Catuaba

Other Names: Caramuru, Catuaba Casca, Chuchuhuasha, Erythroxylum catuaba, Golden Trumpet, Pau de Reposta, Piratancara, Tatuaba.
Catuaba is a natural remedy long used in herbal medicine. A popular treatment in traditional Brazilian medicine, it's typically sourced from the bark of a tree native to the Amazon rainforest.

Special Precautions of Catuaba

• There's some concern that catuaba may trigger a number of side effects, such as headache, dizziness, and excessive sweating.
• Also, certain varieties of catuaba contain yohimbine, which may result in anxiety and other conditions and interacts with many medications. Consult your primary care provider for information about possible precautions, interactions or adverse effects.

Health Benefits and uses of Catuaba are

• Catuaba contains chemicals that might work against certain bacteria and viruses.
• Depression : Catuaba may have antidepressant-like effects, according to a study published in the journal Psychopharmacology in 2005. In tests on rats and mice, scientists observed that catuaba may combat depression in part by increasing the release of serotonin and melatonin (two brain chemicals involved in regulating mood).
• Found to reduce inflammation in scientific studies.
• Brain Health : In a rat-based study published in Neurochemical Research in 2012, researchers determined that catuaba may aid in the prevention of ischemia. (Closely associated with stroke, ischemia is a condition marked by insufficient blood flow to the brain.) In an experiment involving samples of brain tissue taken from rats, the study's authors found that antioxidants in catuaba may help prevent ischemia by reducing oxidative stress.
• Parkinson's Disease : Catuaba shows promise in the treatment of Parkinson's disease, suggests a preliminary study published in the journal Brain Research in 2008. In the study, tests on human cells demonstrated that catuaba may help fight Parkinson's disease by protecting against the degeneration of certain nerve cells.

References

• Barbosa NR, Fischmann L, Talib LL, Gattaz WF. "Inhibition of platelet phospholipase A2 activity by catuaba extract suggests antiinflammatory properties." Phytother Res. 2004 Nov;18(11):942-4.
• Campos MM, Fernandes ES, Ferreira J, Santos AR, Calixto JB. "Antidepressant-like effects of Trichilia catigua (Catuaba) extract: evidence for dopaminergic-mediated mechanisms." Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2005 Oct;182(1):45-53.
• Kamdem JP, Waczuk EP, Kade IJ, Wagner C, Boligon AA, Athayde ML, Souza DO, Rocha JB. "Catuaba (Trichilia catigua) prevents against oxidative damage induced by in vitro ischemia-reperfusion in rat hippocampal slices." Neurochem Res. 2012 Dec;37(12):2826-35.
• Valverde G De Andrade D1, Madureira de Oliveria D, Barreto G, Bertolino LA, Saraceno E, Capani F, Giraldez LD. "Effects of the extract of Anemopaegma mirandum (Catuaba) on Rotenone-induced apoptosis in human neuroblastomas SH-SY5Y cells." Brain Res. 2008 Mar 10;1198:188-96.