Guarana (Paullinia Cupana) is a climbing shrub that grows wild in the Amazon regions of Brazil and Uruguay. Grown in the Amazon Basin, this herb was first used by the Quaramis, a native South American Tribe, for bowel complaints. It was also utilized by Brazilian miners as a preventative for diseases, yet its main function was as a refreshing beverage. Most modern commercial Guarana is grown on government plantations where the highest quality plants are harvested.
     Natives in the Amazon Basin carry long rods of hardened Guarana powder and grate it whenever they need a substitute for food. They can travel for two to three days if they have this rod to nibble on.
     The Guarana fruit is harvested when ripe, after turning a bright red or yellow. The gathered fruit yields a small round black seed which is crushed to form a paste containing 10% Guaranine (caffeine).
     Guarana has been used for hundreds of years by Brazilian Indians as a general tonic for the body and as a source of energy. Guarana acts on the central nervous system to prevent fatigue and break down lactic acid from muscle stress.
     Guarana contains natural caffeine and other Phenolic-containing antioxidant compounds. They activate the central nervous system, which spars the body's ability to burn calories and unwanted fat cells through the Thermogenic process.
     Besides caffeine, Guarana contains a host of other xanthines. Theobromine and Theophylline are the primary xanthines, acting as muscle relaxants and possessing diuretic properties.
     Guarana is a high energy source that increases mental alertness, fights fatigue, slows the pulse, decreases the appetite, and is an excellent mood elevator. This herb can also be used as a nervine tonic for hangovers, menstrual headaches, and neuralgia. It is also useful for leucorrhea, diarrhea, and fevers; it's chief use in Europe and North America is for headaches, especially if of a rheumatic or nervous nature.


© 1999 All Rights Reserved