Some Brazilian Amazon forest dwellers collect and sell resins from various species of the genus Protium (locally called breu).

A study with Tembé Indians revealed trees yield an average of 0.7 kg. and up to 11 kg. during initial collection. Weevil larvae stimulate resin flow by chewing into inner bark and then develop inside resin lumps that slowly accumulate on the bark exterior. Lump size is more correlated to the number and size of holes made by larvae than larvae size. Sustainable breu harvest should, therefore, consider weevil infestation and growth patterns as well as breu tree physiology and ecology.

Many of the Protium species in the Brazilian rain forests produce resin (referred to as breu in Amazonia) in response to wounding. Protium pallidum and P. trifoliatum are considered to produce breu branco, which accumulates in rounded white lumps, whereas P. giganteum, P. glabrescens, P. morii, P. polybotrium and Tetragastris panamensis produce various types of breu sarara, which has flatter lumps that often blacken.

Various Amazonian tribes use breu to caulk wooden boats, or as a fire starter, incense and medicine; the sniffing or inhalation of resins from Protium is used by the Yanomami to treat a number of ailments. It is believed by The Amazonian Indians that the burning of breu relieves headaches and repels mosquitoes. The resin of Protium heptaphyllum contains triterpenoids, which are being studied for their medicinal properties.