Common Name: |
Guarana Bread |
Other Names: |
Brazilian Cocoa, Guarana, Paullinia, Zoom |
Botanical Name: |
Paullinia cupana var. sorbilis syn P. sorbilis |
Genus: |
Paullinia |
Family: |
Sapindaceae |
Native Location: |
Brazil, Uruguay, and Venezuela |
Cultivation: |
Moist, rich soil in partial shade. |
Propagation: |
By seed sown when ripe; by ripewood cuttings at the end of the growing season. |
Harvest: |
Seeds are collected when ripe, then roasted, ground, and stored as dried paste or powder. |
Height: |
10m (30ft) |
Hardiness: |
Min. 18°C (65°F) |
Parts Used: |
Seeds |
Properties: |
A slightly bitter, stimulant, tonic herb that lowers fever and has astringent and diuretic effects. It is reputedly and aphrodisiac. |
Medicinal Uses: |
Internally to relieve fatigue, aid concentration, and lift the spirits; also for diarrhea, leucorrhea, migraine, and headache. May cause sleeplessness. Contraindicated in cardiovascular disease and hypertension. To treat digestion problems, headache, fever, and dysmenorrhea; to ease fatigue, hunger, and thirst; as diuretic. |
Typical Dose: |
A typical dose of guarana is approximately 1 gm of the powdered form. |
Possible Side Effects: |
Guarana's side effects include restlessness, nervousness, insomnia, gastric irritation, and diuresis. |
Drug Interactions: |
Taking guarana with this drug may interfere with the action of the drug: |
Alprazolam, (Apo-Alpraz, Xanax) |
Taking guarana with these drugs may increase the risk of hypokalemia (low levels of potassium in the blood): |
Bepridil, (Vascor) |
Digitalis, (Digitek, Lanoxin) |
Diltiazem, (Cardizem, Tiazac) |
Dofetilide, (Tikosyn) |
Flecainide, (Tambocor) |
Insulin, (Humulin, Novolin R) |
Quinidine, (Novo-Quinidin, Quinaglute Dura-Tabs) |
Sildenafil, (Viagra) |
Sotalol, (Betapace, Sorine) |
Verapamil, (Calan, Isoptin SR) |
|
Lab Test Alterations: |
May cause a reduction in serum ferritin, hemoglobin, and/or serum iron concentration in those who are iron-deficient. |
Food Interactions: |
May increase therapeutic and adverse effecs of caffeine when taken together with caffeine-containing foods and drinks. |
Culinary Uses: |
Seeds are roasted, ground, and pressed into paste (pasta guaraná), which is dried into sticks and grated into water as a coffee-like drink; also fermented to make and alcoholic drink. |
Economic Uses: |
A source of caffiene and flavorings for the food and beverage industries. Extracts are added to diet and tonic foods. Sweetened paste, or "Brazilian chocolate", is used in soft drinks, candy, and liqueurs. |
Bibliography: |
Encyclopedia of Herbs by Deni Brown Copyright © 1995, 2001 Dorling Kindersley Limited. Pp 303-304 The Essential Herb-Drug-Vitamin Interaction Guide by Geo. T. Grossberg,MD and Barry Fox,PhD Copyright©2007 Barry Fox,PhD. Pp.262-263 |