Guarana, whose botanical name is Paullinia Cupana is a shrub grown in the Amazon which produces berries that have been used medicinally. Hardly any human studies have been done with guarana supplements. Guarana and kola nut enjoy great popularity in their native lands because they are also rich in caffeine, which serves as a stimulant.

Guarana herb study for ulcer protection
Guarana (Paullinia cupana Mart.) offers protection against gastric lesions induced by ethanol and indomethacin in rats.

Guarana side effects
Guarana herb has a high concentration of caffeine which may cause heart irregularities in those who are sensitive to caffeine.

Supplements that may help you lose weight:
Garcinia may help, but it works better when combined with other herbs.
Green tea extract may be effective in some people as a weight loss pill. You can purchase Green-Tea-Extract here. For more green tea extract information. Green tea extract is found in a weight loss product called Diet Rx.
Caffeine is often found in weight loss pills but I personally don't like my patients taking extra caffeine since it can cause increased heart rate and anxiety. Most people already consume enough caffeine through coffee, tea, sodas, and chocolate.
Ginger may be helpful in some people but high doses are required.
Hoodia has become quite popular over the past few years. You can buy Hoodia-Extract here.
Alpha lipoic acid may also reduce appetite but it is primarily used as an antioxidant.
5-HTP is a nutrient that helps curb appetite in some individuals
Guarana may work in combination with yerba mate and damiana
Acetyl-l-carnitine is a weight loss pill that may reduce appetite in some individuals.
Ephedra is no longer legal to be sold over the counter.

Guarana Research Update
Weight loss and delayed gastric emptying following a South American herbal preparation in overweight patients.
Andersen T, Fogh J.Medical Center Charlottenlund, Trunnevangen 4A, DK 2920, Charlottenlund, Denmark.
J Hum Nutr Diet. 2001 Jun;14(3):243-50.
Among the herbal preparations known to non-western cultures are materials which may have applications in modulating physiological processes which influence gut motility, food intake and energy balance. One such mixed herbal preparation is 'YGD' containing Yerbe Mate (leaves of Ilex paraguayenis), Guarana (seeds of Paullinia cupana) and Damiana (leaves of Turnera diffusa var. aphrodisiaca). AIMS: This study had two distinct aims: to determine the effect of a herbal preparation 'YGD' containing Yerbe Mate, Guarana and Damiana on gastric emptying; to determine the effect of the same preparation on weight loss over 10 days and 45 days and weight maintenance over 12 months. Gastric emptying was observed using ultrasound scanning in seven healthy volunteers following YGD and placebo capsules taken with 420 mL apple juice. Body weight was observed before and after 10 days of treatment with three YGD capsules or three placebo capsules before each meal for 10 days in 44 healthy overweight patients attending a primary health care centre. Forty-seven healthy overweight patients entered a double-blind placebo-controlled parallel trial of three capsules of YGD capsules before each main meal for 45 days compared with three placebo capsules on body weight. Body weight was monitored in 22 patients who continued active (YGD capsules) treatment for 12 months. The herb preparation YGD was followed by a prolonged gastric emptying time of 58 compared to 38 min after placebo. Body weight reductions were 0.8 kg after YGD capsules compared to 0.3 kg after placebo capsules over 10 days, and 5 kg after PGD capsules compared to 0.3 kg after placebo over 45 days. Active treatment with YGD capsules resulted in weight maintenance of the group (73 kg at the beginning and 72.5 kg at the end of 12 months). The herbal preparation, YGD capsules with guarana, significantly delayed gastric emptying, reduced the time to perceived gastric fullness and induced significant weight loss over 45 days in overweight patients treated in a primary health care context. Maintenance treatment given in an uncontrolled context resulted in no further weight loss, nor weight regain in the group as a whole. The herbal preparation with guarana is thus shown to be one that significantly modulates gastric emptying. Further clinical studies with dietetic monitoring of energy intake, dietary quality, satiety ratings, body weight and body composition are now indicated, and examination of the active principles contained in the three herbal components may prove. gurana research guarana and weight loss

Cognitive effect of guarana herb
The effects of long-term administration of guarana on the cognition of normal, elderly volunteers.
Galduroz JC, Carlini EA. Federal University of Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Rev Paul Med. 1996 Jan-Feb;114(1):1073-8.
Paulinia cupana (guarana) is a Brazilian plant given great prestige in popular medicine, for example as being a potent stimulator of brain functions. The authors assessed the effects of the long-term administration of guarana on the cognition of normal, elderly volunteers. Forty-five volunteers were studied, with a random distribution in three experimental groups: placebo (n = 15), caffeine (n = 15), and guarana (n = 15), in a double-blind study. There were no significant cognitive alterations in these volunteers.

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