Catuaba bark research and sexual benefits, extract product information, side effects and dosage, combining it with muira puama

Catuaba is a medium-sized tree found in the Amazon forest in the northern part of Brazil. In Brazilian herbal medicine, Catuaba bark is considered a central nervous system stimulant with aphrodisiac properties and a bark decoction is used for nervousness, poor memory, and sexual weakness. Apparently the Topi Indians have known about the sex-enhancing properties of catuaba for many centuries.
   The scientific name of Catuaba is Erythroxylum catuaba, while other common names are Chuchuhuasha, Tatuaba, Pau de Reposta, and Caramuru. We have also found catuaba research studies done with Erythroxylum vacciniifolium and Anemopaegma mirandum. We are not certain whether they are referring to the same catuaba plant.

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Indigenous tribes of the Amazon Rainforest and city dwellers in Brazil have used catuaba bark for generations as a natural herbal remedy for libido enhancement. Catuaba and muira puama are the most famous of all Brazilian aphrodisiac plants. This double concentrated catuaba bark extract uses new extraction methods to concentrate and preserve the active ingredients in this high quality Amazon plant with the equivalent of 500 mg of bark per ml. of extract (30 drops). Catuaba bark extract is found in Passion Rx, a doctor formulated natural sex booster.

What the research says about Catuaba
We found few studies regarding catuaba. Back in 1992, researchers in Japan found catuaba extracts (species Erythroxylum catuaba) to have potential antibacterial and anti-HIV activity. Catuaba, when given to mice, protected them from E. Coli and Staph infections/ Catuaba was also able to prevent the HIV virus from attaching to cells, and, in addition, catuaba prevented the death of white blood cells exposed to the HIV virus. Of course, more studies are needed before catuaba can be recommended for use by patients infected with the HIV virus. 

What's in catuaba plant?
The substances found in catuaba include alkaloids (catuabine A, B, and C), tropane alkaloid N-oxide, tannins, aromatic oils and fatty resins, phytosterols, and cyclolignans.

How does catuaba work?
The mechanism of action regarding catuaba's aphrodisiac properties is currently not well understood.

Historical Uses of catuaba herb and bark
Catuaba has been traditionally used in combination with muira puama.

Catuaba and effect on mood
We are not sure how similar this catuaba plant is to other species such as Erythroxylum catuaba.

Antidepressant-like effects of Trichilia catigua (Catuaba) extract: evidence for dopaminergic-mediated mechanisms.
Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2005 Oct;182(1):45-53. Department of Pharmacology, Center of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Campus Universitário, 88049-900 Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
 The present study analyzed the possible antidepressant-like effects of the Brazilian medicinal plant, Trichilia catigua, in rodents. Acute oral treatment with the extract of T. catigua produced antidepressant-like effects in the forced swimming model in both mice and rats. The present study provides convincing evidence for a dopamine-mediated antidepressant-like effect of the active principle(s) present in the hydroalcoholic extract of T. catigua in mice and rats when in vivo and in vitro strategies were employed. Therefore, a standardized T. catigua extract or its purified constituents could be of potential interest for the treatment of depressive disorders.

Catuaba side effects, safety, risk
There are no known side effects with catuaba, however the use of catuaba in North America is relatively new since for centuries catuaba has been used predominantly by Amazon natives. Little is known about catuaba's long-term safety.

What about drug interactions with Catuaba?
So little is known about catuaba that it is difficult to say how catuaba interacts with other herbs or medicines. However, we do know that it is often used safely with muira puama by natives in northern Brazil.

Catuaba Dosage and availability
Catuaba has been historically consumed by Amazonian natives as a tea made from the bark. Indigenous Brazilians claim that after drinking one to three cups of catuaba tea steadily over a period of a few days or weeks, the first effects that occur are usually erotic dreams, and then increased sexual desire. Claims have been made that an alcohol tincture extract of catuaba contains more of the active ingredients and provides better results, although I have not come across such research. 
    Catuaba capsules are sold consisting of a range from 500 to 1,000 mg. The recommended dose would be 0.5 to 1.5 g of catuaba per day. One full dropper of the alcohol tincture can be taken twice a day with breakfast and lunch. Catuaba is commonly found in two-ounce liquid bottles; one milliliter provides about 500 mg. There are also different extract potencies of catuaba, such as a 4:1 extract.
    A google search reveals that catuaba is available in many formulas, often combined with other herbs. There are probably hundreds of libido products marketed over the counter, and it quite likely that many of them are effective while others provide disappointing results.

Catuaba Summary
 The well-documented historical use, and our experience with users, lead us to believe that catuaba does have aphrodisiac properties. With the popularity of catuaba gradually becoming more prominent, it would help  us all if more attention and research focused on the potential benefits of this interesting plant.

Catuaba studies
On-line identification of tropane alkaloids from Erythroxylum vacciniifolium (catuaba) by liquid chromatography-UV detection-multiple mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography-nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry.
Zanolari B. Universite de Lausanne, BEP, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
The bark of catuaba (Erythroxylum vacciniifolium Martius, Erythroxylaceae), a tree native to the northern part of Brazil, was investigated for its alkaloid content. With the aim of obtaining preliminary structure information on-line, the catuaba alkaloid extract was analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to diode array UV detection, to mass spectrometry and to nuclear magnetic resonance. Interpretation of on-line spectroscopic data obtained from this extract led to structural elucidation of six new catuaba alkaloids and partial identification of 18 potentially original alkaloids bearing the same tropane skeleton esterified in positions 3 and 6 by 1-methyl-1H-pyrrol-2-carboxylic acid and/or 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzoic acid.

Tropane alkaloids from the bark of Erythroxylum vacciniifolium
Zanolari B. Universite de Lausanne, BEP, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
J Nat Prod. 2003 Apr;66(4):497-502.
Eight new tropane alkaloids (1-8) were isolated from the bark of "catuaba", a Brazilian endemic plant Erythroxylum vacciniifolium Martius. Their structures were determined by high-resolution mass spectrometry and multidimensional NMR spectroscopy.

Catuaba herb emails
 Q. Does catuaba herb interfere with medications? Would you consider this herb to be a male enhancement pill?
   A. This is a difficult question to answer since there are thousands of medicines and each one is unique in its action. As a general rule, catuaba, at leas in low doses, should not have a major effect when combined with medicines, but we wish to emphasize that this is a general statement.

Q. Would taking a catuaba supplement along with hoodia cause problems?
   A. It's hard to say, but the combination would be okay if the dosages are kept low.

Is it okay to take l-citrulline with catuaba supplement?
    Citrulline is a safe supplement, and if the catuaba dose is reasonable, we don't foresee any untoward reactions combining citrulline with catuaba supplement.

Catuaba bark extract can help with erectile function, it is a natural aphrodisiac from the Amazon forest. This page will update new catuaba research.