Mucuna is especially interesting and is added here for balance. It is part of logic that too much of one nutrient can create an apparent lack of some other micro nutrients. To have s proper food supplement, one could need a supplement that is well balanced of all micro supplements, and that is what we are striving for here. That is the theory. We seek a balance from many plants.
Below is part of an article from Nootropedia.co and seems a well written look into this plant. Mucuna Pruriens is part of the Himalayan Harvest blend, be it in very minor quantities. In Himalayan Harvest it has about 0.06 grams of Mucuna in a day's serving of ten grams, being about 1% of the amount being suggested below.
Note that Himalayan Gold does not endorse these claims, or of the doctors and scientists in the references at the foot of the page. We place this page here for readers to access and evaluate, that is all.
History of Mucuna Pruriens
Originally from places like India, Africa, and the Caribbean, mucuna pruriens has been used as an herbal supplement for some time. The mucuna plant is a legume and many local tribes consumed the product before creating an extract or product with any kind of nootropic effect. Because the plant is 20 – 35% protein by caloric content, it is often a useful source of foodstuffs in poorer regions of the world [7]. The seeds have been used by native people of central Asia who adhere to “Unani medicine” for hundreds of years.
Benefits of Mucuna Pruriens
The most obvious cognitive benefit of mucuna pruriens is for increased dopamine in the brain. This brain chemical (or neurotransmitter) is responsible for modulating a number of cognitive functions including mood, hand-eye-coordination, and others. This increase in dopamine has downstream effects on both memory and as a neuroprotective.
Mucuna pruriens can be a powerful tool to improve memory and cognitive abilities. One study showed mucuna pruriens could help support memory retention, but more evidence is needed to confirm this benefit. Related benefits, such as neuroprotection, have more research.
A study on neuroprotection showed that mucuna pruriens could increase activity within brain mitochondria (and mitochondrial health is one of the most important aspects of brain health). Another study suggested mucuna pruriens could help protect the brain from Parkinson’s symptoms.
Of course, the primary mucuna pruriens benefit is increased L-DOPA and dopamine. Studies show that by increasing L-DOPA, it is possible to relieve the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and even prevent it from becoming worse. Evidence suggests that mucuna pruriens can be more beneficial for Parkinson’s disease than some of the pharmaceutical concoctions that are used.
Side Effects of Mucuna Pruriens
Even though mucuna pruriens side effects are rare, they can occur in some situations. People who take too high of a dose can experience dopamine levels that create discomfort and even headaches.
The scientific literature shows that 15 – 30 g of mucuna pruriens showed “no significant adverse effects,” but they did notice one patient who routinely suffered from vomiting due to digestibility and palatability issues.
In general, most people who buy mucuna pruriens do not complain of side effects. If there are any side effects of mucuna pruriens, they are usually rare and related to dosing.
Mucuna Pruriens Dosage
The correct mucuna pruriens dosage will depend on your desires and needs. Most people take the mucuna supplement in a dose of 5 grams of dried powder per day. (Note: In Himalayan Long Life Botanicals the quantity for an average serving a day will be around 0.06 grams a day - about 1% of what is written here.) This dosage is said to have positive effects on Parkinson’s disease and fertility and is considered a good starting point.
There are products that have different standardization of L-DOPA in them. You might find a mucuna pruriens that has 40% L-DOPA or other percentages so make sure to read the label when you buy mucuna pruriens powder.
NOTE 1: Macuna Pruriens is in Super Superfood Greens 1% by volume, in Super Superfood Reds 1 % by volume, and in Super Superfood Gold it is 0.8% by volume.
NOTE 2: While these above are amazing reports, our super superfoods do not include high volumes of macuna pruriens. If you are ill, please go to a physician.
Further references:
Jain A, Kumar A, Shikhi M, Kumar A, Nair DT, Salunke DM.Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun. 2020 Feb 1;76(Pt 2):47-57. doi: 10.1107/S2053230X20000199. Epub 2020 Feb 3.
PMID: 32039885 Similar articles
Ferguson CC, Knol LL, Halli-Tierney A, Ellis AC.South Med J. 2019 Dec;112(12):621-625. doi: 10.14423/SMJ.0000000000001041.
PMID: 31796973 Similar articles
Rijntjes M.Parkinsons Dis. 2019 Oct 30;2019:1349509. doi: 10.1155/2019/1349509. eCollection 2019. Review.
PMID: 31781363 Free PMC Article Similar articles
Detoxifying Action of Mucuna Pruriens Seed and Mimosa Pudica Root against Venoms of Naja Nigricollis and Bitis Arietans.
Matthew AP, Mohammed M, Ofemile YP, Mohammed MG, Gabriel A, Isaac AO.Recent Pat Biotechnol. 2019 Oct 25. doi: 10.2174/1872208313666191025110019. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID: 31652115 Similar articles
Antioxidant properties and membrane stabilization effects of methanol extract of Mucuna pruriens leaves on normal and sickle erythrocytes.
Anosike CA, Igboegwu ON, Nwodo OFC.J Tradit Complement Med. 2018 Sep 28;9(4):278-284. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcme.2017.08.002. eCollection 2019 Oct.
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Immunosuppressive effects of protein derivatives from Mucuna pruriens on a streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetes murine model.
Laviada-Castillo RE, Segura-Campos MR, Chan-Zapata I, Torres-Romero JC, Guillermo-Cordero JL, Arana-Argáez VE.J Food Biochem. 2019 May;43(5):e12834. doi: 10.1111/jfbc.12834. Epub 2019 Mar 14.
PMID: 31353524 Similar articles
Evaluation of oxidative stress mechanisms and the effects of phytotherapic extracts on Parkinson's disease Drosophila PINK1B9 model.
Baroli B, Loi E, Solari P, Kasture A, Moi L, Muroni P, Kasture S, Setzu MD, Liscia A, Zavattari P.FASEB J. 2019 Oct 1;33(10):11028-11034. doi: 10.1096/fj.201901010. Epub 2019 Jul 10.
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Antiulcer and Antioxidant Activity of a Lectin from Mucuna pruriens Seeds on Ethanol- induced Gastropathy: Involvement of Alpha-2 Adrenoceptors and Prostaglandins.
Pinto IR, Chaves HV, Vasconcelos AS, de Sousa FCF, Santi-Gadelha T, de Lacerda JTJG, Ribeiro KA, Freitas RS, Maciel LM, Filho SMP, Viana AFSC, de Almeida Gadelha CA, Filho GC, de Paulo Teixeira Pinto V, Pereira KMA, Rodrigues E Silva AA, Bezerra MM.Curr Pharm Des. 2019;25(12):1430-1439. doi: 10.2174/1381612825666190524081433.
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Radder DLM, Tiel Groenestege AT, Boers I, Muilwijk EW, Bloem BR.J Parkinsons Dis. 2019;9(2):437-439. doi: 10.3233/JPD-181500.
PMID: 30856121 Similar articles
Peptides from Mucuna pruriens L., with protection and antioxidant in vitro effect on HeLa cell line.
Martínez-Leo EE, Martín-Ortega AM, Acevedo-Fernández JJ, Moo-Puc R, Segura-Campos MR.J Sci Food Agric. 2019 Jun;99(8):4167-4173. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.9649. Epub 2019 Mar 21.
PMID: 30779130 Similar articles
Effect of dietary inclusion of small quantities of Mucuna pruriens seed meal on sexual behavior, semen characteristics, and biochemical parameters in rabbit bucks (Oryctolagus cuniculus).
Mutwedu VB, Ayagirwe RBB, Bacigale SB, Mwema LM, Butseme S, Kashosi T, Mitima B, Manyawu GJ, Nyongesa AW.Trop Anim Health Prod. 2019 Jun;51(5):1195-1202. doi: 10.1007/s11250-019-01808-2. Epub 2019 Jan 19.
PMID: 30659457 Similar articles
Banjari I, Marček T, Tomić S, Waisundara VY.Front Nutr. 2018 Oct 30;5:95. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2018.00095. eCollection 2018. Review.
PMID: 30425989 Free PMC Article Similar articles
n-Propanol extract of boiled and fermented koro benguk (Mucuna pruriens seed) shows a neuroprotective effect in paraquat dichloride-induced Parkinson's disease rat model.
Adi YK, Widayanti R, Pangestiningsih TW.Vet World. 2018 Sep;11(9):1250-1254. doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2018.1250-1254. Epub 2018 Sep 12.
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