What are Mucuna Pruriens?

Mucuna pruriens is the Latin name for a bean-like plant also known as Velvet bean or Cowhage. It is a legume with several medicinal benefits found in tropical regions like India, China, and Africa. For years, healers have used the plant and its extracts to remedy Parkinson’s disease, nervous disorders, male infertility, and as an aphrodisiac.

Mucuna also serves as a good food source because it is rich in crude protein, essential amino acids, minerals, starch, and other essential fatty acids.

Today, mucuna is considered a valuable herbal remedy because of its anticholesterolemic, antiparkinson, anti-oxidant, and sexual enhancing properties.

Mucuna Pruriens Benefits:

• Promotes a healthy nervous system.
• Supports the brain and intellect.
• Treatment of sexual dysfunction
• Revitalizes the reproductive system.
• Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease
• Provides significant nutritional content.
• Boosts dopamine levels
• Effective against parasites and microbes
• Balancing the nervous system

Recommended Dosage of Mucuna Pruriens

When used as a supplement, the recommended dose of dried mucuna seed powder is about 5 grams per day for best efficacy, especially in conditions related to sexual health and Parkinson’s.

Possible Side Effects of Mucuna Pruriens:

As a result of the high level of levodopa in L-DOPA, individuals sensitive to this substance may experience nausea, vomiting, headaches, cramping, etc. Other side effects that can occur from consuming mucuna include pounding heartbeats, hallucinations, and delusions. On top of that, the hair on the mucuna pods can irritate the skin and cause severe itching, swelling, and stinging.

Mucuna may also interact negatively with various medications. If you are on a medication that would counteract its effects, for example, surgery drugs, dialysis drugs, and diabetic medications, it may be best not to take this supplement.