Quillaia (Quillaja saponaria) is a large evergreen tree found in Peru and Chile. Chemicals in the tree bark called saponins act as natural detergents.
Saponins can attach to dietary fat in the stomach. This might help lower cholesterol. Quillaia also contains high concentrations of chemicals called tannins. Tannins can thin mucus to make it easier to cough up.
People use quillaia for asthma, high cholesterol, bronchitis, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. .
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