Catuaba

A number of trees are listed by various sources as possibly being included in catuaba infusions. The most common among these are said to be Trichilia catigua, Erythroxylum catuaba and Erythroxylum vacciniifolium. However, other trees sometimes used are from the Anemopaegma, Ilex, Micropholis, Phyllanthus, Secondatia, Tetragastris and species from the Myrtaceae families. [1]

So it would seem that the first task is to separate "Catuaba the plant" from "Catuaba the generic name for the love-potion".

Plant researcher Chris Kilham states that Catuaba is Erythroxylum catuaba. Kilham actually visited the region in which E. catuaba grows, and not only was he taken deep into the rainforest by a local guide to see the plant in situ, but he sampled a "super sex drink" made with catuaba, guarana and local tropical fruit. He attests to the powerful efficacy of the libido-enhancing effects of the concoction - and among the local inhabitants of the region, the virtues of catuaba as a restorer of desire for both men and women seem universally agreed upon. He describes E. Catuaba as a small tree with yellow flowers. He makes no mention of any confusion surrounding the plant but does caution the consumer to take care to use only products from reputable companies, and to do due diligence in investigating the reputation of the company and the purity of the ingredients. [2]

Turning to RainTree[3], which has a noted database of tropical plants, we find much information about Catuaba. They too admit that there is much confusion over which plant is being sold as "catuaba". However, they inform us that brazilian experts will identify two different trees: "Big catuaba" - Trichilia catigua - a tree in the mahogany family, and "Small catuaba" - the same Erythroxylum catuaba mentioned by Kilham. According to RainTree, either of these species can be used and they are interchangeable.

However, RainTree warns that other names and species have become confused with catuaba: Anemopaegma mirandum, a huge tree which also has the Brazilian name catuaba verdadeira, is entirely related to the other "catuaba" trees and is either mistakenly or unethically included in catuaba products. Eriotheca candolleana is a different species. Juniperus brasiliensis is thought possibly to be another name for Erythroxylum catuaba, although according to [4] this name is not an officially recognized plant name.

Is Catuaba an Aphrodisiac?

The old legend about Catuaba is very widely known in Brazil: It's an old joke that "Before a man reaches sixty, the child belongs to him. After sixty, the child is Catuaba's." Catuaba has been part of Brazilian folklore and traditional use as an aphrodisiac for generations - particularly as a remedy for male impotence. Songs have even been composed in praise of the virtues of Catuaba. [3]

According to Chris Kilham, writing in a Discovery Health article, a group of three alkaloids named catuabine A, B and C are believed to stimulate the nervous system and thereby enhance sexual function. [5] Papers describing isolation and structure of the alkaloids were published in 1977 [6] and 1978 [7] respectively - but more work is needed in order to ascertain the aphrodisiac claims.

Kilham also states that according to local shamans and plant experts, Catuaba is often given together with Muira Puama and that this combination has a tremendous success rate as a sexual restorative. [5] This could provide further grounds for interesting research: There are other Amazonian potions that consist of more than one active ingredient - yet which, if either is taken separately, there is no effect. It is not entirely impossible that other traditional remedies work this way, and that by investigating the ingredients individually we are not able to ascertain their effects.

In a 2004 study from the University of Vienna, fourteen commercial samples of products sold as Catuaba were examined. It was said that over half the products were "adulterated with different crude drugs" and that none of the products examined showed any effects on a rabbit corpus cavernosum in an in vitro test. [8]

A 2005 Brazilian study found antidepressant-like effects of Trichilia catigua extract. [9]

Conclusions:

Given the huge number of plants in the Amazon, and the challenges in naming and cataloguing them, it's not too difficult to see why there may have been confusion. One can also see how high demand for this "exotic" product might lead to corruption of the supply chain. However, it's unwise to discredit powers that have been ascribed to a plant through centuries of tradition, without deep investigation.

With such a wide range of possible constituents, how is one supposed to investigate whether there is any truth to the aphrodisiac claims made about Catuaba? With great difficulty. The difficulty is compounded with the discovery that catuaba herbal supplements have sometimes been found to be adulterated.

The small number of scientific studies performed on the plant species are not enough to either debunk or verify the widespread mystique surrounding Catuaba as an aphrodisiac - and clearly much more work is required. More scientific research needs to be done which establishes which of the plant species (if any) shows actual, replicable, safe aphrodisiac effects.

Also, a means of guaranteeing an unadulterated, pure supply should be established. It is a complex task but some work has been done in this area. A 2008 scientific paper describes a method for analysing catuaba samples in order to determine the plant species in them. [11]

Perhaps the greatest consoling factor is that catuaba preparations have been used in the Amazon for a long time and that there appears to be very little in the way of 'bad press' around Catuaba. But given the variety of preparations being sold as Catuaba, it might be uncertain what you are getting.

Catuaba is listed in the American Herbal Products Association's "Herbs of Commerce" as Erythroxylum catuaba / Golden Trumpet. [10]

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