Mulungu

Mulungu (Erythrina mulungu) is a natural remedy said to offer a variety of health benefits. Extracted from a tree native to South America, mulungu is available in dietary supplement form.

Special Precautions of Mulungu

• Due to a lack of research, little is known about the safety of long-term use of mulungu. However, there's some concern that mulungu may cause drowsiness. Additionally, mulungu may be harmful to people with low blood pressure.
• It's important to note that self-treating a chronic condition with mulungu and avoiding or delaying standard care may have serious consequences. If you're considering the use of mulungu in treatment of a chronic condition (such as epilepsy), make sure to talk to your doctor before starting any new supplement regimen.

Benefits and uses of Mulungu are

Since the herb is thought to possess sedative properties, mulungu is often used as a treatment for anxiety.

• Anxiety : Several studies show that mulungu holds promise in the treatment of anxiety. For example, a study published in the Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmacology found that extracts of mulungu bark helped lower anxiety in mice by depressing the central nervous system. Additionally, a 2003 study from Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin found that rats treated with mulungu extract experienced a decrease in anxiety. Given this finding, the study's authors suggest that mulungu may help manage such conditions as generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder. However, more research is needed before mulungu can be recommended for treatment of anxiety-related conditions.
• Pain : Mulungu may help lessen pain, suggests a 2003 study from Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin. In tests on mice, the study's authors determined that mulungu extract may act as an antinociceptive (a substance that reduces the body's sensitivity to painful stimuli).
• Epilepsy : Mulungu may have anticonvulsant effects, according to a an animal-based study published in Epilepsy & Behavior in 2012. In the study, researchers found that erysothrine (a compound extracted from the flowers of the mulungu plant) helped inhibit seizures and also produced mild anti-anxiety effects.