The History Of Guarana And Its Use In Herbal Medicine
Other Common Names: Paullinia, Guarana Bread, Brazilian Cocoa, Uabano, Uaranzeiro, Paullinia Sorbilis, Paullinia Cupana
Range: Brazil, The genus Paullinia is predominantly neotropical, extending from Mexico and the southern United States to Argentina.
This climbing shrub took the name of its genus from C. F. Paullini,
a German medical botanist who died 1712. The seeds of Paullinia
Sorbilis are often used or mixed with those of P. Cupana. Guarana is
only made by the Guaranis, a tribe of South American Indians.
Guarana is undoubtedly among the stimulants that are attracting most
attention from the developed countries nowadays. All kinds of qualities
are being attributed to it, from that of being a simple stimulant to an
aphrodisiac, and it is now a must in the herbalist's shop. It was
already cultivated at the time of the discovery and, from the
seventeenth century, its seed occupied a prominent place among the
products used for local consumption and export in the region of Manaus
in Amazonia.
The use of guarana in Europe was documented in 1775, but information
on its production up to the beginning of this century is very
uncertain. The only information available for last century relates to
the export of 262 arrobas (1 arroba = 11.5 kg) to Europe in 1852.
The guarana carbonated drinks industry began in 1907 and the product
became Brazil's national drink during the 1940s. In 1973, the Law on
Juices laid down regulations for the use of guarana, defining the
maximum and minimum concentrations for carbonated drinks, syrups and
other products. In 1981, EMBRAPA's Agricultural Research Centre of the
Semi-Humid Tropics (CPATU) developed soluble guarana. Nowadays, guarana
is marketed as sticks and soluble or insoluble powder and is used
industrially for the production of carbonated drinks, syrups and
herbalists' products.
After the seeds are shelled and washed they are roasted for six
hours, then put into sacks and shaken till their outside shell comes
off, they are then pounded into a fine powder and made into a dough
with water, and rolled into cylindrical pieces; these are then dried in
the sun or over a slow fire, till they become very hard and are then a
rough and reddish-brown color, marbled with the seeds. They break with
an irregular fracture, have little smell, taste astringent, and bitter
like chocolate without its oiliness, and in color like chocolate
powder; it swells up and partially dissolves in water.
A crystallizable principle, called guaranine, identical with
caffeine, which exists in the seeds, united with tannic acid,
catechutannic acid starch, and a greenish fixed oil.
Nervine, tonic, slightly narcotic stimulant, aphrodisiac febrifuge.
A beverage is made from the guaran sticks, by grating half a
tablespoonful into sugar and water and drinking it like tea. The
Brazilian miners drink this constantly and believe it to be a
preventive of many diseases, as well as a most refreshing beverage.
Their habit in travelling is to carry the stick or a lump of it in
their pockets, with a palate bone or scale of a large fish with which
to grate it. P. Cupana is also a favorite national diet drink, the
seeds are mixed with Cassava and water, and left to ferment until
almost putrid, and in this state it is the favorite drink of the
Orinoco Indians. From the tannin it contains it is useful for mild
forms of leucorrhoea, diarrhea, etc., but its chief use in Europe and
America is for headache, especially if of a rheumatic nature. It is a
gentle excitant and serviceable where the brain is irritated or
depressed by mental exertion, or where there is fatigue or exhaustion
from hot weather. It has the same chemical composition as caffeine,
theine and cocaine, and the same physiological action. Its benefit is
for nervous headache or the distress that accompanies menstruation, or
exhaustion following dissipation. It is not recommended for chronic
headache or in cases where it is not desirable to increase the
temperature, or excite the heart or increase arterial tension. Dysuria
often follows its administration. It is used by the Indians for bowel
complaints, but is not indicated in cases of constipation or blood
pressure.
Known Hazards: As with any caffeinated product, guarana may
cause insomnia, trembling, anxiety, palpitations, urinary frequency,
and hyperactivity. Guarana should be avoided during pregnancy and
lactation.
Other Common Names: Paullinia, Guarana Bread, Brazilian Cocoa, Uabano, Uaranzeiro, Paullinia Sorbilis, Paullinia Cupana
Range: Brazil, The genus Paullinia is predominantly neotropical, extending from Mexico and the southern United States to Argentina.
This climbing shrub took the name of its genus from C. F. Paullini,
a German medical botanist who died 1712. The seeds of Paullinia
Sorbilis are often used or mixed with those of P. Cupana. Guarana is
only made by the Guaranis, a tribe of South American Indians.
Guarana is undoubtedly among the stimulants that are attracting most
attention from the developed countries nowadays. All kinds of qualities
are being attributed to it, from that of being a simple stimulant to an
aphrodisiac, and it is now a must in the herbalist's shop. It was
already cultivated at the time of the discovery and, from the
seventeenth century, its seed occupied a prominent place among the
products used for local consumption and export in the region of Manaus
in Amazonia.
The use of guarana in Europe was documented in 1775, but information
on its production up to the beginning of this century is very
uncertain. The only information available for last century relates to
the export of 262 arrobas (1 arroba = 11.5 kg) to Europe in 1852.
The guarana carbonated drinks industry began in 1907 and the product
became Brazil's national drink during the 1940s. In 1973, the Law on
Juices laid down regulations for the use of guarana, defining the
maximum and minimum concentrations for carbonated drinks, syrups and
other products. In 1981, EMBRAPA's Agricultural Research Centre of the
Semi-Humid Tropics (CPATU) developed soluble guarana. Nowadays, guarana
is marketed as sticks and soluble or insoluble powder and is used
industrially for the production of carbonated drinks, syrups and
herbalists' products.
After the seeds are shelled and washed they are roasted for six
hours, then put into sacks and shaken till their outside shell comes
off, they are then pounded into a fine powder and made into a dough
with water, and rolled into cylindrical pieces; these are then dried in
the sun or over a slow fire, till they become very hard and are then a
rough and reddish-brown color, marbled with the seeds. They break with
an irregular fracture, have little smell, taste astringent, and bitter
like chocolate without its oiliness, and in color like chocolate
powder; it swells up and partially dissolves in water.
A crystallizable principle, called guaranine, identical with
caffeine, which exists in the seeds, united with tannic acid,
catechutannic acid starch, and a greenish fixed oil.
Nervine, tonic, slightly narcotic stimulant, aphrodisiac febrifuge.
A beverage is made from the guaran sticks, by grating half a
tablespoonful into sugar and water and drinking it like tea. The
Brazilian miners drink this constantly and believe it to be a
preventive of many diseases, as well as a most refreshing beverage.
Their habit in travelling is to carry the stick or a lump of it in
their pockets, with a palate bone or scale of a large fish with which
to grate it. P. Cupana is also a favorite national diet drink, the
seeds are mixed with Cassava and water, and left to ferment until
almost putrid, and in this state it is the favorite drink of the
Orinoco Indians. From the tannin it contains it is useful for mild
forms of leucorrhoea, diarrhea, etc., but its chief use in Europe and
America is for headache, especially if of a rheumatic nature. It is a
gentle excitant and serviceable where the brain is irritated or
depressed by mental exertion, or where there is fatigue or exhaustion
from hot weather. It has the same chemical composition as caffeine,
theine and cocaine, and the same physiological action. Its benefit is
for nervous headache or the distress that accompanies menstruation, or
exhaustion following dissipation. It is not recommended for chronic
headache or in cases where it is not desirable to increase the
temperature, or excite the heart or increase arterial tension. Dysuria
often follows its administration. It is used by the Indians for bowel
complaints, but is not indicated in cases of constipation or blood
pressure.
Known Hazards: As with any caffeinated product, guarana may
cause insomnia, trembling, anxiety, palpitations, urinary frequency,
and hyperactivity. Guarana should be avoided during pregnancy and
lactation.
- Grieve. M. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
- Plant Production and Protection Series No. 26. FAO, Rome, Italy. p.
223-228. Species of Paullinia with economic potential - E. Lleras
(CENARGEN/EMBRAPA, Brasilia, Brazil).
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