Petiveria alliacea, commonly known as "Anamu" or "guinea hen weed," has a long history of use in traditional medicine systems throughout Central and South America, the Caribbean, and parts of Africa. Among its various ethnobotanical applications, Petiveria has been used for a range of ailments, including as a remedy for pain, inflammation, infections, and even as a tonic for respiratory conditions. References in traditional medicine texts and ethnobotanical surveys indicate that preparations made from the roots or leaves have been used to address chest pain, often in the context of treating symptoms that could be associated with respiratory infections, bronchitis, or other pulmonary complaints.

However, there is very limited to no robust clinical or preclinical scientific evidence supporting the efficacy of Petiveria alliacea specifically for chest pain. Most available studies investigate its anti-inflammatory, analgesic, or antimicrobial properties in general terms, often in animal models or in vitro. While these properties could theoretically relate to symptomatic relief of chest pain (for example, if the pain is due to inflammation or infection), direct evidence or well-designed clinical trials confirming its safety and efficacy for chest pain in humans are lacking. Therefore, the use of Petiveria for chest pain is primarily justified by ethnomedical tradition rather than by scientific validation.