Marapuama is a medicinal plant, of the species Ptychopetalum unicatum A. or Ptychopetalum alcaloides B., rich in alkaloids and sterols, with aphrodisiac and tonic properties, and is therefore widely used popularly to increase vitality and libido and reduce tiredness and fatigue.
The parts used of this medicinal plant, which is also known as liriosma or pau-man, are the fresh leaves or the dried bark, from which the active substances are extracted to prepare tea or capsules.
Marapuama can be found in health food stores and some compounding pharmacies, and should be used under the guidance of a doctor or a professional with experience in medicinal plants.
What is it for
Marapuama has several health benefits and is normally recommended for:
- Improve blood circulation;
- Cellulitis;
- Anemia;
- Erectile dysfunction in men;
- Increase libido;
- Combat stress and fatigue;
- Improve memory;
- Diarrhea;
- Gripe;
- Intestinal dysfunctions;
- Rheumatism;
- Swelling;
- Stomachache;
- Menstrual cramps.
Furthermore, marapuama can be used to help treat sexual impotence or erectile dysfunction, due to its aphrodisiac properties and improving blood circulation. See other natural options to help treat impotence.
Although it has many benefits, marapuama should not replace medical treatment with medicines or be used without guidance from a doctor or herbalist.
How to use
Marapuama can be found in the form of chopped and dried peels or fresh, and can be used to prepare tea or compresses to apply to areas affected by poor circulation.
1. Marapuama peel tea
This tea should be made using the dried and chopped marapuama bark to increase libido or reduce tiredness and fatigue, for example.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons of chopped and dried peels;
- 1 liter of water.
Preparation mode
Place the marapuama shells in a pan with water and boil for 15 minutes. Turn off the heat, wait for it to cool and strain. Drink up to 3 cups of this tea per day.
This tea can also be used in the form of compresses, applied to the joint to relieve pain and help treat rheumatism.
2. Marapuama tea powder
This tea, prepared with marapuama powder, can be used as an aphrodisiac, to increase sexual desire and
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon of marapuama powder;
- 300 mL of water.
Preparation mode
Add the marapuama powder and water to a pan and boil. Turn off the heat, let it rest for about 10 minutes, wait for it to cool, strain and drink 1 cup 2 to 3 times a day.
Another way to use muirapuama powder is by adding it to juices or fresh drinks, due to its bitter taste.
3. Marapuama capsules
Marapuama can also be found in the form of capsules, in compounding pharmacies or natural product stores, and the amount of marapuama in the capsules can vary from 100 mg to 500 mg.
Generally, the recommended doses are 500 mg to 1500 mg per day of marapuama, according to medical advice, for a maximum of 1 month of treatment.
It is important to highlight that the use of marapuama capsules must be guided by the doctor, according to the condition to be treated, and therefore, its use must always be done with medical advice, as it is a natural product and does not replace conventional treatment. .
Possible side effects
Marapuama is considered safe for adults when taken in recommended doses and for a maximum of 1 month of treatment. However, when used in doses greater than 1500 mg per day or for a prolonged period of time, it can cause side effects such as agitation, nervousness, hand tremors, palpitations or premature ejaculation.
Who shouldn’t use
Marapuama should not be used by children, pregnant or breastfeeding women, or by people who have high blood pressure or other cardiovascular problems.
Furthermore, muirapuama should also not be used by people who are allergic to any of the components of this medicinal plant.
Bibliography
- SIQUEIRA, IR; et al. Antioxidant activities of Ptychopetalum olacoides (“muirapuama”) in mice brain. Phytomedicine. 14. 11; 763-9, 2007
- BRUNETTI, P.; et al. Pharmacology of Herbal Sexual Enhancers: A Review of Psychiatric and Neurological Adverse Effects. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 14. 13(10); 309, 2020
- TIAN; X.; et al. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of chemical constituents of Ptychopetalum olacoides Benth. Nat Prod Res. 32. 3; 354-357, 2018
- POWERS, C. N.; SETZER, W. N. A molecular docking study of phytochemical estrogen mimics from dietary herbal supplements. In Silico Pharmacol. 3. 4, 2015
- FERRINI, MG; et al. Effect of ginger, Paullinia cupana, muira puama and l- citrulline, singly or in combination, on modulation of the inducible nitric oxide- NO-cGMP pathway in rat penile smooth muscle cells. Nitric Oxide. 76. 81-86, 2018
