Muira puama

Last Updated: September 28 2022

Muira puama (Marapuama, Potency Wood) is a traditionally used aphrodisiac and nerve tonic in the Brazil region. Lacking in quality human trials and sexuality trials, it appears to be quite effective as a cognitive enhancer.

Muira puama is most often used for

What else is Muira puama known as?
Note that Muira puama is also known as:
  • Potency Wood
Muira puama should not be confused with:
Dosage information

The recommended oral dose of muira puama appears to be 1000-1500mg of a 4:1 concentrated extract (equivalent to 4,000-6,000mg of the basic extract). It is unsure if this is the optimal dose or whether it needs to be taken with a meal.

100-300mg/kg appears to be the active range for anti-stress and anxiolytic effects in rats, which converts to an estimated human equivalent of:

  • 1,100-3,300mg for a 150lb person
  • 1,500-4,400mg for a 200lb person
  • 1,800-5,500mg for a 250lb person

These are currently the recommended intakes as the higher end of the recommendation is similar to what is recommended to humans that appears to be effective.

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References
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3.^Piato AL, Rizon LP, Martins BS, Nunes DS, Elisabetsky EAntidepressant profile of Ptychopetalum olacoides Bentham (Marapuama) in micePhytother Res.(2009 Apr)
5.^Tang W, Harada K, Kubo M, Hioki H, Fukuyama YEight new clerodane diterpenoids from the bark of Ptychopetalum olacoidesNat Prod Commun.(2011 Mar)
6.^Tang W, Kubo M, Harada K, Hioki H, Fukuyama YNovel NGF-potentiating diterpenoids from a Brazilian medicinal plant, Ptychopetalum olacoidesBioorg Med Chem Lett.(2009 Feb 1)
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12.^Siqueira IR, Fochesatto C, da Silva AL, Nunes DS, Battastini AM, Netto CA, Elisabetsky EPtychopetalum olacoides, a traditional Amazonian "nerve tonic", possesses anticholinesterase activityPharmacol Biochem Behav.(2003 Jun)
13.^Siqueira IR, Fochesatto C, Torres IL, da Silva AL, Nunes DS, Elisabetsky E, Netto CAAntioxidant activities of Ptychopetalum olacoides ("muirapuama") in mice brainPhytomedicine.(2007 Nov)
14.^da Silva AL, Silva Martins B, Linck Vde M, Herrmann AP, Mai N, Nunes DS, Elisabetsky EMK801- and scopolamine-induced amnesias are reversed by an Amazonian herbal locally used as a "brain tonic"Psychopharmacology (Berl).(2009 Jan)
15.^da Silva AL, Ferreira JG, da Silva Martins B, Oliveira S, Mai N, Nunes DS, Elisabetsky ESerotonin receptors contribute to the promnesic effects of P. olacoides (Marapuama)Physiol Behav.(2008 Sep 3)
17.^da Silva AL, Piato AL, Ferreira JG, Martins BS, Nunes DS, Elisabetsky EPromnesic effects of Ptychopetalum olacoides in aversive and non-aversive learning paradigmsJ Ethnopharmacol.(2007 Feb 12)
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