Mulungu: what it is for, how to make the tea and side effects

oh god (Erythrina the goddess) is a plant with calming and sedative properties, normally indicated for the treatment of insomnia, stress and anxiety.

Furthermore, mulungu, also known as cork tree, knife or parrot’s beak, has analgesic action and, therefore, helps to relieve rheumatic pain and menstrual cramps.

Mulungu is generally used in the form of tea, which can be prepared with the bark or dried leaves of the plant. Mulungu can also be found in the form of capsules or tincture.

What is it for

Mulungo is normally used to:

1. Treat anxiety and stress

Mulungu contains great amounts of hipaporphin, erythrin and erytravine, compounds with anxiolytic action that activate GABA receptors, a neurotransmitter that acts as a relaxant in the nervous system, thus helping to treat anxiety and stress.

2. Relieve menstrual cramps

Mulungu has analgesic and antinoceptive properties, reducing the sensation of pain and helping to relieve menstrual cramps. Discover other natural options to relieve cramps.

3. Regulate blood pressure

Eristristemin and erysothiopine are alkaloid compounds present in mulungu, which have hypotensive properties, helping to balance blood pressure and preventing the onset of hypertension.

4. Combat insomnia

Because it contains hypaphorin, a compound with a sedative and calming effect on the central nervous system, mulungu improves the quality and duration of sleep, combating insomnia. See other home remedies to combat insomnia.

5. Relieve rheumatic pain

Mulungu contains great amounts of erytraline, a substance that has powerful anti-inflammatory action and, therefore, this plant can help in the treatment of rheumatic pain, such as gout, arthritis and tendonitis, for example.

How to use oh god

Mulungu is mainly used in the form of tea, which can be prepared with the bark, or leaves, dried or powdered, of the plant.

Mulungu can also be used in capsule form, where the generally recommended dosage is 1 capsule per day. Furthermore, this plant can also be found in the form of a tincture, and it is generally recommended to take 20 drops, dissolved in 200 ml of water, once a day.

However, mulungu is not recommended in some situations, such as pregnancy and breastfeeding. Therefore, it is advisable to use mulungu only under the guidance of a professional specialized in the use of medicinal plants.

How to prepare mulungu tea

The bark is the most used part of mulungu for preparing tea, which can be found in its natural form or in powder form.

Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon (4g to 6g) of mulungu peels;
• 1 cup (200 ml) of water.

Preparation mode:

In a pan, or kettle, place the mulungu peels and water, bringing to a boil for 10 minutes. Turn off the heat, let it cool, strain and drink. Drink up to 3 cups of this tea per day. Mulungu tea can be used for a maximum period of 30 days in a row.

Mulungu seeds should not be used, as they contain toxic substances that can cause serious damage to health.

Possible side effects

Side effects from the use of mulungu are rare, however, some symptoms such as drowsiness, hypotension and muscle paralysis may appear in some people.

Contraindications

Mulungu is not recommended for children and adolescents under 18 years of age. It is also not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women, people with heart failure and arrhythmia.

People who use antihypertensive or antidepressant medications should consult their doctor before using mulungu, because this plant can alter the effects of these medications.