Guarana – Paullinia Cupana L.

Guarana – Drinking Paulinia (Paullinia Cupana L.)
Family: Sapindaceae

Vernacular and other names
Drinking kurura, Paullinia crysan, Paullinia sorbilis.

History
The herb from the Amazon has been traditionally used for centuries by the Indians there for its stimulating effects. Amazonian Indians in the Orinoco and Rio Negro basins also used it to relieve pain and called it the secret eye. The name guarana is derived from the word warana. The Indians even cultivated guarana on plantations in pre-Columbian times (some scientists today even think that today's wild plants are remnants of originally domesticated cultivation). It was discovered for Europe in 1669 by the Jesuit missionary Joao Felipe Bettendorf in the area of the Maués River. The first chemical analysis was carried out in 1700 by the German botanist Theodor von Martius. He isolated a bitter white crystalline substance and called it guaranine (later renamed caffeine). More detailed analyzes were made in 1940 in France and Germany based on information that guarana is used by the Indians against fevers, headaches, spasms and as an energy tonic. Guarana is a very effective stimulant.

Occurrence
Native to the Amazon lowland and especially south of it. It is currently grown mainly in Brazil, Venezuela and Uruguay. Mostly wild plants are harvested. 80% of the world's commercially used production is obtained in the middle of the Amazon rainforest in northern Brazil. Through the FUNAI Foundation, the collection of guarana is the main source of income for the indigenous tribes.

Description
A climbing woody vine with a grooved stem and large pinnate leaves of 3-5 oval leaflets. Small greenish white or yellow flowers form the clusters. The bright red fruits are capsules containing one large black seed, enclosed in a red fleshy skin. As the fruit ripens, the surface cracks to reveal a large, black seed (which makes it look like an eye). The fruits ripen in October and November and are about the size of grapes. The seeds that have not yet fallen to the ground are harvested. It grows to a height of 12 meters.

Used parts
Seeds (so-called guarana nuts). They are collected when ripe, dried and evenly roasted. They taste very bitter and astringent. After grinding, they are used in capsules and tinctures.

Active substances
The seeds contain 4-8% caffeine. They contain mutton, tannin, starch, theophylline, theobromine, vegetable oil and vitamins of group B and vitamin C. Other substances include catechin tannins (10-25%), resin and red dye. It also contains a small amount of oil that has not yet been sufficiently studied.

Classification
Stimulant, Antioxidant, Astringent, Tonic.

Proven effects
It is mainly used for its stimulating and tonic effects without increasing nervousness and tension. Guarana is used similarly to coffee to reduce fatigue, maintain focus and alertness. It increases mental performance and improves long-term and short-term memory. Like other preparations containing caffeine, it is used to relieve pain and migraines. Due to the content of starch and tannins, it suppresses mild forms of diarrhea (it also has an antibacterial effect - especially on E. coli and Salmonella). In addition to its stimulating effect, it is also able to reduce the feeling of hunger and stimulate the breakdown of fats (accelerates metabolism, increases body temperature). It is therefore very suitable as a supplement in reduction diets. It is recommended for use in the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome and asthenia (fatigue without an obvious cause). Eliminates free radicals in the body. Some sources report guarana's ability to regulate blood flow and normalize blood pressure. Guarana is quite effective against hangovers. It superficially expands the vascular and lymphatic system, which is why it is used in cellulite-reducing preparations. It is also added to shampoos for oily hair. According to botanist James Duke, it acts preventively against arteriosclerosis. On the basis of guarana, a patent was granted in 1989 for a preparation that reduces blood clotting (anti-aggregation abilities).

Usage
• stimulates fatigue
• to reduce pain
• suppresses diarrhea
• during reduction diets
• athletes use it to increase performance
• increases the effectiveness of anti-clotting agents (Warfarin)

Conditions for achieving maximum effect
• The preparation should be administered in the morning.
• Apply in bursts when feeling tired or when you need to activate.
• The effectiveness of the herb decreases with long-term use.
• Follow the recommended daily dose.
• Attention, caffeine is on the list of doping substances.
It is necessary to beware of the unethical behavior of some producers who add synthetic caffeine to guarana extract! Currently, it is possible to buy extracts standardized for caffeine content (even better for theobromine and theophylline). Therefore, it is not necessary to deceive the customer.

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Author: Dr. Jiří Pantůček and the Topvet collective

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