Mucuna Pruriens is a 3-in-1 herbal drug. Doctors all over the world use it to treat the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Herbalists vouch for this drug’s ability to treat male infertility. And laypersons use it to reduce stress, improve focus, memory, and attention spans.
For a natural medicine that is miles off earning FDA approval, the fact that Dopa Mucuna has so many potential uses might ring alarm bells. You may think that this is another in the long line of drugs that claim to be the silver-bullet solution to all of life’s problems.
Except that there’s one thing that separates it from wannabes. There is loads of scientific evidence backing the claims mentioned in the first paragraph. Various studies and human trials have shown that Mucuna Pruriens is indeed capable of delivering the goods.
Intrigued by this finding? Then you might want to read this critical review to the end. We’ll guide you on what Mucuna Pruriens is, how it works, and the benefits it’s capable of offering. At the same time, we’ll look at this herbal drug’s side effects.
What is Mucuna Pruriens?
Mucuna Pruriens, or Velvet Bean, is a bean that sprouts from vines in multiple places worldwide. Its specialty is that it has high L-Dopa content. L-Dopa is a precursor to dopamine, the “feel-good” hormone associated with feelings of pleasure, along with learning, memory, and other functions.
That’s why Mucuna Pruriens supplementation increases dopamine levels in the body. This explains why this herbal drug might help ease the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, which is caused by low levels of dopamine in the brain (due to the death of dopamine-producing cells). [R]
This might also explain how it could help treat male infertility. One study has drawn a link between high stress levels and reduced sperm motility & sperm concentration. By elevating your mood with an injection of L-Dopa, Mucuna Pruriens might prevent or treat impotence. [R]
Little wonder, then, that this drug helps keep several low dopamine symptoms at bay, including binge eating, negative thoughts, persistent constipation, among others. However, as is the case with other dopamine supplements, its overdose can be risky.
Overview of Benefits and Side Effects
Here’s a quick overview of this substance’s benefits and potential side effects:
Benefits
- Relieves Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease
- Treats Male Infertility
- Improves Mood and Memory
- Reduces Stress and Depression
- … And Many More
Side Effects
- Gastrointestinal Discomfort
- Might Disrupt Sleep
Overdose leads to most of these side effects
How Does Mucuna Pruriens Work?
Mucuna Pruriens works by raising dopamine levels in the brain. It does that thanks to an amino acid called L Dopa, an immediate precursor to dopamine. L Dopa is one of the most significant compounds found in Mucuna Pruriens. It is converted to dopamine by an aromatic enzyme in the blood. [R]
Research has shown that Mucuna Pruriens successfully raises dopamine levels in humans, particularly those with Parkinson’s disease. Some studies have gone so far as to prove that this supplement is as effective as any at increasing dopamine levels in Parkinson’s patients. [R] [R]
What is more, those without Parkinson’s disease may also experience an increase in their dopamine levels after taking Mucuna Pruriens. One study showed that infertile men who took 5 grams of this substance in powder form every day for three months got a dopamine boost. [R]
Animal studies have gone one step ahead. One carried on mice showed that this substance has an antidepressant effect due to increased dopamine production. This gives credence to rumors that in humans, too, Velvet beans boost happiness levels and sex drive. [R]
Mucuna Pruriens Benefits
Mucuna Pruriens offers various health benefits, including reducing the symptoms of nervous disorders, elevating mood, improving memory, learning, focus, and other functions. Tribal communities have long used Mucuna Pruriens extract as an antidote for snakebite.
One study has also linked Mucuna Pruriens to an improvement in male fertility. The study was carried out for six months on 150 male subjects ages between 18 and 44. It found that daily consumption of 5g dried Mucuna Pruriens powder improved sperm motility and sperm count in 75 men. [R]
Here are the proven benefits of Mucuna Pruriens:
- Eases Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease
- Treats Male Infertility
- Improves Mood and Memory
- Reduces Stress and Anxiety
- Might Boost Antioxidants
Let’s expound on all these benefits.
1) Relieves Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease
Parkinson’s disease occurs when nerve cells responsible for producing dopamine are impaired. The resulting drop in dopamine levels in the brain causes tremors in the body. It also makes the limbs go stiff and causes slowness of movement. An estimated 1 million people in the US have this disease. [R]
That’s where the bad news ends. Various studies have shown that Dopa Mucuna Pruriens seed extract might help reduce symptoms in PD patients. Patients experienced an improvement in motor control after taking this powder. A 5 stars positive review credits it for reducing tremors in PD patients. [R]
2) Might Treat Male Infertility
According to the John Hopkins Institute University School of Medicine, unhealthy sperm is the most common cause of male infertility. Either the sperm might be abnormally shaped or immature. In other cases, the sperm quality might be too low. Or its concentration might be too small. [R]
Mucuna Pruriens helps treat all these issues. Various studies have shown that it helps improve sperm quality, sperm motility, and sperm concentration. Taking as little as 5g Mucuna Pruriens daily for 90 days was enough for infertile men to experience raised sperm quality. [R]
3) Reduces Stress
A double-blind trial has found that Mucuna Pruriens reduces stress in chronically stressed men. The trial was conducted for 1 – 6 months on 60 subjects. All of the trial’s participants were undergoing clinical screening at the time. At the conclusion of the trial, their stress levels had dropped. [R]
This trial confirmed the results obtained from an earlier study. One that found Mucuna Pruriens seeds controlling stress in aged rats at a 75mg/kg daily dose. Taken together, both these studies seem to confirm what herbalists already know. Mucuna Pruriens might reduce stress in healthy subjects. [R]
4) Improves Mood
Similar to phenibut, Mucuna Pruriens improves mood by increasing dopamine levels in the brain. Dopamine regulates how you feel and plays a crucial role in the brain’s reward and pleasure systems. Its elevated levels result in feelings of well-being, which is why it’s also called the “feel-good hormone”.
Keep in mind that dopamine doesn’t make you feel happy. That is the role of serotonin, which also regulates sleep and digestion. The function of dopamine is limited to making you feel good about yourself. Perhaps that’s why reviewers say that Mucuna Pruriens doesn’t let them get depressed.
5) Improves Memory
An animal study conducted by the UN Food and Agricultural Organization found that rats given Mucuna Pruriens exhibited 35% greater memory recall than members of the group who were on a placebo. All of them were given 150 – 200g of this supplement per kilogram body weight. [R]
That Mucuna Pruriens improves memory should surprise nobody. There’s a universal consensus among scientists that dopamine has a direct impact on memory formation. In fact, a notable reduction in working memory is one of the telltale signs that you could do with more dopamine in your system. [R]
6) Boosts Motivation
According to a recent survey from the Pew Research center, more than 40% of US adults under 50 are finding it hard to motivate themselves. That’s not the worst part. The ratio of those between 18 and 29 who find it challenging to motivate themselves stands at a staggering 53%. [R]
Mucuna Pruriens might have a silver-bullet solution for these people. Various human trials have drawn a link between this substance and an increase in motivation. The increase in dopamine, brought about by Mucuna Pruriens’ L Dopa, is the line that connects the two.
7) Might Boost Antioxidants
Antioxidants play a crucial role in keeping you healthy. They protect your cells from the attacks of free radicals, keeping heart disease, cancer, and other illnesses at bay. Antioxidants also come in handy when your body has been exposed to an illness. They reverse some of the damage caused by the disease.
Recent research has found that Mucuna Pruriens may deliver the goods on both counts. This natural substance might boost antioxidants and destroy free radicals. However, since this research was in vitro (performed outside a living organism), we’re still waiting for human trials to be fully sure. [R]
Mucuna Pruriens Side Effects
In a trial, Mucuna Pruriens successfully increased nausea in a sizable number of participants. This substance caused gastrointestinal discomfort among users. But in the majority of the cases, the intensity of this side effect was low. And the feeling of nausea went away within a short passage of time.
You might experience insomnia if you overdose on this substance. Dopamine inhibits norepinephrine, the hormone which stimulates cortisol, aka the sleep hormone. It makes you feel more alert by forcing your body to “wake up”. So you might not want to take Mucuna Pruriens just before bedtime.
Less common side effects include headache, agitation, and delusions. In rare cases, you might also experience pounding heartbeat, agitation, and confusion. However, this happens in sporadic cases, and most of the time, overdose is to blame for such adverse effects.
Like other herbs, the complete safety profile of Mucuna Pruriens isn’t known. There is always a risk of it interfering with other medications or supplements you might be taking. That’s why ask a doctor to provide medical advice before consuming this powder.
Mucuna Pruriens Dosage
In human studies on Parkinson’s disease and fertility, participants were given a daily dose of 5g Mucuna Pruriens to good effect. For the first few weeks of taking this supplement, you might want to stick to this dose or as close to this dose as possible
Users taking Mucuna Pruriens for improving mood, memory, and overall well being suggest sticking to the exact dosage – 500 mg up to two times daily. Adhering to this dosage might help you avoid the side effects associated with overdosing on L Dopa supplements.
A typical Mucuna Pruriens course lasts for 60 – 90 days. Anyone who hasn’t taken nootropics before would do well to stick to the lower end of the period. Take a 30-day break after completing the course to allow your system to retain its normal functioning.
Remember to take this supplement early in the morning. Or 30-45 minutes before a workout. Try not to take it in the evening at night. Mucuna Pruriens raises dopamine levels in the system, making it difficult to fall asleep if you take it close to bedtime.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where to buy Mucuna Pruriens?
It’s recommended that you buy Mucuna Pruriens from Science Bio. All of Science Bio’s supplements come with publicly available lab reports, showcasing their safety and efficacy. Science Bio also backs its products with a 100% satisfaction guarantee and 30-day moneyback guarantee.
How long does it take for Mucuna Pruriens to work?
Results obtained from studies on Parkinson’s disease patients show that Mucuna Pruriens starts working within half an hour (34 minutes to be precise) after administration. Animal studies, however, put the time at 24 hours before its effects in the system are visible.
Can you take Mucuna Pruriens before bed?
Taking Mucuna Pruriens before bed might make it difficult for you to go to sleep. It increases dopamine, the hormone associated with wakefulness. Dopamine makes your body feel alert and makes it challenging for you to enjoy a shut-eye.
Conclusion
Mucuna Pruriens offers various health benefits. Parkinson’s disease patients might count on this drug to ease the symptoms of the disease and improve motor functions. Infertile men could trust this drug to enhance sperm production, motility, and concentration.
Healthy users, too, have lots of reasons to go for this supplement. Mucuna Pruriens increases dopamine levels in the brain to boost memory, mood, and wakefulness. It might also boost antioxidants and destroy free radicals in the body, while also giving you more energy.
If you’ve liked what you have read so far about Mucuna Pruriens, and have decided to give it a try, you can buy it from Science Bio. Science Bio delivers this product at a competitive price you’d be lucky to get anywhere else on the market.
Plus, Science Bio supplies Mucuna Pruriens in a UV-resistant jar to minimize degradation. You also get a 30-day moneyback guarantee and a 100% satisfaction guarantee on your purchase.