Alternative names: Muira Puama, Potency Wood, Mara Puama, Marapama
Indigenous peoples have used marapuama for improving sexual desire, fatigue, neuromuscular problems, paralysis, beriberi, rheumatism, and as a preventive for baldness.
Early European explorers discovered its benefits and brought it back to Europe.
Historically, all parts of marapuama have been used medicinally, but the bark and root are the main parts used.
Marapuama is said to benefit libido and erectile dysfunction / impotence, and increase energy, stamina, sexual fantasies, and the ability to reach – and intensity of – orgasms. It is also being increasingly used to treat menstrual cramps, PMS, depression, dysentery, and central nervous system disorders. It is traditionally known as a nerve tonic and is used to treat nerve pain.
In modern Brazilian herbal medicine, marapuama still has a high reputation as a sexual stimulant and a powerful aphrodisiac. It is also used as a neuromuscular tonic for weakness and paralysis, dyspepsia, menstrual disturbances, chronic rheumatism (applied topically), sexual impotency, influenza, and central nervous system disorders.
Marapuama, when used in high doses, can lead to insomnia.
Marapuama, also called potency wood, has a history of use for reviving libido, potency, and tonifying the nervous system. In a study conducted in Paris, France, of 262 male patients experiencing lack of sexual desire and the inability to attain or maintain an erection, 51% of patients with erectile dysfunctions felt that marapuama was beneficial.
In a study conducted in Paris, France, of 262 male patients experiencing lack of sexual desire and the inability to attain or maintain an erection, 62% of the patients with loss of libido reported that the extract of muira puama "had a dynamic effect".