Jaborandi (Pilocarpus species) has a long history of traditional use to stimulate sweating, primarily due to its active constituent, pilocarpine. Indigenous peoples of South America, particularly in Brazil, have used the leaves of jaborandi for centuries to induce sweating as a remedy for fevers and to support detoxification through the skin. The traditional use is well documented in ethnobotanical literature and early pharmacopoeias, which note its pronounced diaphoretic (sweat-inducing) effects when ingested or chewed. Pilocarpine, the primary alkaloid found in jaborandi, acts as a muscarinic receptor agonist, which can stimulate exocrine glands, including sweat glands.

While the mechanism by which pilocarpine induces sweating is scientifically understood, its clinical use today is generally limited to certain medical applications such as treating dry mouth (xerostomia) and glaucoma rather than for supporting sweat gland function in healthy individuals. However, there is a clear tie between historical use and the known pharmacological action of its constituents, which aligns with traditional claims. Despite this, contemporary evidence supporting its use specifically for general “sweat gland support” in wellness or supplement contexts is limited. Most of the available data come from older studies or case reports focused on its side effect of sweating during therapeutic use of pilocarpine. Thus, the evidence for its use is primarily traditional, with a plausible pharmacological basis but lacking robust modern clinical validation for this specific purpose.