Description
Botanical: Paullinia cupana
Other common names: Brazilian Cocoa, Paullinia, Uabano, Guarana Bread, Paullinia Sorbilis, Uaranzeiro, Brazilian Chocolate
Guarana is another gift from the Amazon rainforest that is quickly becoming popular in North America as a wonderful way to improve mental sharpness, reduce fatigue, increase stamina and endurance, and it may even lift depressed spirits. It is considered a favorite national diet drink in Brazil.
Country of Origin: Brazil
Beneficial Uses:
Guarana is a stimulating tonic that is believed to improve physical stamina and endurance. Because its guaranine content is almost identical to caffeine in its actions, athletes have been known to take it as an herbal stimulant to enhance and improve their performance and increase their strength and endurance. It is also thought to reduce fatigue and exhaustion. The combination of guarinine, theobromine and theophyline act to stimulate the central nervous system and also act to enhance the metabolic rate, which may be helpful in weight loss programs.
As a "nervine," Guarana is also said to strengthen functional activity of the nervous system. The alkaloids, theobromine and theophylline, act to stimulate the central nervous system and are thought to be useful in cases of neuralgia, paralysis, migraines and nervous headache (particularly popular in the U.S. and Europe) and the distress that sometimes accompanies menstruation.
Guarana is considered a gentle excitant that is said to be good for depression and mental exertion where there is fatigue or even exhaustion from hot weather. It is also thought to increase mental sharpness and improve concentration, which may also be a result of its guarinine content.
The tannins in Guarana act as an astringent and are said to help ease mild forms of leukorrhoea (vaginal discharge) and diarrhea.
As a mild diuretic, Guarana is thought to promote urine flow and act as febrifuge that helps to reduce mild fevers. It is also said to alleviate urinary tract irritation.
Contraindications:
Pregnant and nursing women and people with high blood pressure or cardiovascular disease should not use Guarana Herbal Supplement. It is not recommended in large amounts (many times the recommended dosage) because of its high guaranine/caffeine content, as it may cause sleeplessness and other possible health risks associated with caffeine. Do not take Guarana if you are taking the following medicines used for manic depression: lithium (Eskalith®, Lithane®, Lithotabs®) or mental illness (Clozapine) .
