Muira Puama
ptychopetalum olacoides
Medicinal Actions
astringent, cns stimulant, dopaminergic, neurotonic, noradrenergic, stimulant, tonic, colic
Primary Conditions Treated
General Dosage
2–4 ml liquid root extract; 0.5–5 ml liquid root extract; 1 dropper prior to sex; 15–25 drops fluid extract 2–3 days for aphrodisia; 5–8 drops tincture for dysentery; 0.5–2 ml decoction or liquid extract 3 ×/day.
Safety & Contraindications
Class 1. “Hazards and/or side effects not known for proper therapeutic dosages”. Brazilian scientists, Siquera et al., mention that Amazon caboclos take the roots in alcohol for “nervous weakness,” a syndrome with several symptoms: depression, lassitude, sexual impotence, and tremors. A hydroalcoholic extract at 200 mg/kg potentiates yohimbine-induced lethality, reverses reserpine-induced ptosis, and prevents apomorphine-induced stereotypy. The data suggest that muira puama is a CNS active, interacting with the dopaminergic or noradrenergic systems. The authors speculate that, since some of the symptoms resemble Parkinsonian symptoms, roots could have antiparkinsonian effects. Their extracts did affect pharmacological models for depressions, impotence, and tremors.