|
|
|
|
 |
Information |
 |
|
|
|
|
(Ptychopetalum olacoides )
INTRODUCTION :
Muira puama is the (root) bark of a tree that is widely distributed throughout Amazonian regions of Brasil and Venezuela’s Orinoco river basins. The Native Indians value muira puama as an aphrodisiac and as a central nervous system tonic.
Muira puama has found its way into the western medicine in the nineteen twenties and now is frequently named ’Potency wood’. The name ‘Muira Puama’ is used interchangable with the bark of the closely related Liriosma ovata.
EFFECTS :
Libido-enhancing properties (sensitivation of the skin and sexual organs), anti-fatique- and CNS-tonic properties.
Autonomic changes: a short, mild hypotension
DURATION :
The effects strart within two hours after ingestion and last for 6 hours maximum.
Dosage and preparation :
The Indians either chew the pinkish coloured bark or prepare a beverage from the bark, stems and roots. An alcoholic extract (an alcoholic tincture) will produce more sex stimulating- and CNS effects.
A beverage may be prepared by boiling the plant material in water for 15 minutes and a tincture by boiling the material in alcohol.
Muira puama is normally taken in doses of 0.5-4 grams and often in combination with other (psychoactive) plants. For example Damiana (Turnera diffusa) and Ginseng (Panax ginseng).
Figure: Muira puama
Botanical aspects :
Ptychopetalum olacoides is a tree that belongs to the Olacaceae and is distributed throughout the South American tropics. The tree grows five meters in height and produces small white flowers that have a jasmine-like aromatic smell.
P. olacoides is closely related to P. unicinatu.
Phytochemistry :
The bark and rootbark contain fatty acids (behenic-, arachidic- and melissic acid), alkaloids (a.o. muirapuamine and coumarine), phytosterols (a.o. sitosterol and campesterol) and an aromatic oil mainly consisting of camphor, camphene, alpha- and beta pinene, caryphyllene, caryphyllene oxide and alpha- and beta humulen.1 Phlobaphene has also been isolated.
Pharmacology :
The mechanisms of action of muira puama are completely unknown. It is thought though that the terpenes, alkaloids and the phytosterols play a role in the CNS-stimulating and libido-enhancing properties.
Although little information is available concerning exessive administration of muira puama, extrapolations of toxicological aminal studies indicate that muira puama is relatively non-toxic in humans.
MODIFIERS :
Due to lack of pharmacological understanding little is known about the interactions of muira puama with other compounds or plants. It is, however, often combined with Damiana herb (Turnera diffusa) and Ginseng (Panax ginseng).
REFERENCES :
1 . Ratsch, Christian 1998, Enzyklopadie der psychoaktiven pflanzen
2 . Taylor, L. 2003, herbal secrets of the rain forest.
3 . Tolonen, M.D. Muira puama, extract.
(Text by Wout.) |
|
|
| 0 items |
|
|
|
|
Quick Find |
|
|
|
Looking for... |
|
|
|
Most popular |
|
|
Also visit our friends from SmartBotanics!
SmartBotanics. Specialist in Magic Mushroom growers supplies and the only official site for the easy to use PF-TEK growing method. |
|
|
