mercury was once used to treat syphilis many years ago). In South American medicine systems today, manacá is considered to be a lymph and blood cleanser, a topical anesthetic, diuretic, menstrual promoter, laxative, sweat promoter, and narcotic. It is employed for arthritis, rheumatism, scrofula, and syphilis. In Brazil herbalists use the root as a laxative and blood cleanser, for syphilis, rheumatism, scrofula, dermatosis, and to promote menstrual flow. Practitioners and herbalists in the United States use manacá as a diuretic, laxative, and anti-inflammatory to treat arthritis and rheumatism, sexually-transmitted diseases, and to stimulate the lymphatic system and disperse uric acid. In Europe the plant is used for arthritis, rheumatism, bronchitis, fevers, and snakebite.