Catuaba is the common name for several different species of Amazonian trees with bark used as an aphrodisiac. Erythroxylum catuaba is the actual catuaba tree, but Trichilia catigua is another common source of herbal preparations called catuaba bark. Other species are used as well. The bark of these trees has a long-standing role in Brazilian herbal medicine, and more recently in European herbal medicine. Research is lacking on the use of these plants for sexual dysfunction, according to Ray Sahelian, a physician who specializes in natural supplements.
Uses
Herbalists view catuaba bark as a central nervous system stimulant, explains Raintree Nutrition. Herbalists use it to treat fatigue and exhaustion, agitation, poor memory, various sexual problems and nervous debility, a general term for depression and additional emotional disorders.
Properties
Animal research published in the March-April 1992 issue of "In Vivo" found that pretreating mice with Erythroxylum catuaba extracts protected them from life-threatening infection with the bacteria types Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. In the laboratory, catuaba extracts also significantly inhibit certain aspects of the HIV virus, and might protect against opportunistic infections in HIV patients, explains the "In Vivo" article. Opportunistic infections are caused by pathogens such as bacteria, viruses and fungi that usually do not lead to infection in healthy individuals.
Usage
Catuaba bark is available in capsules ranging from 500 mg to 1,000 mg. Sahelian lists a recommended dose of 0.5 g to 1.5 g of the bark per day, or an equivalent amount of liquid catuaba, with 1 ml of the liquid providing about 500 mg catuaba. For sexual disorders, supplements also are available combining catuaba with other herbs, such as muira puama.
Safety
No side effects are associated with catuaba, but this does not mean catuaba actually does not cause any side effects. Research is scant, and the herbal remedies have primarily been used by Amazon natives until recently, explains Sahelian. Little information is available on the safety of catuaba supplements when taken daily for several weeks or longer.
Considerations
Only buy catuaba from a reputable manufacturer to avoid low-quality products. An article published in the October 2004 issue of "Planta Medica" describes the examination of 14 commercial samples of herbal remedies commonly referred to as catuaba bark, including Catuaba erythroxylum, Trichilia catigua and Anemopaegma mirandum. The majority of the samples did not contain the active ingredients listed on the labels, and more than half of the products were contaminated with different substances.
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