Ptychopetalum olacoides
Ptychopetalum olacoides & Ptychopetalum unicatum (Muira puama)
Latin name: Ptychopetalum olacoides and Ptychopetalum unicatum
Common name: Muira puama Other names: potency wood, marapuama, marapama, muiratã, muiratam, pau-homen, potenzholz What it is: small tree that grows to 5 meters high. There are two species that are used interchangeably. |
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Habitat: native to the Brazilian Amazon, and other parts of the Amazon rainforest
Parts used: bark, root, which are the most utilized, and the stem
History/traditional use: used for many purposes by the indigenous people of the Amazon
Constituents: active constituents include free long-chain fatty acids, sesquiterpenes, monoterpenes, and novel alkaloids that are not soluble in water
Actions/Uses: in the Amazon, a tea is made from the roots and bark is taken to treat sexual debility, rheumatism, grippe, cardiac and gastrointestinal asthenia, and as a preventive for baldness. It is also used as a treatment for paralysis, by being used in a bath or massage. Today it is used around the world as a herbal medicine. In the US and Europe it is used to treat dysentery, impotence, infertility, menstrual disturbances, nervine, neurasthenia, and used as an aphrodisiac.
Preparation method: tincture most effective due to active constituents not being soluble in water
Side Effects: none known
Interactions: none known
Animal Studies: studies on rats in Brazil have shown clear CNS effects and other studies have shown no toxic effects on mice
