Maquiberry is regarded as one of the three sacred plants of the Mapuche people, together with the winter's bark or canelo (Drimys winteri), and the chilean laurel (Laurelia sempervirens). The maqui schrub means benevolence and peaceful intention, and it is therefore used to ornament the rehue, the ceremonial altar, during the Mapuche festivities.

Among the traditional applications of maqui we can mention the use of leaf infusions for throat affections. Leafs are also used to cure skin wounds or to improve the appearance of scars. Some alkaloids called aristoteline, aristotelone and tristone, can be extracted from them. Leaf extracts also have a certain nematicide action on grapevines.

Beside the use as food and drink, the fruits have medicinal applications as anti diarrheic. The fruits are also appreciated for their beautiful color and thus are used to dye natural textile fibers like cotton and hemp and their juice is often used to improve color of wines and other beverages.

The flowers present an interest melliferous potential for apiculture.

Let's see what French naturalist Claude Gay had to say about our little maquiberry:

"It is a shrub of which peasants know how to take good advantage: they use dry and powdered leafs to cure scars, and fresh ones to cure sore throats, wash out mouth ulcers, and apply poultice over the kidneys to reduce the effects of fever. Cart drivers make rods with the twigs and with the wood which is sonorous, fragile, light, but which hardens with time, artisans produce musical instruments and even furniture moldings. The bark is also useful to make cords and to tie the coligüe (Chilean bamboo) roofing. The fruits are much appreciated: they are used to make preserves and ice creams, and mixed with grapes produce an exquisite wine. The natives prepare as well a kind of liquor which they enjoy up to infinity, which is known with the name of Tecu."

"Physical and political history of Chile" Botanics . 1845. Claudio Gay