Areca catechu / Betelnut / Palmaceae (Palm family)

Information

This product is not sold or intended for the purpose of human consumption or cosmetic use. Any information provided about this product on this website, including any links to external websites, are solely intended for historical, scientific and educational purposes and must not be interpreted as a recommendation for a specific use of the product. The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and the product is not intended to "diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease." The use and application of this product, based on the historical and scientific context provided in the product descriptions and articles, is solely at the customer's risk. This product is a botanical specimen of ethnographic value and interest only and is delivered with no express or implied fitness for any purpose. The product descriptions are compiled from sources we deemed to be reliable up to the date it was written but may contain omissions or errors in fact, or become outdated. It outlines the documented history of uses but should no way be construed to make any medical claims about the ability or efficacy of any of these plants to treat, prevent or mitigate any disease or condition. Although a plant may have a long history of being used for a particular purpose, scientific evidence proving its efficacy for that purpose may be lacking.

Other Names

Bettlenut, Paaku, Pinang, Areca nut, Cau (Vietnamese), Supari (Bengali)

Contents

Areca Nut contains a large quantity of tannin, also gallic acid, a fixed oil gum, a little volatile oil, lignin, and various saline substances. Four alkaloids have been found in Areca Nut - Arecoline, Arecain, Guracine, and a fourth existing in very small quantity. Arecoline is the primary active ingredient responsible for the central nervous system effects which are roughly comparable to those of nicotine, which has a similar chemical structure. Arecoline is known to be an agonist of muscarinic acetylcholine M1, M2 and M3 receptors.(3)

Historical

Betelnuts have been used for thousands of years. The practice is thought to have started in south-east Asia and there is archaeological evidence to support this view. The Spirit Cave site in Thailand yielded palaeobotanical remains of Areca catechu and Piper betel (traditional consumption is a combination of Areca catechu, Piper betel, and edible lime), since found at the same location, it is circumstantial evidence for the practice of Betel chewing in prehistoric times. These remains are between 7,500 and 9,000 years old. If the dating is accurate, this would make Betel one of the earliest known psychoactive substances to be used in the world.
Printed references related to Betelnut chewing go back to hundreds of years before the common era. In Pali, a story dating from about 500 BCE describes a princess giving a present of Betel to her lover. Somewhere around 430 BCE, Theophrastus described use of the nuts as a component of the Betel morsel. Areca catechu is mentioned in Sanskrit under the name "Guvaka", and in Chinese texts dating from 150 BCE it was called "Pinlang" (a Malayan name). In Persia there were 30,000 shops that sold Betelnut in the capital town during the reign of Khosrau II (King of Persia from 590 to 628). Arabs and Persians who visited the Hindustan area of India in the 8th and 9th centuries found the habit deeply rooted. Ali al-Masudi, an Arab historian who travelled through India in 916, described the chewing of Betelnut as a national custom. There were even those who voluntarily ascended the funeral pyre comforted by Betelnut. People who did not use betel nut were socially isolated.(1)

Today, chewing betel nut is an important and popular cultural activity in many Asian countries. Betelnuts are also used as an offering in Hinduism. In India (the worlds largest consumer of Betelnut), the nuts are cut into small pieces with a special instrument. The practice of using Betelnut is often called Betelnut chewing, but the nuts are not just placed in the mouth and chewed. They are usually dried and broken down into smaller pieces (sometimes into a powder) and mixed with edible lime to aid in the absorption of their active ingredients, arecaine and arecoline. Rather than being chewed, the mixture is put between the cheek and tongue and left there, sometimes overnight.(1)

In addition to the well known stimulant properties, the seed is used medicinally in numerous internal and external preparations. The husks, shoots, buds, leaves, and roots also have local medicinal uses. The fibrous fruit husks stripped from the seed have many uses, including as a home fuel source. The trunks of culled trees are used for crude construction; the fallen fronds are used in making alcohol; the spathes and leaf sheaths are used in wrapping, packing, and as hats and sandals. The inflorescences and flowers are used ceremonially in diverse cultures.(2)

Health Warnings

Betel Nut and chemicals in Betel leaves may cause skin color changes, dilated pupils, blurred vision, wheezing/difficulty breathing, and increased breathing rate. Tremors, slow movements, and stiffness have been reported in people also taking anti-psychotic medications. Worsening of spasmodic movements has occurred in patients with Huntington's disease. Seizure has been reported with high doses. "Cholinergic" toxicity symptoms from Betel use may include salivation, increased tearing, lack of urinary control (incontinence), sweating, diarrhea, and fever. Other problems may include confusion, problems with eye movement, psychosis, amnesia, stimulant effects, and a feeling of euphoria. Long-term users may form a dependence on the effects of Betel, and discontinuing use may cause signs of withdrawal, such as anxiety or memory lapse. Betel chewing has been shown to have a harmful effect on the gums. The nut may cause the teeth, mouth, lips, and stool to become red stained. Burning and dryness of mouth may occur. Regular Betel use may increase the risk of cancers of the liver, mouth, stomach, prostate, cervix, and lung, and type 2 diabetes.(4)

Plant Description

Areca catechu is a medium-sized and graceful palm tree growing straight to 20 m tall, with a trunk 20-30 cm in diameter. The leaves are 1.5-2 m long, pinnate, with numerous, crowded leaflets. Yellowish-red fruits the size of a hen's egg, containing the seed about the size of an acorn, conical shape with flattened base and brownish in colour externally; internally mottled like a nutmeg.(5)

Legal Remarks

This product is illegal or somehow problematic to send to the following countries. Click on the country link for further information.

• Finland
• Norway

References

(1) Betel Nut Information, a1b2c3.com
(2) Document: Areca catechu (betel nut palm), Species Profiles for Pacific Island Agroforestry, George W. Staples and Robert F. Bevacqua
(3) Arecoline, Wikipedia
(4) Betel nut (Areca catechu L.), MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institude of Health
(5) Areca catechu, Wikipedia

Articles

Any information provided about products on this website, including any links to external websites, is purely intended for historical, scientific and educational purposes and should never be interpreted as a recommendation for a specific use of the products.

Areca catechu - Wikipedia

Related Products

Edible Lime (Calcium Hydroxide)

Acorus calamus / Calamus / Araceae (Arum family)

Information

This product is not sold or intended for the purpose of human consumption or cosmetic use. Any information provided about this product on this website, including any links to external websites, are solely intended for historical, scientific and educational purposes and must not be interpreted as a recommendation for a specific use of the product. The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and the product is not intended to "diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease." The use and application of this product, based on the historical and scientific context provided in the product descriptions and articles, is solely at the customer's risk. This product is a botanical specimen of ethnographic value and interest only and is delivered with no express or implied fitness for any purpose. The product descriptions are compiled from sources we deemed to be reliable up to the date it was written but may contain omissions or errors in fact, or become outdated. It outlines the documented history of uses but should no way be construed to make any medical claims about the ability or efficacy of any of these plants to treat, prevent or mitigate any disease or condition. Although a plant may have a long history of being used for a particular purpose, scientific evidence proving its efficacy for that purpose may be lacking.

Other Names

Agar Turki, Bach, Buch, Calamus Root, Cinnamon Sedge, Flag Root, Gladdon, Kalmus, Makan-Ninida, Mankan-Kereh, Rat Root, Shobu, Shui Chang, Sweet Calomel, Sweet Flag, Sweet Rush, Sweet Sedge, Vacha, Vasamber, Weekas.

Scent

Calamus is used in incense mixtures in ancient Mesopotamia and by the ancient Egyptians in their Kyphi mixtures. Calamus has a strong herbal, warm, spicy, Cinnamon-like fragrance.

Contents

Active constituents of Calamus are Monoterpene hydrocarbons, sequestrine ketones, (trans- or Alpha) Asarone (2,4,5-trimethoxy-1-propenylbenzene), and Beta-asarone (cis-isomer) contained in the roots essential oils. The oils in the rhizomes of Calamus contain eugenol and asarone. Both compounds undergo biotransformation in vivo, but asarone probably is the natural precursor to TMA-2 (2,4,5 trimethoxyphenylisopro pylamine); asarone can be converted through an aminationprocess to TMA-2. Safrole, the active constituent of Sassafras albidum undergoes a similar bioactivation-process. Because TMA-2 is structurally very similar to mescaline, amphetamine and the neurotransmitters dopamine and noradrenaline, it might replace the neurotransmitters from the storage vesicles in the nerve endings.

Historical

Calamus has been regarded as an aphrodisiac in India and Egypt for at least 2,500 years. In Europe, Calamus was valued as a stimulant, bitter herb for the appetite and as an aid to the digestion. In North America, the decoction was used for fevers, stomach cramps, and colic; the rhizome was chewed for toothache, and powdered rhizome was inhaled for congestion. In Ayurvedic medicine Calamus is an important herb, and is valued as a "rejuvenator" for the brain and nervous system, and as a remedy for digestive disorders. In Western herbal medicine the herb is chiefly employed to support digestive functions.
The Cree Indians used Calamus for medicinal purposes, primarily as an analgesic for toothaches or headaches, a disinfectant for teeth, relief for exhaustion or fatigue, and as a cure for hangovers. Other North American Indians used the plant to treat coughs and diabetes. The Sioux used the whole plant, making aromatic garlands from the leaves and using the roots to make tea to treat bowel pains or placing chewed root on the skin to treat illness. Sweet flag has also been used by the Chinese to reduce swelling and to help relieve constipation. In India, Calamus was used to cure fevers, asthma, and bronchitis. The ancient Greeks also utilized the plant in many traditional remedies. The Dakotas use Calamus to treat diabetes, and there are several reported cases where Calamus had cured people who had been given up by Western medicine. When Calamus was chewed regularly by the Indians, they would be miraculously cured within a matter of months. During the Middle Ages Calamus was an admixture in several of the ancient, psychoactive, "Witches Flying Ointments", often being mixed with solanacious herbs.

Health Warnings

Asarone is a potential carcinogenic agent. Some experiments indicate that large quantities of Calamus produce tumors in rats. The amount given to produce this effect, however, is astronomical for the weight of the rat. No ill effects have been reported in any of the Cree who use it daily. In fact, they seem to be in good health. Calamus does have emmanagogic properties and should be avoided during pregnancy. Calamus should not be taken with MAO inhibitors.

Plant Description

Acorus calamus, Sweet Flag, is a common plant in Europe, Asia and also America. This aquatic plant likes quiet waters. Calamus is a grass-like, rhizome forming, perennial that can grow to 2m high, resembling an Iris. This species inhabits perpetually wet areas like the edges of streams and around ponds and lakes, in ditches and seeps. The plants have long creeping roots that spread out just below the surface of the soil. These roots spread horizontally and can grow to almost 2m in length. The thick, erect leaves are very similar in appearance to those of an Iris, but with edges that are crimped. Plants very rarely flower or set fruit, but when they do, the flowers are 3-8cm long, cylindrical in shape, greenish brown and covered in a multitude of rounded spikes. The fruits are small and berry-like, containing few seeds. Calamus flowers from early to late summer depending on the latitude. The herb normally grows between 1000 to 3700m. Calamus can often be found growing close to Indian villages, camping areas or trails.

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This product is illegal or somehow problematic to send to the following countries. Click on the country link for further information.

• Finland
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Erythroxylum catuaba / Catuaba / Erythroxylaceae (Coca family)

Information

This product is not sold or intended for the purpose of human consumption or cosmetic use. Any information provided about this product on this website, including any links to external websites, are solely intended for historical, scientific and educational purposes and must not be interpreted as a recommendation for a specific use of the product. The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and the product is not intended to "diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease." The use and application of this product, based on the historical and scientific context provided in the product descriptions and articles, is solely at the customer's risk. This product is a botanical specimen of ethnographic value and interest only and is delivered with no express or implied fitness for any purpose. The product descriptions are compiled from sources we deemed to be reliable up to the date it was written but may contain omissions or errors in fact, or become outdated. It outlines the documented history of uses but should no way be construed to make any medical claims about the ability or efficacy of any of these plants to treat, prevent or mitigate any disease or condition. Although a plant may have a long history of being used for a particular purpose, scientific evidence proving its efficacy for that purpose may be lacking.

Other Names

Cataguá, Chuchuhuasha, Tatuaba, Pau de Reposta, Caramuru, Piratançara, Angelim-rosa, Catiguá.

Contents

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.

Synergic Combinations

Catuaba is often used in combination with Muira Puama as an aphrodisiac.

Historical

Few beneficial plants are as popular or as widely consumed among the natives of the northern Amazon river basin as the barks of Catuaba and Muira Puama. These two common trees grow widely from Peru to Brazil. Both have been used extensively by natives and non-natives for centuries, to increase libido and improve sexual potency.(2)
In Brazil there is a saying which goes, "Until a father reaches 60, the son is his, after that the son is Catuaba's."(1)

Plant Description

Native to Brazil, catuaba is a medium-sized, vigorous growing, leafy tree with a thick knotty trunk. The root system is mostly above ground and each root measures from 2 to 2.5 meters. It produces pretty yellow and orange flowers, and small, oval, dark yellow inedible fruit. It can be found in the Amazon, Para, Pernambuco, Bahia, Maranhao, and Alagoas.

Legal Remarks

This product is illegal or somehow problematic to send to the following countries. Click on the country link for further information.

• Norway

References

(1) Catuaba, Raintree Tropical Plant Database
(2) Herb Sex Boosters, Discovery Health

Theobroma cacao / Cocoa / Sterculiaceae (Cacao family)

Information

This product is not sold or intended for the purpose of human consumption or cosmetic use. Any information provided about this product on this website, including any links to external websites, are solely intended for historical, scientific and educational purposes and must not be interpreted as a recommendation for a specific use of the product. The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and the product is not intended to "diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease." The use and application of this product, based on the historical and scientific context provided in the product descriptions and articles, is solely at the customer's risk. This product is a botanical specimen of ethnographic value and interest only and is delivered with no express or implied fitness for any purpose. The product descriptions are compiled from sources we deemed to be reliable up to the date it was written but may contain omissions or errors in fact, or become outdated. It outlines the documented history of uses but should no way be construed to make any medical claims about the ability or efficacy of any of these plants to treat, prevent or mitigate any disease or condition. Although a plant may have a long history of being used for a particular purpose, scientific evidence proving its efficacy for that purpose may be lacking.

Contents

Cocoa beans contain about 2% theobromine, small amounts of caffeine, flavanoids, phenethylamine, vitamins (A, B1, B2, B3, C, E and pantothenic acid) and minarls (megnesium, calcium, iron, zinc, copper, potassium, manganese). Cocoa beans contain approximately 50% fat, primarily comprised of two saturated fatty acids, palmitic and stearic acids, and the mono unsaturated oleic acid.

Historical

Cacao was named Theobroma by Linnaeus, which literally translates as "Cocoa, food of the Gods".
The Aztecs, Mayas and Toltecs believed that the cocoa tree was indeed a gift from the Gods.
The word cacao is derived from Olmec and the subsequent Mayan languages (kakaw); the chocolate-related term cacahuatl is Nahuatl (Aztec language), derived from Olmec/Mayan etymology, meaning "bitter water".
Cacao beans were used by the Aztecs to prepare to a hot, frothy beverage with stimulant and restorative properties.
Chocolate itself was reserved for warriors, nobility and priests. The Aztecs esteemed its reputed ability to confer wisdom and vitality. Taken fermented as a drink, chocolate was also used in religious ceremonies. The sacred concoction was associated with Xochiquetzal, the goddess of fertility.
Emperor Montezuma (1502-1520) allegedly drank 50 goblets a day. Aztec taxation was levied in cacao beans. 100 cacao beans could buy a slave. 12 cacao beans bought the services of courtesan.
"The divine drink, which builds up resistance and fights fatigue. A cup of this precious drink cocoa permits a man to walk for a whole day without food." --Montezuma II
Legend has it that Montezuma II was the first to discover chocolate ice and sent his runners to the heights of the volcano to bring back blocks of snow over which thick chocolate was poured, whipped, and served as chilled froth. When the ambassadors of Cortes encountered the Aztec Emperor, he was at the breakfast table shielded by a rich screen. Servants were filing by in endless procession with tempting delicacies. The most frequent (and most favoured) offering was a steaming aromatic drink named "cacahuatl". This beverage was made from water and cacao seeds - so valuable that they were used as currency in parts of Mexico and so costly that only royalty could afford them.
The finest chocolate confectionery, containing pure chocolate liquor, with its remarkable nutritional constituents, is also the most nourishing; in the South African War and World Wars I and II, solid chocolate was issued as standard rations for the troops and given by Queen Victoria as a Christmas gift to all her fighting men.
The first chocolate factory in the United States opened in 1765 in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. In 1805, Conrad Van Houten, a dutch chemist, invented a cacao press that created confections of cocoa butter and sugar. In 1876, Daniel Peter, a Swiss candymaker, developed milk chocolate by adding condensed milk to chocolate liquor, giving it a smoother texture through a process called conching (referring to the shape of the mixing vats).

Plant Description

Cacao (Theobroma cacao), or the cocoa plant, is a small (4–8 m or 15–26 ft tall) evergreen tree in the family Sterculiaceae (alternatively Malvaceae). Native to southern Mexico (Veracruz, Chiapas), Guatemala, Belize; now cultivated pantropically, especially in West Africa, Ceylon, Java.
Cocoa beans are found in the fruit, or pods, of the cacao trees; each nine-inch pod contains 20 to 50 beans. The annual yield per tree is between 20 and 30 fruit pods. When seeds are ripe they rattle in the capsule when shaken; if separated from the capsule they soon become infertile, but if kept therein they retain their fertility for a long time.
After the cacao beans are removed from the fruit, they undergo fermentation, a process that reduces their bitterness and helps develop their heady aroma. After they are dried the beans are ready to be processed into chocolate products.

Articles

Any information provided about products on this website, including any links to external websites, is purely intended for historical, scientific and educational purposes and should never be interpreted as a recommendation for a specific use of the products.

Theobroma cacao - Cacao Web
Theobroma cacao - Erowid
Theobroma Cacao - Wikipedia

Coffea arabica / Coffee / Rubiaceae (Coffee family)

Contents

Coffee contains several compounds which are known to affect human body chemistry. The coffee bean itself contains chemicals which are psychotropic (in a way some find pleasing) for humans as a by-product of their defense mechanism.(2) Non-volatile and volatile compounds of green coffee beans are responsible for their attraction of insects but also distraction of animals preventing them from eating the coffee fruit and beans. Further, both non-volatile and volatile compounds are contributing to the flavor of the roasted coffee bean. Among the non-volatile compounds nitrogenous compounds together with carbohydrates are of major importance for the full aroma of roasted coffee and its biological action. The nitrogenous compound are consisting of alkaloids, trigonelline, proteins and free amino acids. Caffeine (1,3,7-trimethyl-xanthine) is the most important molecule of the alkaloids being present in green and roasted coffee beans. The content of caffeine is between 1% and 2,5% (w/w of dry green coffee).(4)

Historical

Coffee use can be traced at least to as early as the 9th century, when it appeared in the highlands of Ethiopia. According to legend, Ethiopian shepherds were the first to observe the influence of the caffeine in coffee beans when the goats appeared to "dance" and to have an increased level of energy after consuming wild coffee berries. From Ethiopia, coffee spread to Egypt and Yemen. It was in Arabia that coffee beans were first roasted and brewed similarly as they are today. By the 15th century, it had reached the rest of the Middle East, Persia, Turkey, and northern Africa. From the Muslim world, coffee spread to Italy. The thriving trade between Venice and North Africa, Egypt, and the Middle East brought many goods, including coffee, to the Venetian port. From Venice, it was introduced to the rest of Europe. Coffee became more widely accepted after it was deemed a Christian beverage by Pope Clement VIII in 1600, despite appeals to ban the "Muslim drink". The Dutch were the first to import coffee on a large scale, and they were among the first to defy the Arab prohibition on the exportation of plants or unroasted seeds when Pieter van den Broeck smuggled seedlings from Aden into Europe in 1616. The Dutch later grew the crop in Java and Ceylon. Through the efforts of the British East India Company, coffee became popular in England as well. It was introduced in France in 1657, and in Austria and Poland after the 1683 Battle of Vienna, when coffee was captured from supplies of the defeated Turks. When coffee reached North America during the colonial period, it was initially not as successful as it had been in Europe. During the Revolutionary War, however, the demand for coffee increased so much that dealers had to hoard their scarce supplies and raise prices dramatically; this was partly due to the reduced availability of tea from British merchants. After the War of 1812, during which Britain temporarily cut off access to tea imports, the Americans' taste for coffee grew, and high demand during the American Civil War together with advances in brewing technology secured the position of coffee as an everyday commodity in the United States.
Noted as one of the world`s largest, most valuable, legally traded commodities after oil, coffee has become a vital cash crop for many Third World countries. Over one hundred million people in developing countries have become dependent on coffee as the primary source of income. Coffee has become the primary export and backbone for African countries like Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, and Ethiopia as well as many Central American countries.(1)(5)

Plant Description

Coffea arabica is a species of coffee indigenous to Ethiopia and Yemen. It is also known as the "coffee shrub of Arabia", "mountain coffee" or "arabica coffee". Coffea arabica is believed to be the first species of coffee to be cultivated, being grown in southwest Arabia for well over 1,000 years. It is considered to produce a superior tasting baverage with lower caffeine content compared to the other major commercially grown coffee species, Coffea canephora (robusta). Coffea arabica accounts for 75-80 percent of the world's coffee production.
Coffea arabica takes about seven years to mature. It is usually cultivated between 1,300 and 1,500 m altitude, but there are plantations as low as sea level and as high as 2,800 m. Two to four years after planting Coffea arabica produces small, white and highly fragrant flowers. The sweet fragrance resembles the sweet smell of Jasmine flowers. When flowers open on sunny days, this results in the greatest numbers of berries. This can be a curse however as coffee plants tend to produce too many berries; this can lead to an inferior harvest and even damage yield in the following years as the plant will favor the ripening of berries to the detriment of its own health. On well kept plantations this is prevented by pruning the tree. The flowers themselves only last a few days leaving behind only the thick dark green leaves. The berries then begin to appear. These are as dark green as the foliage, until they begin to ripen, at first to yellow and then light red and finally darkening to a glossy deep red. At this point they are called 'cherries' and are ready for picking. The berries are oblong and about 1 cm long. Inferior coffee results from picking them too early or too late, so many are picked by hand to be able to better select them, as they do not all ripen at the same time. In perfect conditions, like those of Java, trees are planted at all times of the year and are harvested year round. In less ideal conditions, like those in parts of Brazil, the trees have a season and are harvested only in winter.(3)(6)

References

(1) Coffee, Wikipedia
(2) Coffee and Health, Wikipedia
(3) Coffea arabica, Wikipedia
(4) Coffea, Wikipedia
(5) The Story Of Coffee, International Coffee Organization
(6) Arabica and Robusta Coffee Plant, coffeeresearch.org

Articles

Any information provided about products on this website, including any links to external websites, is purely intended for historical, scientific and educational purposes and should never be interpreted as a recommendation for a specific use of the products.

Kopi Luwak
Luwak Coffee

Ginkgo biloba / Ginkgo Biloba / Ginkgoaceae (Ginkgo family)

Information

This product is not sold or intended for the purpose of human consumption or cosmetic use. Any information provided about this product on this website, including any links to external websites, are solely intended for historical, scientific and educational purposes and must not be interpreted as a recommendation for a specific use of the product. The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and the product is not intended to "diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease." The use and application of this product, based on the historical and scientific context provided in the product descriptions and articles, is solely at the customer's risk. This product is a botanical specimen of ethnographic value and interest only and is delivered with no express or implied fitness for any purpose. The product descriptions are compiled from sources we deemed to be reliable up to the date it was written but may contain omissions or errors in fact, or become outdated. It outlines the documented history of uses but should no way be construed to make any medical claims about the ability or efficacy of any of these plants to treat, prevent or mitigate any disease or condition. Although a plant may have a long history of being used for a particular purpose, scientific evidence proving its efficacy for that purpose may be lacking.

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This product is illegal or somehow problematic to send to the following countries. Click on the country link for further information.

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Camellia sinensis / Green Tea / Theaceae (Tea family)

Information

This product is not sold or intended for the purpose of human consumption or cosmetic use. Any information provided about this product on this website, including any links to external websites, are solely intended for historical, scientific and educational purposes and must not be interpreted as a recommendation for a specific use of the product. The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and the product is not intended to "diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease." The use and application of this product, based on the historical and scientific context provided in the product descriptions and articles, is solely at the customer's risk. This product is a botanical specimen of ethnographic value and interest only and is delivered with no express or implied fitness for any purpose. The product descriptions are compiled from sources we deemed to be reliable up to the date it was written but may contain omissions or errors in fact, or become outdated. It outlines the documented history of uses but should no way be construed to make any medical claims about the ability or efficacy of any of these plants to treat, prevent or mitigate any disease or condition. Although a plant may have a long history of being used for a particular purpose, scientific evidence proving its efficacy for that purpose may be lacking.

Paullinia cupana / Guarana / Sapindaceae (Soapberry family)

Information

This product is not sold or intended for the purpose of human consumption or cosmetic use. Any information provided about this product on this website, including any links to external websites, are solely intended for historical, scientific and educational purposes and must not be interpreted as a recommendation for a specific use of the product. The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and the product is not intended to "diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease." The use and application of this product, based on the historical and scientific context provided in the product descriptions and articles, is solely at the customer's risk. This product is a botanical specimen of ethnographic value and interest only and is delivered with no express or implied fitness for any purpose. The product descriptions are compiled from sources we deemed to be reliable up to the date it was written but may contain omissions or errors in fact, or become outdated. It outlines the documented history of uses but should no way be construed to make any medical claims about the ability or efficacy of any of these plants to treat, prevent or mitigate any disease or condition. Although a plant may have a long history of being used for a particular purpose, scientific evidence proving its efficacy for that purpose may be lacking.

Contents

Guarana seeds contain caffeine 0.9%-7.6% (called guaranine by the german botanist Theodore von Martius who isolated it). They also cantain Adenine, Catechutannic-acid, Choline, D-catechin, Guanine, Hypoxanthine, Mucilage, Saponin, Starch, Tannin, Theobromine, Theophylline, Timbonine, Xanthine (2).

Historical

The uses of this plant by the Amerindians predates the discovery of Brazil. South American Indian tribes (especially the Guaranis, from whence the plant's name is derived) dry and roast the seeds and mix them into a paste with water. They then use it much the same way as chocolate - to prepare various foods, drinks, and medicines. According to a myth dating back to the Sateré-Maué tribe, guarana's domestication originated with a deity killing a beloved village child. In order to console the villagers, a more benevolent god plucked the left eye from the child and planted it in the forest, resulting in the wild variety of guarana. The god then plucked the right eye from the child and planted it in the village, giving rise to domesticated guarana.
Over centuries the many benefits of guaraná have been passed on to explorers and settlers. This plant was introduced to western civilization in the 17th century following its discovery by Father Felip Betendorf. By 1958, guarana was commercialized. Eighty percent of the world's commercial production of guaraná paste is in the middle of the Amazon rainforest in northern Brazil - still performed by the Guarani Indians, who wild-harvest the seeds and process them into paste by hand. (1)(2)

Plant Description

Paullinia Cupana (Paullinia sorbilis) is a climbing, shrubby vine, growing in northern Brazil, in moist, sandy locations. The flexible stem is very long, and takes root readily wherever it touches the ground, so that a single plant often extends over considerable space. In the wild state the vine attaches itself to large trees, and the fruit is difficult to collect, and of small yield; the vine is cultivated without support. The leaves are alternate, stipulate, and consist each of 5 smooth leaflets. The flowers are small, numerous, and disposed in erect, axillary, close panicles; the sepals are 5, the petals are 4, and have each a large pubescent scale on the inside, near the base; the stamens are 8, attached to a thick column. The pistil has a 3-lobed ovary, and a sessile, 3-parted stigma. The fruit is pear-shaped, and generally has a single brownish seed attached to the base, and nearly filling the pericarp. (3)

Legal Remarks

This product is illegal or somehow problematic to send to the following countries. Click on the country link for further information.

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References

(1) Guaraná, Raintree Plant Database
(2) Guarana, Wikipedia
(3) Guarana (U. S. P.)—Guarana. King's American Dispensatory, by Harvey Wickes Felter, M.D., and John Uri Lloyd, Phr. M., Ph. D., 1898
(4) Document: NL E4-0-C-REF, Netherlands Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport

Ilex guayusa / Guayusa / Aquifoliaceae (Holly family)

Information

This product is not sold or intended for the purpose of human consumption or cosmetic use. Any information provided about this product on this website, including any links to external websites, are solely intended for historical, scientific and educational purposes and must not be interpreted as a recommendation for a specific use of the product. The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and the product is not intended to "diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease." The use and application of this product, based on the historical and scientific context provided in the product descriptions and articles, is solely at the customer's risk. This product is a botanical specimen of ethnographic value and interest only and is delivered with no express or implied fitness for any purpose. The product descriptions are compiled from sources we deemed to be reliable up to the date it was written but may contain omissions or errors in fact, or become outdated. It outlines the documented history of uses but should no way be construed to make any medical claims about the ability or efficacy of any of these plants to treat, prevent or mitigate any disease or condition. Although a plant may have a long history of being used for a particular purpose, scientific evidence proving its efficacy for that purpose may be lacking.

Other Names

Aguayusa, Huayusa, Guañusa, Guayyusa, Wayusa.

Contents

Caffeine (~2%)

Historical

The first account of the use of Guayusa is from a letter by Lucero from 1683, describing the activities of medicine men of the Jívaro Indians in drinking certain beverages during the performance of their medico-magical rites: "They put together these evil herbs (Datura, Banisteriopsis, and other narcotic plants], with Guañusa and Tobacco, also invented by the devil, and allow them to boil until the small remaining quantity of juice becomes the quintessence of evil, and the faith of those who drink it is rewarded by the devil with the fruit of malediction, and always to the great misfortune of many..."
The Jívaro Indians were, according to Lucero, well disposed people of good physical appearance. "To maintain themselves at their best, they were accustomed to drink a decoction of an herb called Guayusa, similar to Laurel, several times daily. They were thus able to stay awake without losing consciousness for many nights, when they feared invasion by enemies". The Jívaro Indians also attribute to Guayusa a narcotic or hypnotic effect for inducing Pequeños sueños ("Little dreams"), and for knowing in advance whether a hunting expedition will be successful.
Guayusa was known not only in the Ecuadorian-Peruvian sector of the east Andean foothills, but in the Putumayo-Caquetá belt of Colombia too. From observations made during the decade 1756-1767, the Majorcan missionary Juan Serra notes "Guayusa has the color of dark honey, and five leaves are enough to make a Chocolate-pot full of its juice. Its taste is like tea but finer and more pleasant. When I drank it, I began to sweat and expectorate so much that I was obliged to change my habit, and within half an hour coughed enough phlegm to fill a large cup. These effects seemed to me to be very good." (1)

Plant Description

Ilex guayusa is a Holly species, in a family of over 450, which are widely distributed in both hemispheres. Most grow in tropical Central and South America. Ilex is among the largest of holly trees, cultivated for their caffeine content (2).

References

(1) Guayusa, a neglected stimulant from the eastern andean foothills, Victor Manual Patino
(2) The healing forest, medicinal and toxic plants of the northwest Amazonia, Schultes and Raffauf

Articles

Any information provided about products on this website, including any links to external websites, is purely intended for historical, scientific and educational purposes and should never be interpreted as a recommendation for a specific use of the products.

Banisteriopsis caapi - Vine of the Soul - taken from “Plants of the gods, their sacred, healing and hallucinogenic powers”
Dreams
Ilex Guayusa - Ayahuasca.com Forum
Lucid Dreaming
Oneiromancy

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Jatropha macrantha / Huanarpo / Euphorbiaceae (Spurge family)

Information

This product is not sold or intended for the purpose of human consumption or cosmetic use. Any information provided about this product on this website, including any links to external websites, are solely intended for historical, scientific and educational purposes and must not be interpreted as a recommendation for a specific use of the product. The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and the product is not intended to "diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease." The use and application of this product, based on the historical and scientific context provided in the product descriptions and articles, is solely at the customer's risk. This product is a botanical specimen of ethnographic value and interest only and is delivered with no express or implied fitness for any purpose. The product descriptions are compiled from sources we deemed to be reliable up to the date it was written but may contain omissions or errors in fact, or become outdated. It outlines the documented history of uses but should no way be construed to make any medical claims about the ability or efficacy of any of these plants to treat, prevent or mitigate any disease or condition. Although a plant may have a long history of being used for a particular purpose, scientific evidence proving its efficacy for that purpose may be lacking.

Other Names

Huanarpo Macho, Higos del Duende, Huanarpo de Canta, Guarnarpo Macho, Mitocala, Palo de Grado, Sangre de Drago, Simayuca, Urco Huanarpo, Vanarpo, Wanarpo.

Contents

catechin, catechin-7-O-β-glucopyranoside and proanthocyanidin B-3 along with other catechin polymers(2)

Historical

"The young branch stems of the Huanarpo Macho tree are shaped like a man's anatomy and for centuries these young branch stems have been used in traditional medicine systems to support, aid, and enhance male sexual function."
"It has recently been called "Peruvian Viagra" in various marketing programs and is as popular in Peru as a male aphrodisiac as Muira Puama is in Brazil for the same purpose."(1)

Plant Description

Huanarpo macho is medium shrubby tree (10 to 12 m in height) with pretty reddish-orange flowers. It is indigenous to Peru and can be found in abundance in the Marañon river valley in the Amazon and in the Puno district in Peru. (1)

References

(1) Huanarpo macho, Raintree Tropical Plant Database
(2) Catechin derivatives in Jatropha macrantha stems: Characterisation and LC/ESI/MS/MS quali–quantitative analysis, Angelyne Benavides, Paola Montoro, Carla Bassarello, Sonia Piacente and Cosimo Pizza

Piper methysticum / Kava Kava / Piperaceae (Pepper family)

Information

This product is not sold or intended for the purpose of human consumption or cosmetic use. Any information provided about this product on this website, including any links to external websites, are solely intended for historical, scientific and educational purposes and must not be interpreted as a recommendation for a specific use of the product. The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and the product is not intended to "diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease." The use and application of this product, based on the historical and scientific context provided in the product descriptions and articles, is solely at the customer's risk. This product is a botanical specimen of ethnographic value and interest only and is delivered with no express or implied fitness for any purpose. The product descriptions are compiled from sources we deemed to be reliable up to the date it was written but may contain omissions or errors in fact, or become outdated. It outlines the documented history of uses but should no way be construed to make any medical claims about the ability or efficacy of any of these plants to treat, prevent or mitigate any disease or condition. Although a plant may have a long history of being used for a particular purpose, scientific evidence proving its efficacy for that purpose may be lacking.

Legal Remarks

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• Poland
• Australia
• Finland
• Germany
• Norway