Butea Superba

Other Names: Butea Gum Tree, Buteae, Flamme de la Forêt, Kwao Krua Dang, Kwao Krua Rouge, Red Kwao Krua, Red Kwao Krua Daeng.
Butea superba is a vine that grows in India, China, Vietnam, and Thailand. The roots are used as medicine. It is long used in certain systems of traditional medicine, including traditional Thai medicine.

Special Precautions of Butea Superba

Although little is known about the safety of long-term use of Butea superba, some findings from animal-based research indicate that the herb may have adverse effects on blood chemistry and testosterone levels. Given these potential health risks, consulting a physician prior to using Butea superba is advised.

Benefits and uses of Butea Superba are

Thought to act as an aphrodisiac, Butea superba is typically used to enhance sexual performance and treat erectile dysfunction.

• Erectile Dysfunction (ED) : So far, most of the evidence for Butea superba's potential health benefits comes from preliminary research on animals. For example, several rat-based studies published in recent years show that Butea superba may aid in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. These studies include a report published in the journal Andrologia in 2012, in which tests on diabetic rats determined that Butea superba may help improve erectile function by stimulating circulation. In addition, a rat-based study published in the journal Fitoterapia in 2006 found that treatment with Butea superba helped to increase the animals' sperm counts.While few studies have tested Butea superba's effects on human health, one clinical trial published in the Asian Journal of Andrology in 2003 suggests that the herb may help treat erectile dysfunction. Analyzing findings on a group of volunteers (ages 30 to 70) with erectile dysfunction, the study's authors found that three months of treatment with Butea superba extract led to significant improvement in erectile function for most of the patients.
• In scientific studies, Butea superba's roots have been found to contain a variety of flavonoids (a class of compounds with antioxidant effects).
• In addition, Butea superba is sometimes used in treatment of such health problems as diarrhea and fever.