Mucuna pruriens (Velvet Bean, Cowhag) extracts are used to improve mood, boost concentration, naturally upregulate testosterone production and enhance overall health.
You can buy Mucuna pruriens supplements online in a number of forms and in complexes with other ingredients that increase dopamine levels, promote focus and energy levels, and support weight loss.
Many also buy Mucuna pruriens because it is a nutrition-dense, protein-rich foodstuff. Research and experimentation continues on velvet bean extracts.
Large-scale human trials with M. pruriens are underway targeting various therapeutic potentials.
Mucuna pruriens is a leguminous plant indigenous to tropical regions of Asia and Africa. It has been an integral therapeutic agent in the Ayurvedic medicinal system for more than three millenia.
Some of its traditional uses are as a treatment for Parkinson’s disease (kampavata), to naturally stimulate testosterone synthesis, to enhance mitochondrial energy production and to improve spermatogenesis.



- Elevates dopamine & norepinephrine
- Boosts mood, focus & motivation
- Improves stress response & libido
Buy Mucuna Pruriens Extracts
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The primary reason for purchasing Mucuna Pruriens capsules is as a source of L-Dopa – the natural precursor to dopamine.
L-Dopa is converted within the brain into the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is linked to mood regulation, the reward cycle, feelings of pleasure, executive function, the ability to concentrate as well as energy metabolism.
Physiologically, dopamine is also used in the control of movements.
When dopamine levels fall too low, Parkinson’s Disease may be diagnosed. arkinson’s disease occurs when the substantia nigra in the brain is unable to produce adequate amounts of dopamine.
Among its various biological and psychological roles, dopamine is responsible for accommodating communications between the substantia nigra and the corpus striatum, which regulates the intentional movement of muscles.
Chronically low dopamine levels cause neuronal abnormalities in the substantia nigra, which in turn causes dyskinesias and other Parkinson’s symptoms. Hence, increasing dopamine levels is a primary goal of Parkinson’s treatments.
Using Mucuna Supplements for Parkinson’s
Many Parkinson’s patients are prescribed Mucuna pruriens products because it contains approximately 5% natural levodopa (L-dopa), the precursor to dopamine. While synthetic L-dopa does help to raise dopamine levels, it is also known to cause a variety of very serious possible side effects, especially with usage for more than one year.
Velvet bean extract supplementation seems to elevate dopamine levels more than synthetic L-dopa administration does and in some cases may cause fewer side effects. Some individuals also prefer the use of natural supplements over pharmaceutical drugs.
Chronic use of certain anti-Parkinson’s pharmaceuticals causes drug-induced-dyskinesias (DID). Quick action onset and increased times between dyskinesis instances make Mucuna pruriens a first-line treatment for the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, among both eastern and western doctors.
Be aware that natural levodopa from velvet bean extracts that you purchase online may interact with any substances known to interact with synthetic L-dopa.
This is of specific concern for those who may buy Mucuna pruriens for narrow-eye glaucoma, anyone with undiagnosed skin disorders, those taking prescription MAOIs and anyone with a health history of malignant tumors.
Speak to your doctor before using Mucuna supplements to ensure there are no contraindications for use given your medical history.
Mucuna Pruriens Uses and Benefits
Diabetics sometimes buy Mucuna pruriens to help reduce after-meal blood-sugar spikes. Velvet bean extracts seem to induce antidiabetic effects in murine tests.
In one study, seven different dosage levels were studied: 5mg/kg, 10mg/kg, 20mg/kg, 30mg/kg, 40mg/kg, 50mg/kg and 100mg/kg of bodyweight.
The subjects were rats which were injected with alloxan to induce plasma glucose rates in excess of 450mg/dL. Levels were reduced by 18.7%, 24.8%, 30.7%, 41.5%, 49.8%, 53.2% and 55.5% respective to increasing doses.
Velvet bean extract supplementation is also known to increase testosterone levels in infertile men. It is unknown whether it increases the testosterone levels of fertile men.
Bodybuilders and other strength training athletes can find Mucuna pruriens supplements for sale online to boost testosterone levels naturally. This may be associated with a lower risk of adverse side effects known to be caused by mainstream TRT (testosterone replacement therapies).
Velvet bean extracts are believed to increase testosterone levels not by increasing testosterone synthesis, but by suppressing prolactin synthesis. Prolactin is a pituitary hormone known to have antilibidic effects and to decrease testosterone synthesis.
The L-dopa in M. pruriens increases serum dopamine levels, which in turn antagonizes prolactin, possibly elevating testosterone levels.
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Natural Medicinal Uses
Velvet bean extracts have been observed to exhibit antioxidant effects. They effectively scavenge for reactive oxygen species (ROS) and slow down the oxidative degradation of lipids.
Uncontrolled generation of ROS molecules and lipid peroxidation are believed to lead to the early onset of aging and to make the body more vulnerable to adverse health conditions. Many consumers buy Mucuna pruriens extracts to improve their immunity and prevent oxidative damage.
This plant has been used for many centuries as a traditional natural medicines. Velvet bean exhibits anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties and is used as an analgesic for pain. It was previously used as a snake bite remedy and to treat scorpion stings.
It is sometimes applied as a topical cream to stimulate blood flow to the skin in patients affected by paralysis and has been used to relieve arthritis pain.
There are certain individuals who should not use velvet bean extracts without a physician’s permission, including pregnant women.
If you are considering buying Mucuna pruriens extracts for supplementation purposes, it’s best to discuss it with a doctor first; especially if you are using antidiabetic, antiparkinson’s, anticancer or other pharmaceutical medications.
Buy Mucuna Pruriens Online
Mucuna pruriens capsules are sold by a small number of online vendors. Capsules typically are sold in 100 mg, 200 mg, or 500 mg dosages. Different supplement manufacturers will use different strengths of extract which may vary in their concentration of L-Dopa.
For example, some brands may provide an extract with a standardized dosage of 20% L-Dopa while other retailers carry at 15% L-Dopa extract.
Due to the varying concentrations, it is important to follow manufacturer instructions for appropriate dosages for the specific product you are purchasing. You can buy Mucuna Pruriens 100 capsules of 500 mg from Absorb Health for $13.99, which is a $0.14 cost per dosage.
- Katzenschlager, R et al. "Mucuna Pruriens in Parkinson's Disease: A Double Blind Clinical and Pharmacological Study." Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry 75.12 (2004): 1672–1677. PMC. Web. 12 July 2015.
- Lieu, Christopher A. et al. "A Water Extract of Mucuna Pruriens Provides Long-Term Amelioration of Parkinsonism with Reduced Risk for Dyskinesias."Parkinsonism & related disorders 16.7 (2010): 458–465. PMC. Web. 12 July 2015.
- Ghosh A1, Kanthasamy A, Joseph J, Anantharam V, Srivastava P, Dranka BP, Kalyanaraman B,Kanthasamy AG.Anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects of an orally active apocynin derivative in pre-clinical models of Parkinson's disease. J Neuroinflammation. 2012 Oct 23;9:241. doi: 10.1186/1742-2094-9-241.
- Lieu CA1, Kunselman AR, Manyam BV, Venkiteswaran K, Subramanian T. A water extract of Mucuna pruriens provides long-term amelioration of parkinsonism with reduced risk for dyskinesias. Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2010 Aug;16(7):458-65. doi: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2010.04.015. Epub 2010 May 31.
- Lampariello, Lucia Raffaella et al. "The Magic Velvet Bean of Mucuna Pruriens."Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine 2.4 (2012): 331–339. Print.
- Katzenschlager R1, Evans A, Manson A, Patsalos PN, Ratnaraj N, Watt H, Timmermann L, Van der Giessen R, Lees AJ. Mucuna pruriens in Parkinson's disease: a double blind clinical and pharmacological study. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2004 Dec;75(12):1672-7.
- Singhal B1, Lalkaka J, Sankhla C. Epidemiology and treatment of Parkinson's disease in India. Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2003 Aug;9 Suppl 2:S105-9.
- Misra L1, Wagner H. Extraction of bioactive principles from Mucuna pruriens seeds. Indian J Biochem Biophys. 2007 Feb;44(1):56-60.
- Majekodunmi SO1, Oyagbemi AA, Umukoro S, Odeku OA. Evaluation of the anti-diabetic properties of Mucuna pruriens seed extract. Asian Pac J Trop Med. 2011 Aug;4(8):632-6. doi: 10.1016/S1995-7645(11)60161-2.
- Manyam BV1, Dhanasekaran M, Hare TA. Neuroprotective effects of the antiparkinson drug Mucuna pruriens. Phytother Res. 2004 Sep;18(9):706-12.
Article last updated on: May 6th, 2018 by Nootriment