Muira Puama – what is the Amazonian source of vigour?

Used for hundreds of years by the indigenous people of the Amazon, this remarkable plant has many beneficial properties for our health. Muira puama, as it is called, is a plant native to South America with a melodious, mysterious name. Decorated with white flowers, it is called the ‘power tree’ because of its unique tonic and healing properties. It is also particularly effective in combating erectile dysfunction and loss of libido.

Muira puama – what is it?

Muira puama is the popular name for the plant Ptychopetalum olacoides, a tree resembling a large shrub. It grows in the rainforests of South America (the Amazon), where its health-promoting properties have been used for medicinal purposes by the local population for countless years. It belongs to the genus of plants of the family Simaroubaceae.

Indeed, in local folk medicine, muira puama is recommended for the treatment of neuromuscular disorders, rheumatism and general weakness of the body due to its tonic properties. It is also attributed with other properties, including stimulating the nervous system.

Native Americans living in the Amazon use virtually all parts of the plant – leaves, roots, bark and stems. Currently, in Poland, we mainly use mixtures containing the bark and roots of the plant. What makes muira puama an extremely attractive choice for health care in recent years? Let's find out.

Muira puama – health benefits

Muira puama is rich in all kinds of phytochemicals (substances found exclusively in plants), plant sterols, fatty acids and essential oils. It also contains large amounts of triterpenes, tannins, monoterpenes, coumarins and an alkaloid found only in the bark of the plant, which has been named muirapuamine. Thanks to these active ingredients, muira puama has the following effects:

• Analgesic
• Anti-ulcerative
• Improves memory and cognitive functions
• Promotes neuroprotection of the nervous system, including the brain
• Stimulates the synthesis of sex hormones, oestrogen and testosterone
• Lowers bad cholesterol levels

What is more, the ingredients of this herb are attributed with adaptogenic properties. What does this mean for us? Adaptogens are plants that help us cope with chronic, frequent and excessive stress. The ingredients of muira puama have proven effective in balancing the nervous system, strengthening the immune system and supporting overall health. In this way, it can help us cope with everyday stress, situations that cause anxiety or have a negative impact on our behaviour.

Uses of Muira puama – what is it good for?

Muira puama (Ptychopetalum olacoides) is mainly used to prevent and treat sexual disorders and increase libido. What else is muira puama good for?

• Stomach disorders – problems related to digestive disorders can be effectively alleviated with infusions prepared from the plant
• Menstrual disorders – one of the better-known effects of muira puama is its health-promoting effect of reducing violent menstrual cramps. This is all thanks to its high content of alpha-humulene, which has proven analgesic properties.
• Joint pain – alpha-humulene contained in the plant has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, which can be particularly helpful for people suffering from rheumatism.
• Tonic – muira puama has been used for years as a powerful natural tonic. In particular, it is effective in combating feelings of temporary fatigue or weakness.
• Natural aphrodisiac – muira puama gained its European fame as a powerful aphrodisiac that improves the quality of sexual intercourse. These properties are supported by numerous scientific studies.
• Nervous system disorders – the compounds contained in the plant may have a positive effect in combating disorders of the nervous system homeostasis.
• Prevention of baldness – one of the lesser-known uses of muira puama is the treatment of baldness symptoms and related problems.

Muira puama and testosterone – a source of male vigour and a natural aphrodisiac?

For over 100 years, science has been studying muira puama as an effective natural remedy for male impotence, which is closely linked to low testosterone levels. The main agent responsible for improving male potency, and thus simultaneously increasing testosterone levels, is muirapuamine, an active substance found exclusively in this Amazonian plant. It is not without reason that muira puama is known as the ‘potency tree’.

Numerous scientific and clinical studies conducted over the last 30 years prove that muira puama does indeed have a positive effect and can help people suffering from a lack of sexual desire and chronic erectile dysfunction. In one French study, 51% of respondents found the plant to be very useful in combating erectile dysfunction. In yet another study, it was found that over 85% of respondents reported a steady improvement in libido and maintenance of erections in connection with taking muira puama extract.

It is known that even short-term use of muira puama can increase blood flow in the pelvic area. For men, this means longer erections and more intense orgasms, while for women it results in a significant increase in libido and the final sensation of orgasm.

Long-term use of the herb also has a positive effect on the production of sex hormones, mainly testosterone in both sexes. For this reason, muira puama (potency tree) is an extremely effective aphrodisiac that can provide vigour and improve sexual function and the quality of intercourse - it increases libido in both sexes.

Potency tree – scientific research

Scientific research on the effects of muira puama is still being conducted today, although the amount of research is not extensive. Despite this, the plant has been registered by the pharmaceutical industry as an effective remedy for erection and libido stimulation. The same applies to other properties of the plant, which contains many health-promoting active ingredients that interact in ways that are beneficial to our body.

Recent studies also suggest that muira puama has antioxidant, neuroprotective and anticholinergic properties. It may therefore make a significant contribution to reducing oxidative stress and mental disorders. There are currently proposals to conduct further research to verify the plant's antidepressant effects , its ability to combat neurasthenia and certain central nervous system disorders, and even its memory-enhancing properties.

Muira puama – morning or evening? How long does it take to work?

When deciding to supplement with muira puama, we need to know when is the best time to take it. As it turns out, muira puama can be taken without any problems in the morning and evening, washed down with a glass of water. The most important aspect of taking the plant or supplements based on it is that the daily dose should not exceed approximately 1500 mg per day. In most clinical trials, participants used doses above 1000-1500 mg.

But what about the effects of the plant itself? How long does it take to see the first results, such as improved erections and libido? It is estimated that the ‘potency tree’ in the form of dietary supplements or extracts from the bark and leaves begins to work after approximately two weeks of continuous treatment, when using the recommended daily dose (according to the manufacturer's recommendations).

Muira puama – possible side effects and contraindications

To date, studies have not shown any significant contraindications for the use of muira puama as a dietary supplement. However, in the absence of any scientific data on the subject, it is advisable to refrain from using the plant in the case of the following side effects:

• Allergy to plants of the olacaceae family
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding
• Children under 18 years of age

Similar to contraindications, the side effects of muira puama (Ptychopetalum olacoides) are currently poorly documented. However, some reports suggest that excessive use of products based on this plant (in doses above 1000-1500 mg) may be associated with insomnia, excessive agitation or skin problems.

Bibliography

‘Natural Standard Herb & Supplement Guide - E-Book: An Evidence-Based Reference’ – C. E. Ulbricht, Elsevier Health Sciences, 2016.

‘Anti-stress effects of the “tonic” Ptychopetalum olacoides (Marapuama) in mice’ – A. L. Piato, B. C. Detanico, V. M. Linck, A. P. Herrmann, D. S. Nunes, E. Elisabetsky, scientific journal Phytomedicine: international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology, 2010. ‘Effects of Herbal vX on libido and sexual activity in premenopausal and postmenopausal women’ – J. Waynberg, S. Brewer, scientific journal Advances in therapy, 2000. ‘Memory retrieval improvement by Ptychopetalum olacoides in young and ageing mice’ – A. L. da Silva, A. L. Piato, S. Bardini, C. A. Netto, D. S. Nunes, E. Elisabetsky, scientific journal Journal of ethnopharmacology, 2004.

‘Natural Aphrodisiacs: Myth or Reality’ – R. K. Puri, R. Puri, Xilbris Corporation, 2011.