Plants from the genus Psychotria (leaves, roots, barks and rhizomes) are commonly used in traditional medicines for treating bronchial and gastrointestinal disorders such as cough, bronchitis, ulcer and stomachache. Also they are used for infections of the female reproductive system.

Psychotria capensis is an evergreen shrub or small tree, 3-8 m tall, with a slender stem, horizontal branches and pale brown bark. The leaves are shiny, light to dark green above and paler below, smooth and leathery; they are fairly large, 70-150 x 15-60 mm, elliptic to obovate, opposite and often drooping.

Psychotria carthagenensis, also known as amyruca, is a South American rainforest understory shrub from the coffee family, Rubiaceae. It grows from the tropics of South America to Mexico. Jacq. The plant is used in the preparation of the ayahuasca decoction.