IngredientsMuira puama is recognized under several scientific names, including Ptychopetalum olacoides Benth., Ptychopetalum uncinatum Anselm., and Liriosma ovata Miers. Common names include marapuama, mirantã, muirapuama, composita, pilula potentin, and — most famously — potency wood (also rendered as potenzholz in German and raiz del macho in Spanish). The plant grows primarily in Brazil and is classified under the family Olacaceae.
P. olacoides is a small tree that grows to about 4 m in height, native to the Brazilian Amazon rainforest. Its leaves are light green with dark brown lower surfaces and are broadly ovate, with an obtuse base, an attenuated apex, and short petioles. Flowers are arranged in short axillary racemes consisting of 4 to 6 flowers. The light-brown to grayish-brown roots are approximately 0.5 m long and 0.3 to 3.8 cm in diameter, with short, sharp projections occasionally uniting two or more roots.
Muira puama was included in the Brazilian Pharmacopeia of 1956. In England, it is still listed in the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, where it is recommended for the treatment of dysentery and impotence.
Muira puama refers to a group of plants from the Amazon rainforest known as Ptychopetalum. Dietary supplements that contain muira puama are usually made from Ptychopetalum olacoides. These products may contain different parts of the plant, including its bark and roots.
To achieve the libido and potency effects of this plant, proper preparation methods must be employed. The active constituents thought to be responsible for muira puama's potency and libido effect are not soluble in water — taking bark or root powder in capsules or tablets may not be as effective because these chemicals cannot easily be digested or absorbed. High heat for at least 20 minutes with alcohol is necessary to free the volatile and essential oils, terpenes, gums, and resins found in the bark and root which have been linked to muira puama's beneficial effects.
Since many of the most active principals are not water soluble, it is best prepared as a tincture, using 2–4 ml of a 4:1 tincture twice daily. Boiling the tincture for 20 minutes will help facilitate extraction of the non-water-soluble chemicals.
Traditional preparation in the Amazon involved mixing muira puama with Catuaba and infusing them in warm water overnight. Other Amazonian preparations used a distilled liquor made from sugar cane called cachaça, or in wine called garrafadas. Muira puama spirits were consumed daily before meals at a dose of around 60 mL. This preparation would be considered a tincture by today's definition.
Today, muira puama is widely available in various forms, including powders, teas, extracts, and capsules.
Muira puama (Ptychopetalum olacoides) is a plant native to the Amazon rainforest. This small tree has been a significant part of traditional Amazonian medicine for centuries. Historically, all parts of muira puama have been used medicinally, but the bark and roots are the most utilized parts. It has long been used in the Amazon by indigenous peoples for a number of purposes. Native peoples along the Brazilian Amazon's Rio Negro river use the stems and roots from young plants as a tonic to treat neuromuscular problems; a root decoction is used in baths and massages for treating paralysis and beri-beri; and a root-and-bark tea is taken to treat sexual debility, rheumatism, grippe, and cardiac and gastrointestinal weakness. It is also valued there as a preventive for baldness.
Traditional uses among the indigenous peoples of the Amazon include: adaptogen, alopecia (applied topically for hair loss), anorexia, antinociceptive, antioxidant, aphrodisiac, ataxia, beri-beri (vitamin deficiency disease), debility, digestive problems, dysentery, fatigue, impotence, neurasthenia, nerve tonic, rheumatism, stimulant, tonic (adding bark decoction to a bath), paralysis, and tremors.
The natives of the Amazon also used this herb to treat what was referred to as "nervous weakness," which included symptoms such as lassitude, general lack of interest/motivation, tremors, and sexual debility.
Muira puama has been used in Europe for therapeutic purposes since the 1920s. Early European explorers noted the indigenous uses and the aphrodisiac qualities of muira puama and brought it back to Europe, where it became part of herbal medicine in England. It is still listed in the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia. Promotion of muira puama as a male aphrodisiac or as a treatment for impotence can be traced to the 1930s in Europe.
In Brazilian herbal medicine, muira puama is a highly-regarded sexual stimulant with a reputation as a powerful aphrodisiac. It is used as a neuromuscular tonic for asthenia and paralysis, dyspepsia, menstrual disturbances, chronic rheumatism (applied topically), sexual impotence, grippe, ataxia, and central nervous system disorders.
Muira puama is an important ingredient of "catuama," a medicinal poly-herbal combination used in South America, also composed of guaraná (Paullinia cupana), ginger (Zingiber officinale), and Trichilia catigua. This compound formulation has been used historically for its reputed tonic, stimulant, and aphrodisiac properties and has itself become the subject of pharmacological investigation.
Scientists began searching for the source of muira puama's efficacy in the 1920s. Early researchers discovered that the root and bark were rich in fatty acids and fatty acid esters (the main one being behenic acid), essential oils (including beta-caryophyllene and alpha-humulene), plant sterols, triterpenes (including lupeol), and a new alkaloid — which they named muirapuamine.
Scientists resumed researching the plant's constituents and pharmacological properties in the late 1960s and continued into the late 1980s. These studies indicated that the active constituents also included free long-chain fatty acids, sesquiterpenes, monoterpenes, and novel alkaloids.
The full list of identified phytochemicals is extensive. The main plant chemicals found in muira puama include caffeic acid, campesterols, camphene, camphor, β-caryophyllene, coumarin, 4-coumaroylserotonin, ergosterols, ferulic acid, hardwickiic acid, α-humulene, kolavenol, and numerous other compounds. Additional identified constituents include alpha-copaene, alpha-elemene, alpha-humulene, alpha-pinene, arachidic acid, behenic acid, beta-caryophyllene, beta-sitosterol, borneol, campesterol, camphor, cerotic acid, chromium, coumarin, essential oils, eugenol, lignoceric acid, limonene, linalool, lupeol, melissic acid, muirapuamine, and phlobaphene, among others.
One of the main active ingredients in muira puama is an alkaloid known as muirapuamine. The root and bark are also rich in essential fatty acids, plant sterols including beta-sitosterol, and muirapuamine.
Although the traditional method of preparation involved infusing the crushed bark in warm water overnight, the constituents in muira puama are not very water soluble. This is a pharmacologically significant detail: high heat for at least 20 minutes with alcohol is necessary to free the volatile and essential oils, terpenes, gums, and resins found in the bark and root which have been linked to muira puama's beneficial effects.
Muira puama extracts have shown potential in inhibiting acetylcholinesterase activity in the brain, which is relevant to conditions like Alzheimer's disease. Researchers theorize muira puama may be effective due to inhibiting acetylcholinesterase. Acetylcholinesterase is an enzyme that breaks down the important neurotransmitter acetylcholine, necessary for memory and cognition. By protecting acetylcholine, muira puama might have therapeutic value for memory or cognition-impaired people.
What makes the research compelling is that the active compounds cross the blood-brain barrier after oral consumption. Once in the brain, the extract reduced acetylcholinesterase activity by about 33% in one key memory region of the hippocampus, 20% in another, and 17% in the striatum. In the hippocampus and frontal cortex, specific forms of the enzyme were inhibited by 50 to 72%. These are meaningful reductions in the areas most associated with forming and retrieving memories.
Research has found that the extract's mechanism of action involves anti-acetylcholinesterase effects, as well as effects on beta-adrenergic and dopamine receptors. The effects of P. olacoides ethanol extract (POEE) were increased through a synergistic action of 5HT(2A) (but not 5HT(1A)) serotonin antagonists, spiperone. The synergism can be identified as the combined effects of 5HT antagonism, or a combination of acetylcholinesterase inhibitory effects and 5HT antagonism.
Muira puama exhibited antidepressant-like properties in mice, with the effects being dose-dependent. The study suggests that the antidepressant effects may be mediated through beta-adrenergic and D1 dopamine receptors.
A 2018 cell-based study (Ferrini et al., published in Nitric Oxide) investigated muira puama alongside ginger, Paullinia cupana, and L-citrulline. The researchers examined their effect on modulation of the inducible nitric oxide–NO–cGMP pathway in rat penile smooth muscle cells. This pathway is directly relevant to erectile function, as nitric oxide stimulates smooth muscle relaxation and penile blood engorgement. Because muira puama influences hormone receptors and nitric oxide pathways, people taking hormone therapies or blood pressure medications should exercise caution. The effects on nitric oxide production also mean it could theoretically interact with erectile dysfunction drugs, amplifying their blood-pressure-lowering effects.
Antioxidant properties of muira puama could be related, at least to some degree, to some of the therapeutic properties claimed to be associated with its use. It is not completely known which active compound or by which mechanism muira puama exerts its antioxidant activities. However, beta-sitosterol and lupeol, both present in muira puama, have been shown to possess antioxidant properties.
Muira puama extract contains antioxidant compounds that are uniquely beneficial to neurological tissue. In animal studies, it decreased free radicals in several regions of the brain, including the hypothalamus, cerebellum, and striatum.
In one animal study, muira puama extract prevented the rise in anxiety-linked hormones that usually accompanies exposure to stress. It also helped improve stress-related glucose tolerance. Another study suggested that muira puama extract can help alleviate symptoms of stress-related depression. According to the researchers, it may achieve this by preventing the HPA axis (hypothalamic, pituitary, and adrenal glands) from becoming overstimulated.
Muira puama has been the subject of two published clinical studies conducted by Dr. Jacques Waynberg, an eminent medical sexologist. The first study, conducted at the Institute of Sexology in Paris under Waynberg's supervision, was reported in the November 1994 issue of The American Journal of Natural Medicine. The study population consisted of 262 men complaining of lack of sexual desire, or inability to attain or maintain erection. After two weeks, 62 percent of patients with loss of libido rated the treatment as having a dynamic effect, while 52 percent of patients with erectile dysfunction rated the treatment as beneficial.
Dr. Waynberg's second study, entitled "Male Sexual Asthenia," focused on sexual difficulties associated with asthenia, a deficiency state characterized by fatigue. Of the 26 men diagnosed with common sexual asthenia without noticeable sign of psychosomatic disorder, the treatment was effective for asthenia in 100% of cases, for lack of libido in 85% of cases, and for inability of coital erection in 90% of cases.
Muira puama supplements of 1,000–1,500 mg daily for 2 weeks increased libido in 60% of 262 men with low libido.
Evidence assessment: P. olacoides has been evaluated both alone and as part of a combination product for use in sexual dysfunction; clinical evidence is lacking to support use of P. olacoides alone. Potential use in Alzheimer disease or conditions of cognitive decline has been examined, with studies of P. olacoides in rodents demonstrating improved memory and reversal of cognitive impairment. However, clinical trial data are lacking to recommend use for any indication. Many studies have methodological limitations, such as small sample sizes or lack of control groups. Additionally, the variability in muira puama preparations used across studies makes it challenging to compare results directly. The lack of large-scale, randomized controlled trials limits the strength of the evidence.
The efficacy of a unique herbal formulation of muira puama and Ginkgo biloba (Herbal vX) was assessed in 202 healthy women complaining of low sex drive. Various aspects of their sex life were rated before and after 1 month of treatment. Responses to self-assessment questionnaires showed significantly higher average total scores from baseline in 65% of the sample after taking the supplement. Statistically significant improvements occurred in frequency of sexual desires, sexual intercourse, and sexual fantasies, as well as in satisfaction with sex life, intensity of sexual desires, excitement of fantasies, ability to reach orgasm, and intensity of orgasm. Reported compliance and tolerability were good. These initial findings support the strong anecdotal evidence for the benefits of Herbal vX on the female sex drive.
Early research suggests that taking 2–6 tablets of a specific product (Herbal vX) containing muira puama extract and ginkgo extract modestly improves sexual desire and the frequency of sexual intercourse in women with a low sex drive.
Evidence assessment: Although limited, the evidence suggests that muira puama may work as an aphrodisiac. However, a small clinical trial, a study in rats, and a cell-based study cannot be considered sufficient evidence that muira puama helps with erectile dysfunction. Further clinical research is needed. The female libido study used a combination preparation (Herbal vX), making it impossible to attribute outcomes to muira puama alone.
Ferrini et al. (2015) assessed whether daily oral administration, for a period of eight weeks, of a combination of ginger, guaraná, muira puama, and L-citrulline could effectively delay the ongoing corporal fibrosis, smooth muscle cell apoptosis, and cavernosal veno-occlusive dysfunction present in middle-aged rats similar to that seen with the prescription medication tadalafil. The results of the study showed that the orally delivered herbal combination plus L-citrulline appeared to be as effective as daily therapy with the medication in either slowing down or reversing the onset of the histological and functional characteristics of erectile dysfunction.
Evidence assessment: This is preclinical evidence only — the study was conducted in rats and used a combination product, not muira puama alone. No equivalent human RCT exists.
Figueiró et al. (2010, 2011) evaluated the effects of an ethanol extract obtained from muira puama and identified promnesic (improving memory), anti-amnesic, and acetylcholinesterase inhibition properties in laboratory animals (mice) treated orally with the extract. The results of the studies showed that this plant induces acetylcholinesterase inhibition in brain areas relevant to cognition. For this reason, the authors concluded that muira puama extracts could be a potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease in humans.
Research indicates that muira puama may counteract cognitive deficits caused by Alzheimer's disease and improve memory retrieval in mice without affecting the acquisition or consolidation phases of memory.
In mouse models of Alzheimer's disease, the extract reduced the harmful effects of amyloid-beta plaques, the protein clumps associated with the disease. Earlier studies from the same research group had already shown that muira puama acts as an antioxidant in the brain and helps hippocampal cells survive oxygen deprivation.
Muira puama's memory-enhancing properties have been supported by various studies, indicating its promnesic effects and interactions with multiple neurotransmitter systems, including serotonin receptors.
Evidence assessment: Potential use in Alzheimer disease or conditions of cognitive decline has been examined, with studies of P. olacoides in rodents demonstrating improved memory and reversal of cognitive impairment. However, clinical trial data are lacking to recommend use for any indication. All cognitive studies as of the available literature are animal-based (mice); no human clinical trials for cognitive outcomes exist.
Results of an animal study by Piato et al. indicated that muira puama (Ptychopetalum olacoides) possesses antidepressant-like effects. In these antidepressant-like effects, involvement of dopamine, noradrenaline, and serotonin was examined. Researchers suggested that these effects are mediated by beta-adrenergic and D1 dopamine receptors.
P. olacoides (Marapuama) might also possess adaptogen-like properties, as researchers from Brazil reported its counteraction with some of the effects of chronic stress. This plant possesses antioxidant and neuroprotective properties as well as health benefits associated with stressful situations. A study undertaken with mice showed that an extract from muira puama had a stimulating (tonic) effect. For this reason, this plant could possess adaptogen-like characteristics and could be useful for the treatment of stress.
Evidence assessment: All antidepressant and adaptogen data derive from animal studies. No controlled human clinical trials are available in this area.
In a small trial on 21 people with periorbital hyperchromia (dark circles), a skincare product with muira puama, Brazilian ginseng, and Madonna lily improved the appearance of dark circles. In human skin cells, this product reduced inflammation and oxidative damage. The evidence from this small trial cannot be conclusive that muira puama improves dark circles. Larger, more robust clinical trials are required.
There are no quality clinical trials to provide dosing guidance. The dosages below are those cited in the research literature and should not be construed as established recommendations.
Muira puama has a relatively clean safety profile based on what is currently available, but that partly reflects how little formal study it has received. No significant adverse effects have been reported in humans at typical supplement doses.
Information regarding adverse reactions to muira puama is lacking. Mild adverse reactions (often reported with a combination product) might include stomach bloating, discomfort, dyspepsia, nausea, burping, migraine, headache, nervousness, and agitation.
Muira puama has very few reported side effects. The most common ones are mild and include sour stomach and headaches. An herbal mix with muira puama, guarana, ginger, and other herbal extracts caused no adverse effects in healthy volunteers when given twice daily for 28 days.
In preclinical (animal) studies, some researchers noted impairment of short and long-term memory at certain doses and reduced physical activity, which is worth noting given that lower doses appear to enhance memory. This suggests a non-linear, dose-dependent response profile that has not been characterized in humans.
The bark of muira puama has demonstrated a mild, short-lived hypotensive effect. Muira puama may cause short-lived hypotension, since it may direct blood flow away from the heart.
There are no well-documented drug interactions, but this is a gap in the research rather than confirmation of safety. Effects on estrogen receptors have been demonstrated. It is hypothesized that muira puama may interact with estrogen receptors and influence the central nervous system, potentially affecting mood and cognitive functions.
While there are no clinical studies testing this potential adverse effect yet, the herb might interact with nitrates (in a similar way as phosphodiesterase inhibitors) causing a severe drop in blood pressure based on its mechanism of action.
If you are on an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor such as donepezil, caution is warranted before taking any natural remedy such as muira puama, given the additive cholinergic activity that could result.
Use should be avoided during pregnancy and lactation. Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking. Muira puama is contraindicated during pregnancy and lactation due to a lack of safety data.
Special caution is advised for individuals with hormone-sensitive conditions. Because muira puama influences hormone receptors and nitric oxide pathways, people taking hormone therapies or blood pressure medications should be cautious.
The long-term safety of muira puama is unknown due to a lack of research. While it is generally considered to have a low risk of serious side effects at typical doses, the potential for adverse effects and drug interactions exists.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not reviewed muira puama for safety and effectiveness, and it is not approved by the FDA. Muira puama was included in the Brazilian Pharmacopeia of 1956. The species was listed in the Brazilian Pharmacopeia of 1956 and continues to be a component of the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia.
The body of research on muira puama points to its potential benefits in treating sexual dysfunction, depressive symptoms, cognitive impairment, and stress effects. Although promising, further clinical evaluation is necessary to confirm these findings and establish safety and efficacy for human use.
The effectiveness of muira puama in treating these conditions is still under scientific debate. Some smaller studies and anecdotal evidence suggest that it may improve sexual function and increase libido. However, there is a lack of large-scale, high-quality clinical trials to conclusively determine its efficacy for these conditions.
The biggest limitation is the lack of large, controlled human trials. Most of the promising findings come from animal models and laboratory experiments.
Health conditions that Muira puama may help support.
In vitro and in vivo (murine) studies have documented significant antioxidant activity of POEE, including free-radical scavenging and protection of brain tissue from oxidative stress. Antioxidant effects have been replicated in multiple peer-reviewed studies and may underlie several of the herb's neuroprotective properties.
POEE has demonstrated neuroprotective and anti-amnesic effects in rodent aging and Alzheimer's disease models, with AChE inhibition in memory-relevant brain regions, reduction of amyloid-beta-related neuroglial degeneration, and upregulation of nerve growth factor. Elderly Amazonian communities have traditionally favored the plant for age-related cognitive complaints.
Preclinical studies show Ptychopetalum olacoides ethanol extract (POEE) produces dose-dependent antidepressant-like effects in rodent behavioral models. The mechanism appears to involve catecholaminergic (beta-adrenergic and D1 dopamine receptor) pathways rather than serotonin. Traditional use for 'nervous weakness' and lassitude by Amazonian communities aligns with these findings.
Preclinical studies demonstrate that orally administered POEE inhibits acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in cognition-relevant brain areas including the hippocampus and frontal cortex. This cholinergic mechanism—preserving acetylcholine—underlies the enhanced focus and concentration attributed to the herb. Evidence is currently limited to animal models.
Muira Puama (Ptychopetalum olacoides) is known as 'potency wood' in Brazil and has been used in Amazonian traditional medicine as an aphrodisiac. Two early clinical studies by Dr. Jacques Waynberg found it improved libido in 60–85% of men with low desire and erectile function in 50–62%. A more recent clinical trial with a combination product also showed significant benefit.
Multiple preclinical studies in rodents document promnesic (memory-improving) and anti-amnesic effects of POEE, attributable to AChE inhibition in hippocampal memory circuits and serotonin receptor modulation. In an Alzheimer mouse model, the extract attenuated cognitive impairment and neuroglial degeneration. Evidence remains preclinical.
Preclinical studies show POEE modulates multiple neurotransmitter systems: it inhibits acetylcholinesterase (boosting acetylcholine), activates dopamine D1 and beta-adrenergic receptors, and interacts with 5-HT2A serotonin receptors. This multi-target neurotransmitter profile is documented in peer-reviewed pharmacological studies.
Preclinical studies show POEE exhibits adaptogen-like antistress properties, counteracting behavioral and biochemical markers of chronic stress in rodent models. Clinical research has described muira puama extracts as having 'adaptogenic, antifatigue, and antistress' effects, and a root extract has been patented for these properties.
Muira puama has documented traditional use for digestive complaints including upset stomach, bloating, and gastrointestinal discomfort across Amazonian indigenous communities and in formal herbal pharmacopeias. RxList and EBSCO both identify 'upset stomach' and 'gastrointestinal issues' among its established traditional indications. No clinical evidence exists.
Muira Puama (Ptychopetalum olacoides), a Brazilian Amazonian plant, has been used traditionally as an aphrodisiac and male sexual tonic for centuries. Studies suggest it promotes blood flow to erectile tissue and may mimic testosterone function by increasing sexual desire and function via nitric oxide pathways and cavernous smooth muscle relaxation. Men experiencing andropause frequently use Muira Puama for libido and erectile support.
Muira puama's bark and roots have been used traditionally for anxiety and nervous tension in Amazonian and European herbal medicine. EBSCO's authoritative database lists anxiety among its documented traditional therapeutic uses. Notably, at least one preclinical study has reported anxiogenic (anxiety-promoting) rather than anxiolytic effects, making scientific support for anxiety relief absent.
Muira puama is traditionally used for rheumatism and joint pain across Amazonian, European, British, and German herbal medicine traditions. It is listed in the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia and employed in Germany specifically for rheumatism. Both oral and topical uses are documented. No clinical trial evidence exists for this indication.
Muira puama is one of the most historically prominent traditional remedies for chronic debility, fatigue, and low energy in Amazonian folk medicine. It is described across multiple authoritative sources as an 'energy tonic' and 'general health improver,' and its traditional use for debility is documented in the UTEP Herbal Safety database and multiple pharmacopeias.
Muira puama has a long-standing traditional role as an energy tonic and general vitalizer across Amazonian and European herbal medicine. A specially prepared root extract has been patented for its ability to relieve physical and mental fatigue. No rigorous human RCTs specifically targeting energy outcomes have been published.
Muira Puama (Ptychopetalum olacoides) is a Brazilian Amazonian shrub with long traditional use as a sexual tonic and aphrodisiac for erectile dysfunction. An open-label clinical study (1994, Institute of Sexology, Paris) in 262 men with sexual dysfunction reported 51% rated it effective for ED. It was included in the VigRx Plus double-blind RCT that showed IIEF improvements in mild-to-moderate ED men.
Muira puama has documented traditional use across Amazonian, European, and British herbal medicine for menstrual disorders including cramps. It is listed in the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia and used in Germany for menstrual disturbances. No controlled clinical evidence for this specific indication exists.
Muira puama has a centuries-long traditional role as a nervous system tonic ('nerve tonic') in Amazonian Brazil, European herbalism, and the British and German herbal pharmacopeias. It has been used for neurasthenia, paralysis, ataxia, neuralgia, and general nervous weakness. Laboratory evidence of neuroprotective and adaptogenic properties provides biological plausibility.
Muira puama has a traditional reputation as a stamina-enhancing and endurance-supporting tonic in Amazonian indigenous medicine. It is employed as part of the polyherbal 'catuama' preparation used in South America for physical vigor. No human clinical trials specifically assessing endurance or stamina outcomes have been published.
Body systems that Muira puama may help support.
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