Muira Puama
Other Names: Bois de la Puissance, Bois de la Puissance Sexuelle, Marapuama, Muira-Puama, Muirapuama, Potency Wood, Ptychopetali lignum, Ptychopetalum olacoides, Ptychopetalum uncinatum.
Ptychopetalum is a genus of two species of flowering plants in the family Olacaceae, native to the Amazon rainforest.
Muira puama is a shrub that grows in Brazil. Another name for it is "potency wood" due to its reputation as a sexual aid in the Amazon. Many parts of the plant are used, but the most common use by native people is to chew on the bark. Muira puama is marketed in the Western world in the form of teas or capsules and is not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration
Special Precautions of Muira Puama
- While muira puama may show promise in preventing cognitive decline, be aware that acetylcholinesterase inhibitors are known to produce gastrointestinal problems. In fact, in a paper published in Advances in Psychiatric Treatment, authors Mark Holden and Cornelius Kelly say that this herb should be avoided if there is a history of peptic ulcers.
- Stimulatory Effects : According to a study published in the May 16, 2002 issue of Phytotherapy Research, compounds in the root of muira puama demonstrate anxiogenic effects, meaning they stimulate the central nervous system. This is why this herb is attributed with increasing physical endurance and mental performance. However, prolonged use or high doses of muira puama preparations may promote anxiety and insomnia, as well as increase blood pressure.
- Possible Drug Interactions : Another team of researchers published the results of a study in Phytotherapy Research in 2009 that indicated that muira puama may impact levels of dopamine, noradrenaline and serotonin in the brain, producing antidepressant-like effects. This means that you should not take preparations made from this herb if you are taking anti-depressant medications.
Health Benefits and uses of Muira Puama are
Muira puama (Marapuama, Potency Wood) is a traditionally used aphrodisiac and nerve tonic in the Brazil region. For its tonic effect, one of the traditional remedies is to gently simmer 1 teaspoon of root and/or bark in one cup of water for 15 minutes and take 1/2 to 1 cup daily. Lacking in quality human trials and sexuality trials, it appears to be quite effective as a cognitive enhancer. The root and bark are used for a variety of ailments by indigenous peoples in the Rio Negro area of South America, but the effectiveness of Muira Puama preparations are unproven.
- Erectile Dysfunction (ED) : In a 1990 study conducted by Jacques Waynsberg at the Institute of Sexology in Paris, 62% of men who took muira puama extract noted an increase in sex drive and 51% of participants reported an increased ability to produce an erection.
- Improve Sexual Performance : An article in Nutrition Review says muira puama has long been used as an aphrodisiac in South America. Clinical studies confirm the plant improves sexual function, including the ability to get an erection and arousal. A 1995 study at the Institute of Sexology in Paris under the supervision of Dr. Jacques Waynberg showed significant improvement in 51 percent of participants with erectile dysfunction. Also, 62 percent of the men in the group greatly increased their libido, or sexual desire, according to the researchers. In another study conducted in 1990 by Dr. Waynberg, 66 percent of the men reported an increase in the frequency of sexual intercourse. If you intend to take muira puama to increase your sexual desire or help maintain an erection, consult a licensed health care practitioner first.
- May Relieve Depression : As reported by Life Extension Magazine, muira puama has a long history of use by Amazonian people to treat various maladies. They use it to relieve stress, among other things. A 2008 study by Brazilian researchers comparing muira puama to the antidepressant drug imipramine demonstrated them to be equally effective in relieving the symptoms of depression. Researchers have also found little adverse effects from using muira puama, according to Life Extension. Check with a licensed therapist or your doctor before taking muira puama to relieve depression.
- Can Improve Memory : Life Extension also reports that muira puama might help improve memory among older people. In a 2004 study conducted by Brazilian researchers, aging rats treated with muira puama performed as well as adult mice. Researchers theorize muira puama may be effective due to inhibiting acetylcholinesterase. Acetylcholinesterase is an that enzyme breaks down the important neurotransmitter acetylcholine, necessary for memory and cognition. By protecting acetylcholine, muira puama might have therapeutic value for memory or cognition-impaired people. If you're on an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor such as donepezil, consult a physician before taking any natural remedy such as muira puama.
- There is evidence that Muira Puama is anxiogenic in rodents (causes anxiety), which would be consistent with a stimulant effect, without affecting coordination. However, rather than increasing the activity of excitatory NT, it decreases the activity of an inhibitory transmitter, GABAA.
