Catuaba

(Erythroxylum catuaba)

Family: Erythroxylaceae
Genus: Erythroxylum
Species: catuaba
Synonyms: None
Other Species: Erythroxylum vacciniifolium, Trichilia catigua, Juniperus brasiliensis, Eriotheca candolleana, Anemopaegma mirandum
Common Names: Catuaba, cataguá, chuchuhuasha, tatuaba, pau de reposta, caramuru, piratançara, angelim-rosa, catiguá
Parts Used: Bark, root

HERBAL PROPERTIES AND ACTIONS

Main Actions: increases libido calms nerves reduces anxiety

Other Actions: relieves pain kills bacteria kills viruses dilates blood vessels relaxes blood vessels

Standard Dosage: Bark. Infusion: 1 cup 1-3 times daily; Tincture: 2-3 ml twice daily

Erythroxylum catuaba is a vigorous-growing, small tree that grows in the northern part of Brazil in Amazonas, Para, Pernambuco, Bahia, Maranhao, and Alagoas. This catuaba tree belongs to the family Erythroxylaceae, whose principal genus, Erythroxylum, contains several species that are sources of cocaine. Catuaba, however, contains none of the active cocaine alkaloids.

The chemical constituents found in catuaba include alkaloids, tannins, aromatic oils and fatty resins, phytosterols, cyclolignans, sequiterpenes, and flavonoids. One Brazilian researcher documented (in 1958) that catuaba contained the alkaloid yohimbine (but it was unclear which species of tree he was studying). A mixture of flavalignans, including cinchonain (also found in quinine bark), was isolated from the bark of Trichilia catigua and reported to have antibacterial and anticancerous properties.

Clinical studies on catuaba also have shown results related to its antibacterial and antiviral properties. A 1992 study indicated that an extract of catuaba (Erythoxlyum catuaba) was effective in protecting mice from lethal infections of Escherichia coli and Staphlococcus aureus, in addition to inhibiting HIV significantly. The study found that the pathway of catuaba's anti-HIV activity stemmed (at least partially) from the inhibition of HIV absorption into cells, and suggested that catuaba had potential against opportunistic infections in HIV patients. A U.S. patent was granted (in 2002) to a group of Brazilian researchers for a catuaba bark extract (Trichilia catigua). Its patent refers to animal studies it conducted that reported that it relieved pain and relaxed and dilated blood vessels in rats, rabbits and guinea pigs. A study published in 1997 reported that catuaba bark had significant pain relieving activity in vivo.

Catuaba has a long history of use in herbal medicine as an aphrodisiac. In the Brazilian state of Minas there is a saying, "Until a father reaches 60, the son is his; after that, the son is catuaba's!"

In Brazilian herbal medicine today, catuaba is considered a central nervous system stimulant with aphrodisiac properties, even if there're no scientific studies that have verified it. A bark decoction is commonly used for sexual impotency, agitation, nervousness, nerve pain and weakness, poor memory or forgetfulness, and sexual weakness. In Brazil it is regarded as an aphrodisiac with "proven efficacy" and, in addition to treating impotence, it is employed for many types of nervous conditions including insomnia, hypochondria, and pain related to the central nervous system (such as sciatica and neuralgia).
Several others are the uses around the world. Following-up here a brief summary of worldwide ethnomedical uses.

Region	Uses
Brazil	as an aphrodisiac, central nervous system stimulant, and tonic; for exhaustion, fatigue, forgetfulness, frigidity, genitals, general pain, hypochondria, impotence, insomnia, nervousness, nerve pain, poor memory, sexual weakness, sleep, syphilis
Peru	for skin cancer
United States	as an aphrodisiac, stimulant and tonic; for fatigue, impotency, insomnia, nervous exhaustion, nervous system weakness, pain, poor memory, sleep, weakness
Elsewhere	for brain, circulation, fatigue, genitals, impotence, low libido, nervous system

CATUABA PLANT SUMMARY

Main Preparation Method:	tincture or infusion
Main Actions (in order):	aphrodisiac, nervine (balances/calms nerves), anti-anxiety, central nervous system tonic (tones, balances, strengthens the nervous system), antiviral
Main Uses:	as an aphrodisiac and libido stimulant for males and females to tone, balance, and calm the central nervous system (and for nerve pain, exhaustion, over stimulation) for nervousness, emotional stress, and insomnia (related to overactive neurotransmitters) as a general tonic (tones, balances, strengthens overall body functions) for poor memory, Alzheimer's disease, and dementia
Properties/Actions Documented by Research:	analgesic (pain-reliever), antibacterial, antiviral, vasodilator, vasorelaxant
Other Properties/Actions Documented by Traditional Use:	anti-anxiety, aphrodisiac, cardiotonic (tones, balances, strengthens the heart), central nervous system tonic (tones, balances, strengthens), nervine (balances/calms nerves), tonic (tones, balances, strengthens)
Traditional Preparation:	Generally in Brazil, a standard infusion (bark tea) and an alcohol tincture are employed. Recommended usage is reported to be 1-3 cups of an infusion daily, or 2-3 ml of a standard alcohol tincture twice daily.
Contraindications:	None known.
Drug Interactions:	None known.

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