Guarana seed powder Paullinia cupana 1OZ bag

Guarana is probably best known as a Caffeine substitute and has been popularized most recently as one of the main ingredients in popular energy drinks. Guarana is a  native evergreen sprawling, shrub like vine of the Amazon region, the Guarana tree produces red berries that have been used like coffee in Brazil for centuries. A popular folklore story about Guarana is still told to this day by Satare-Maure natives of Brazil. Supposedly A beautiful woman named Onhiamuacabe gave birth to a child whose father was said to be a "mysterious being". The child was eventually put to death for eating some type of forbidden nuts. At his burial site a guarana bush began to grow from his eye. Native Indians still consider the effects of guarana to be supernatural in nature and to see the Guarana berries grow and split open does indeed bare a strange resemblance to an eye.

Benefits of Guarana:

Constituents

guaranine and the alkaloids theobromine and theophylline, caffeine

Parts Used

Seed

Typical Preparations

Brewed as a tea, in food and snack items, added to coffee, as a capsule, and in extract form.

Guarana Historical facts:

The first record for use for guarana is from the writings of a Jesuit priest in 1669, who traveled to visit the Maure Indians deep in the Amazon. They were using it as a daily tonic that they believed to help prevent malaria and dysentery, a belief that is still held to this day. It was cultivated by the indigenous peoples as far back as Pre-Columbian times, and was first commercialized for use in 1958. Guarana shows many promising health benefits, though research is ongoing. Guarana is rich in anti-oxidants, and is thought to help strengthen the heart, clean the blood and cool the body down.

Precautions

Guarana is a central nervous system stimulant similar to coffee, but stronger. Anyone who has been advised to avoid coffee should avoid guarana, though it is rated GRAS by the FDA (generally regarded as safe). It's long term use is not recommended and it is to be avoided while pregnant.

This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.