Used as an infusion, decoction and tincture.
Guaranine (which is nearly identical to caffeine) and the closely related alkaloids theobromine and theophylline, make up the primary active agents in guaraná. Caffeine's effects (and hence those of guaranine) are well known and include stimulating the central nervous system, increasing metabolic rate, and having a mild diuretic effect.
The indigenous people of the Amazon rain forest used crushed guaraná seed as a beverage and a medicine. Guaraná was said to treat diarrhea, decrease fatigue, reduce hunger, and to help arthritis. It also has a history of use in treating hangovers from alcohol abuse and headaches related to menstruation.
Grieve's classic 'A Modern Herbal': 'Nervine, tonic, slightly narcotic stimulant, aphrodisiac febrifuge. A beverage is made from the guaran sticks, by grating half a tablespoonful into sugar and water and drinking it like tea. The Brazilian miners drink this constantly and believe it to be a preventive of many diseases, as well as a most refreshing beverage. Their habit in travelling is to carry the stick or a lump of it in their pockets, with a palate bone or scale of a large fish with which to grate it. P. Cupana is also a favourite national diet drink, the seeds are mixed with Cassava and water, and left to ferment until almost putrid, and in this state it is the favourite drink of the Orinoco Indians. From the tannin it contains it is useful for mild forms of leucorrhoea, diarrhoea, etc., but its chief use in Europe and America is for headache, especially if of a rheumatic nature.'
'It is a gentle excitant and serviceable where the brain is irritated or depressed by mental exertion, or where there is fatigue or exhaustion from hot weather. It has the same chemical composition as caffeine, theine and cocaine, and the same physiological action. Its benefit is for nervous headache or the distress that accompanies menstruation, or exhaustion following dissipation. It is not recommended for chronic headache or in cases where it is not desirable to increase the temperature, or excite the heart or increase arterial tension.'
'Dosage: Powder, 10 grains to 1/2 drachm. Fluid extract of Guarana, U.S.P., 30 minims sweetened with one teaspoonful of syrup in water three times a day.'
'As a strong diuretic 7 ½ grains can be taken daily and in 24 hours it has been known to increase urine from 27 oz. to 107 oz.'
'Tincture of Guarana, B.P.C., for sick headaches, 1 to 2 fluid drachms in water.'
King's 1898 Dispensatory: 'It is very probable that from the tannin contained in guarana, it has effected recovery from diarrhoea, leucorrhoea, etc., of a very mild form; but as we have more prompt and efficient articles for these affections, in which this agent was at first so loudly heralded, it is no longer employed therapeutically, except chiefly for the relief of certain forms of headache.'
'Like coffee and tea, it appears to be a gentle excitant, and is serviceable in cases where the brain becomes irritated or depressed by mental over-exertion, and when there is a sensation of fatigue or exhaustion during very warm seasons, as it has practically the same chemical composition as caffeine and theine, we find it has likewise precisely the same physiological action.'
'It is chiefly in nervous headache, in the cephalalgia sometimes accompanying menstruation and that following a course of dissipation, in which the most benefit is derived from it. Its use appears to be contraindicated in most cases of neuralgia, neuralgic headache, and chronic headache, and in all cases in which it is not desirable to excite the heart, increase arterial tension, or increase the temperature.'
American Materia Medica, 1919 (Ellingwood): 'In its influence it is a tonic and mild nerve stimulant and sedative. Gaurelle, who first called attention to it, mentioned it as a most useful tonic in protracted convalescence. He had great confidence in it in persistent diarrheas, especially those of phthisis. Others have used it successfully in chronic diarrheas.'
'Therapy: The fluid extract of this agent, given in doses of from ten to thirty minims, has been used specifically in the treatment of headaches, other than those due to actual disease of the stomach, as from catarrh or ulceration or cancer. In many forms of headache, and especially the form due to functional gastric derangement, known as 'sick headache' it is certainly a serviceable agent.'
Our Guarana extract is sold for legitimate ethnobotanical research purposes only and is not intended for human consumption! By ordering you are automatically agreeing to our terms and conditions.
This product was added to our catalog on Sunday 29 July, 2007.
