The Brazilian herb Muira puama is known mainly as a natural, herbal treatment for erectile dysfunction and increasing libido, and is also considered a natural aphrodisiac. It is a small tree that can grow up to 5 meters in height and produces pungent flowers with a fragrance similar to jasmine.
The roots and bark have been used by the indigenous tribes of Brazil for centuries (in tea form) as an aphrodisiac, for treating erectile dysfunction, impotency, nervous disorders, neuralgia, baldness, neuromuscular problems, gastrointestinal disorders and rheumatism.
Muira puama has also been used in Europe for some time, and is listed in the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia (a source on herbal medicine from the British Herbal Medicine Association) as a herbal remedy recommended for the treatment of impotence and dysentry.
A member of the Olacaceae family, genus Ptychopetalum (species olacoides), Muira puama is also known as Murapuama, Marapama, Marapuama, Potenzholz and Potency Wood.
Many people remain skeptical about “herbal viagra”, and the action of the Muira puama herb is not fully understood, but it appears to assist with both the physical and psychological aspects of sexual function.
The active constituents in Muira puama are free long-chain fatty acids, coumarin, sterols, alkaloids and essential oils. Chemically, it contains .5% alkaloids, .05% muirapuamine, .4% fat, .6% pholbaphene, .7% beta resinic acid, .6% alpha-resinic acid, a .5% mixture of esters (including behenic acid, lupeol and beta-sitosterol), tannin, fatty acids and volatile oils.
Some people maintain that Muira puama is just a general tonic, but there are many confirmations from satisfied users, that it is an excellent herbal remedy for increasing sexual enjoyment and assisting with erectile dysfunction.
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The prostate is the gland below a man’s bladder that produces fluid for semen. Prostate cancer is the third most common cause of death from cancer in men of all ages. It is rare in men younger than 40.
Levels of a substance called prostate specific antigen (PSA) is often high in men with prostate cancer. However, PSA can also be high with other prostate conditions. Since the PSA test became common, most prostate cancers are found before they cause symptoms. Symptoms of prostate cancer may include
- Problems passing urine, such as pain, difficulty starting or stopping the stream, or dribbling
- Low back pain
- Pain with ejaculation
Prostate cancer treatment often depends on the stage of the cancer. How fast the cancer grows and how different it is from surrounding tissue helps determine the stage. Treatment may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or control of hormones that affect the cancer.
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