Catuaba herb pill use with muira puama herb - Catuaba bark extract supplement research studies and benefit

Catuaba is a medium-sized tree found in the Amazon forest in the northern part of Brazil. In Brazilian herbal medicine, Catuaba bark is considered a central nervous system stimulant with aphrodisiac properties and a bark decoction is used for nervousness, poor memory, and sexual weakness. Apparently the Topi Indians have known about the sex-enhancing properties of catuaba for many centuries. The scientific name of Catuaba is Erythroxylum catuaba), while other common names for catuaba are Chuchuhuasha, Tatuaba, and Caramuru. We have also found catuaba research studies done with Erythroxylum vacciniifolium and Anemopaegma mirandum. We are not certain whether they are referring to the same catuaba plant.

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Indigenous tribes of the Amazon Rainforest and city dwellers in Brazil have used catuaba bark for generations as a natural herbal remedy for libido enhancement. Catuaba and muira puama are the most famous of all Brazilian aphrodisiac plants. This double concentrated catuaba bark extract uses new extraction methods to concentrate and preserve the active ingredients in this high quality Amazon plant with the equivalent of 500 mg of bark per ml. of extract (30 drops). Other herbs that can improve one's sexual experience include Ashwagandha, the herb Damiana, an extract from Deer-Antler-Velvet, an extract from tribulus, the Ayurvedic herb For more information on mucuna pruriens..

What the research says about catuaba
We found few studies regarding catuaba. Back in 1992, researchers in Japan found catuaba extracts (species Erythroxylum catuaba) to have potential antibacterial and anti-HIV activity. Catuaba, when given to mice, protected them from E. Coli and Staph infections/ Catuaba was also able to prevent the HIV virus from attaching to cells, and, in addition, catuaba prevented the death of white blood cells exposed to the HIV virus. Of course, more studies are needed before catuaba can be recommended for use by patients infected with the HIV virus. 

What's in Catuaba bark herb?
The substances found in catuaba include alkaloids (catuabine A, B, and C), tannins, aromatic oils and fatty resins, phytosterols, cyclolignans, sequiterpenes, and cyclolignans.

How does Catuaba work?
The mechanism of action regarding catuaba's aphrodisiac properties is currently not well understood.

Historical Uses of Catuaba
Catuaba has been traditionally used in combination with muira puama.

Catuaba side effects
There are no known side effects with catuaba, however the use of catuaba in North America is relatively new since for centuries catuaba has been used predominantly by Amazon natives. Little is known about catuaba's long-term safety.

What about drug interactions with Catuaba?
So little is known about catuaba that it is difficult to say how catuaba interacts with other herbs or medicines. However, we do know that it is often used safely with muira puama by natives in northern Brazil.

Reports from patients
About half of patients to whom I have recommended catuaba report a positive response. Most of the positive catuaba responses mention a slightly enhanced ability to maintain erections. Dennis, 47, says, “I do find catuaba helps me have better erections after several days of use, and a friend told me to combine it with muira puama. The combination seems to be more effective. I had previously noticed that muira puama enhanced my libido, and since the catuaba helps with my erections, it seems logical to combine them.”

Catuaba Dosage and Availability
Catuaba has been historically consumed by Amazonian natives as a tea made from the bark. Indigenous Brazilians claim that after drinking one to three cups of catuaba tea steadily over a period of a few days or weeks, the first effects that occur are usually erotic dreams, and then increased sexual desire. Claims have been made that an alcohol tincture extract of catuaba contains more of the active ingredients and provides better results, although I have not come across such research. 
   Catuaba capsules are sold consisting of a range from 500 to 1,000 mg. The recommended dose would be 0.5 to 1.5 g of catuaba per day. One full dropper of the alcohol tincture can be taken twice a day with breakfast and lunch. Catuaba is commonly found in two-ounce liquid bottles; one milliliter provides about 500 mg. There are also different extract potencies of catuaba, such as a 4:1 extract.
   A google search reveals that catuaba is available in many formulas, often combined with other herbs. There are probably hundreds of libido products marketed over the counter, and it quite likely that many of them are effective while others provide disappointing results.

Catuaba Summary
 The well-documented historical use, and our experience, lead to to believe that catuaba does have aphrodisiac properties. With the popularity of catuaba gradually becoming more prominent, it would help  us all if more attention and research focused on the potential benefits of this interesting plant.

Catuaba study
On-line identification of tropane alkaloids from Erythroxylum vacciniifolium (catuaba) by liquid chromatography-UV detection-multiple mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography-nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry.
Zanolari B. Universite de Lausanne, BEP, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
The bark of catuaba (Erythroxylum vacciniifolium Martius, Erythroxylaceae), a tree native to the northern part of Brazil, was investigated for its alkaloid content. With the aim of obtaining preliminary structure information on-line, the catuaba alkaloid extract was analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to diode array UV detection, to mass spectrometry and to nuclear magnetic resonance. Interpretation of on-line spectroscopic data obtained from this extract led to structural elucidation of six new catuaba alkaloids and partial identification of 18 potentially original alkaloids bearing the same tropane skeleton esterified in positions 3 and 6 by 1-methyl-1H-pyrrol-2-carboxylic acid and/or 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzoic acid.

Tropane alkaloids from the bark of Erythroxylum vacciniifolium (catuaba).
Zanolari B. Universite de Lausanne, BEP, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
J Nat Prod. 2003 Apr;66(4):497-502.
Eight new tropane alkaloids (1-8) were isolated from the bark of "catuaba", a Brazilian endemic plant Erythroxylum vacciniifolium Martius. Their structures were determined by high-resolution mass spectrometry and multidimensional NMR spectroscopy.

Catuaba pill emails
 Q. Does catuaba pill interfere with medications?
   A. This is a difficult question to answer since there are thousands of medicines and each one is unique in its action. As a general rule, catuaba, at leas in low doses, should not have a major effect when combined with medicines, but I wish to emphasize that this is a general statement.

Q. Which of the two Amazonian sex herbs do you like more, catuaba or muira puama?
   A. We like them both for different reasons. Muira puama has a nice mood-lifting and libido enhancing effect which is quite pleasant while catuaba has a more direct effect on erectile function. We actually like the combination or products that include both herbs.

Q. I see you mention that catuaba can be taken with muira puama. Can catuaba be combined with other herbs such as yohimbe or , and an extract from the herb tribulus terrestris?
   A. We have tested catuaba with a dozen other aphrodisiac herbs and have not found any problems with the combinations as long as the dosages are kept low.

Q. Can I take catuaba regularly for many months?
   A. As with most herbs, we recommend taking breaks from use. In the case of catuaba, you could take one or two weeks on, one or two weeks off.

Q. Can catuaba be taken during pregnancy?
   A. We have not come across research that clarifies catuaba's effects on the fetus in humans nor rodents, therefore it would be best that if you are pregnant you not take catuaba until some kind of studies are done.

Q. Is catuaba addictive?
   A. We have no indication that catuaba has addictive potential.

Q.  I have recently purchased a bottle of Horny Goat Weed (Epimedium Sagittatum) extract from Physician Formulas and I am very happy with the product. I have been currently looking for both a Muira Pauma extract as well as a Catuaba extract but have found none that I trust enough to purchase. Physician formulas website offers Muira Pauma in 500mg capsules but it does not state that it is an extract. Do you have any recommendations on how I may obtain a trustworthy and potent extract of Muira Pauma and or Catuaba extract?
   A. Some herbs are better used as extracts, others as the full powder. In the case of catuaba and muira puama, feedback thus far reveals that the regular non extract powder is working well.

Q. Can you tell me your thoughts on xanthoparmelia.
   A. See a discussion of xanthoparmelia scabrosa. We have not found any studies that discuss natural ways to enhance sexuality with this product.

Q. Would you please answer a question on catuaba? What is the proper way to take this herb? Do I take catuaba herb like a vitamin every day or every few days in case I need help with self pleasuring or immediately before an occasion with someone else? What do you recommend? Do I take catuaba herb with food?
   A. For most sexual herbs, it take a few days for get the full benefits. Catuaba herb can be taken before breakfast a few days in a row, and when the enhancement is noticed, one can start skipping days and reduce the use to the minimum that works, which could be every other day or every three or four days.

About the tree
Catuaba (Erythroxylum catuaba) is a small tree from the northern part of Brazil that reaches about 6 to 12 feet tall when mature. It produces orange and yellow flowers and dark yellow, oval fruits that are small and inedible. Catuaba's bark is traditionally boiled in water to make a tea, and more recently has also become available in powder form and liquid extracts.