Catuaba

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*http://www.raintree-health.co.uk/plants/catuaba.html

 

 

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******Catuaba is a medium-sized vigorous growing tree in the

northern part of Brazil, the Amazon, Para, Pernambuco,

Bahia, Maranhao, and Alagoas.^(1) It produces pretty yellow

and orange flowers, and small, oval, dark yellow inedible

fruit. Catuaba is known by two botanical names in Brazil,

/Juniperus brasiliensis /and/ Erythroxylum catuaba/.^(1, 2)

Catuaba belongs to family /Erythroxylaceae /whose principal

genus, /Erythroxylon/, contains several species and

varieties of which are the source of cocaine.^(3) Catuaba,

however, contains none of the active cocaine alkaloids. ******

 

******Catuaba has a long history in herbal medicine as an

aphrodisiac. The Tupi Indians in Brazil first discovered the

qualities of the plant and over the last centuries, have

composed many songs praising it's wonders.^(1) Indigenous

people and local people have used Catuaba for generations

and it is the most famous of all Brazilian aphrodisiaca

plants. In the state of Minas there is a saying which goes,

" Until a father reaches 60, the son is his, after that the

son is Catuaba's. " ^(1) According to Dr. Meira Penna, Catuaba

" functions as a stimulant of the nervous system, above all

when one deals with functional impotence of the male genital

organs... it is an innocent aphrodisiac, used without any

ill effects at all.^(4) ******

 

******In Brazilian herbal medicine today, Catuaba is

considered a central nervous system stimulant with

aphrodisiac properties and a bark decoction is used for

sexual impotency, agitation, nervousness, neurasthenia, poor

memory or forgetfulness, and sexual weakness.^(2) It is

regarded as an aphrodisiac with " proven efficacy, " and in

addition to treating impotency, it is employed for many

types of nervous conditions including insomnia,

hypochondria, and pain related to the central nervous

system.^(5) In European herbal medicine, Catuaba is

considered an aphrodisiac, and a brain and nerve stimulant

with a bark tea used for sexual weakness, impotency, nervous

debility and exhaustion.^(6) Herbalists and health

practitioners in the U.S. use Catuaba in much the same way;

as a tonic for the genitals as well as a central nervous

system stimulant, for sexual impotence, general exhaustion

and fatigue, for insomnia related to hypertension,

agitation, and poor memory.^(7-10) According to Michael van

Straten, Catuaba is beneficial to men and women as an

aphrodisiac, but " it is in the area of male impotence that

the most striking results have been reported " and " there is

no evidence of side effects, even after long-term use. " ^(10)

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******The constituents found in Catuaba include a bitter

substance, alkaloids, tannins, aromatic oils and fatty

resins, phytosterols, cyclolignans and a chemical Brazilian

scientists named, /Ioimbina/.^(11, 12) Clinical studies on

Catuaba have found very interesting results involving its

antibacterial and antiviral properties. A clinical study

conducted in 1992 indicated that an extract of catuaba was

effective in protecting mice from lethal infections of

/Escherichia coli/ and /Staphlococcus aureus, /in addition

to significantly inhibiting HIV.^(13) The study found that

Catuaba's anti-HIV activity was shown to be induced, at

least in part, via the inhibition of HIV absorption to the

cells and suggested that Catuaba extract has potential

against opportunistic infection in HIV patients.^(13) ******

 

 

******Foot notes:******

 

1. ******Bernardes, Antonio, 1984/ A Pocketbook of

Brazilian Herbs, /Editora e Arta Ltda. Brazil. ******

2. ******de Almeida, E.R., 1993. /Plantas Medicinais

Brasileiras/, /Conhecimentos Populares E Cientificos/.

Hemus Editora Ltda. Sau Paulo, Brazil. ******

3. ******Schultes, R.E., and Raffauf, 1990. /The Healing

Forest. Medicinal and Toxic Plants of the Northwest

Amazonia/, R.F. Dioscorides Press, 1990. ******

4. ******Chian Sing, 1979., /Cura com Yoga e Plantas

Medicinais/., Freitas Bastos, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

******

5. ******Cruz, G.L. 1995. /Dicionario Das Plantas Uteis

Do Brasil/, 5^th ed., Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Bertrand

1995. ******

6. ******Bartram, Thomas., Encyclopedia of Herbal

Medicine, 1995. Ed Grace Publishers, Dorset England ******

7. ******Schwontkowski, Dr. Donna,/ /1993./ HERBS OF THE

AMAZON, Traditional and Common Uses,/ Science Student

BrainTrust Publishing, Utah. ******

8. ******Easterling, J. 1993 Traditional Uses of

Rainforest Botanicals ******

9. ******Dr. Donna Schwontkowski/., /1994, 1995/.

/ " Herbal Treasures from the Amazon " , A series of three

articles published in /Healthy & Natural Journal/

1994, 1995. ******

10. ******Van Straten, Michael, 1994. /Guarana The Energy

Seeds and Herbs of the Amazon Rainforest/, C.W. Daniel

Company, Ltd. U.S. ******

11. ******Altman, RF., 1958. A Presenca de Ioimbina na

Catuaba, INPA, /Ser Quim Publ/. 1:1958 ******

12. ******Maia, JG, et.al.,/ Estudos Integrados de Plantas

da Amazonia/, V Simposio de Plantas Medicinais do

Brasil, p.7, Sept. 6, 1978, Sao Paulo, Brazil ******

13. ******Manabe, H., et. al., 1992. " Effects of Catuaba

Extracts on Microbial and HIV Infection, " /In Vivo/,

6:2, Mar-Apr, 161-5. ******

 

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******REFERENCED QUOTES ON CATUABA******

 

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1 " This nervous system fortifier and male libido enhancer

has resulted in the Tupi Indians of Brazil praising its

wonders in many songs. Historical uses include its use as a

male aphrodisiac and a tonic to the male organs. It is also

used for male impotency. It is a strong tonic and fortifier

of the nervous system, capable of giving strength to people

with general fatigue. It helps eliminate restless sleep and

insomnia from hypertension, and has been known to help

failing memories. " 2 " Catuaba is excellent for the male

reproductive organs. It can increase circulation and libido.

It is famous as a stimulant to the nervous system and brain.

It can be used in cases of impotence. " 3 " ACTIONS:

Stimulates nervous system, Fortifies functions of make

genital organs

TRADITIONAL USE: Catuaba, a famous Brazilian herb, functions

as a male hormone stimulant and has been used in cases of

impotence. Tupi Indians have composed many songs praising

the wonders of Catuaba. Famous as a stimulant to the nervous

system and a male libido enhancer. Fortifies conditions of

general weakness and nervous exhaustion by activating

cerebral hemispheres. Tonic for the male organs. Catuaba

functions as a fortifier to the nervous system.

MERIDIAN INDICATIONS: Heat to Triple Warmer, Clears mist

from Upper Burner, Warms male organs. EVA POINTS: Bladder

65, Triple Warmer, Circulation " 8 " There are two species of

Catuaba. Both species of Catuaba are effective. Brazilian

uses and Folklore: There is a saying in the state of Minas

that goes, " Until a father reaches 60, the son is his, after

that the son is Catuaba's " . Undoubtedly the most famous of

all Brazilian aphrodisiac plants, Catuaba has been

appreciated by the local population for generations. The

Tupi Indians first discovered the qualities of the plant and

composed many songs praising it. Meira Penna states " . . the

bark of Catuaba (functions) as a stimulant of the nervous

system, above all when one deals with functional impotence

of the male genital organs " he concludes, " it is an innocent

aphrodisiac, used without any ill side effects at all. " *

Catuaba is a natural aphrodisiac and sexual stimulant. It is

reported that after drinking 3-4 cups of tea steadily over a

period of time the first symptoms are usually erotic dreams,

and then increased sexual desire. Uses: Influential in the

treatment of sexual impotence; aphrodisiac, tonic for the

genitals.

*Chiang Sing, Cura com Yoga e Plantas Medicinais (Freitas

Bastos, Rio de Janeiro, 1979) p. 126. " 11 " Three herbs from

the Amazon act as aphrodisiacs and have traditionally been

used for impotence:* Marapuama, Catuaba and

Cajueiro*.Catuaba is used not only for male impotency, but

also as a tonic for the male organs and nervous system. It

has been used for extreme fatigue " . 21 " ERYTHROXYLACEAE

Coca Farnily

The three or four genera and 260 species of trees and shrubs

occur primarily in tropical America, centered in the Andes

and the Amazon basin. Some are found also in Africa,

southeast Asia and Australia. The principal genus is

Erythroxylon, several species and varieties of which are the

source of cocaine. The leaves of one species are used as a

stimulant by the Indians in the Andes and the western

Amazon; they were widely employed for this purpose long

before the Spanish arrived in Peru. A review of the

constituents of the family and its taxomony has been

published (Hegnauer, 1981). *Erythroxylon* P. Browne

The 250 species occur in tropical and subtropical parts of

both hemispheres, mainly in the Americas and Madagascar.

They are shrubs or small to medium-sized trees, usually unarmed.

REFERENCES

Hegnauer, R., J. Ethnopharmacol. 3 (1981) 279. " ******

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******Clinical References******

 

# ****** ****** ******Manabe H., et.al., Effects of Catuaba

extracts on microbial and HIV infection. /In Vivo/, 6: 2,

1992 Mar-Apr, 161-5 ******

# ******Graf E, et.al., [Alkaloids from Erythroxylum

vacciniifolium MARTIUS, II: The structures of catuabine A,

B, and C (author's transl)] /Arch Pharm/ (Weinheim), 311: 2,

1978 Feb, 139-52 ******

# ******Agar JT, et.al, Alkaloids of the genus Erythroxylum.

Part 1. E. monogynum Roxb. roots./ J Chem Soc/ [Perkin 1],

14, 1976, 1550-8 ******

# ******Graf E., et.al, [Alkaloids from Erythroxylum

vaccinifolium Martius,I: Isolation of catuabine A, B, and C

(author's transl)]/ Arch Pharm/ (Weinheim), 310: 12, 1977

Dec, 1005-10 ******

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******Clinical Abstracts******

 

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*Effects of Catuaba extracts on microbial and HIV infection.*

Manabe H; Sakagami H; Ishizone H; Kusano H; Fujimaki M; Wada

C; Komatsu N; Nakashima H; Murakami T; Yamamoto N

Horiuchi Itaro & Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan.

/In Vivo/, 6: 2, 1992 Mar-Apr, 161-5

Abstract:

Pretreatment of mice with hot water and alkaline extracts of

Catuaba casca (Erythroxylum catuaba Arr. Cam.) effectively

protected them from lethal infection of Escherichia coli and

Staphylococcus aureus. The extracts significantly inhibited

both the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-induced

cytopathic effect and the expression of HIV antigen in

HIV-1HTLV-IIIB or HIV-2ROD infected human lymphotropic virus

type I (HTLV-1) positive MT-4 cells. The 50% effective

concentrations of the active fractions (21-263

micrograms/ml) were 1/4 - 1/43 of their 50% cytotoxic

concentrations. Their anti-HIV activity was shown to be

induced, at least in part, via the inhibition of HIV

absorption to the cells. The data suggest a medicinal

potential of Catuaba extracts against opportunistic

infection in HIV patients.******

 

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