Cowhage

Other Names:Atmagupta, Couhage, Cowitch, Cow-Itch Plant, Dolichos Pruriens, Feijao Macaco, HP 200, HP-200, Kapi Kacchu, Kapikachchhu, Kapikachhu, Kapikachu, Kaunch, Kawach, Kawanch, Kevanch, Kiwach, Macuna, Mucuna hirsuta, Mucuna pruriens, Mucuna Prurient, Mucuna Prurita, Nescafé, Ojo de Buey, Ojo de Venado, Pica-Pica, Pois à Gratter, Pois Mascate, Pois Velu, Stizolobium pruriens, Velvet Bean.
Cowhage is a bean-like plant. It grows wild in the tropics, including India and the Bahamas, and its range may extend to southern Florida. The bean, seed, and hair of the bean pod are used to make medicine.

Special Precautions of Cowhage

• A powdered preparation of cowhage called HP-200 seems to be safe for most people. The most common side effects include nausea and a sensation of abdominal bloating. Less common side effects include vomiting, abnormal body movements, and insomnia.
• Side effects of other cowhage preparations include headache, pounding heartbeat, and symptoms of psychosis including confusion, agitation, hallucinations, and delusions.
• The hair of the cowhage bean pod is a strong irritant and can cause severe itching, burning, and swelling if it is taken by mouth or applied to the skin.
• Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the use of cowhage during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
• Diseases of the heart and blood vessels (cardiovascular disease): Due to the levodopa (L-dopa) in cowhage, it should be avoided or used cautiously in people with cardiovascular disease. L-dopa can frequently cause low blood pressure on standing (orthostatic hypotension), dizziness, and fainting. Much less frequently, L-dopa can also cause pounding or irregular heartbeat.
• Diabetes: There is some evidence that cowhage can lower blood sugar levels and might cause blood sugar to drop too low. If you have diabetes and use cowhage, be sure to monitor you blood sugar carefully. The doses of your diabetes medications might need to be adjusted.
• Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia): There is some evidence that cowhage can lower blood sugar levels and might make low blood sugar worse.
• Liver disease: Cowhage contains levodopa (L-dopa). L-dopa seems to raise the blood levels of chemicals that indicate liver damage. This may mean that the cowhage is making liver disease worse. If you have liver disease, don’t use cowhage.
• Skin cancer called melanoma: The body can use the levodopa (L-dopa) in cowhage to make to the skin pigment called melanin. There is some concern that this extra melanin might make melanoma worse. Don’t use cowhage if you have a history of melanoma or a suspicious changes in the skin.
• Stomach or intestinal ulcers (peptic ulcer disease): There have been reports that levodopa (L-dopa) can cause gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding in people with ulcers. Since cowhage contains L-dopa, there is some concern that it might cause gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding in patients with ulcers. However, this problem has not yet been reported with cowhage.
• Mental illness: Due to the levodopa (L-dopa) content, cowhage might make mental illness disease worse.
• Surgery: Since cowhage might affect blood sugar levels, there is some concern that it might interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgery. Stop taking cowhage at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
• Medications for depression (MAOIs) interacts with COWHAGE
• Methyldopa (Aldomet) interacts with COWHAGE
• Guanethidine (Ismelin) interacts with COWHAGE
• Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs) interacts with COWHAGE
• Medications for mental conditions (Antipsychotic drugs) interacts with COWHAGE
• Medications used during surgery (Anesthesia) interacts with COWHAGE
• Medications used for depression (Tricyclic antidepressants) interacts with COWHAGE

Health Benefits and uses of Cowhage are

• Parkinson's disease. Developing research suggests that some cowhage preparations might help improve symptoms of Parkinson's disease when used in combination with prescription drugs such as amantadine, selegiline, and anticholinergic agents. Cowhage contains levodopa (L-dopa), a chemical used to treat Parkinson’s disease.
• High levels of a hormone called prolactin (hyperprolactinemia). There is some evidence that cowhage might be useful for treating hyperprolactinemia in men caused by the medication chlorpromazine. But cowhage does not appear to be effective for hyperprolactinemia of unknown cause in women.
• Worm infestations.
• Bone and joint conditions.
• Muscle pain.
• Stimulating surface blood flow in conditions that involve paralysis.