Why is Mucuna Pruriens Banned in Canada? Regulatory Status

Mucuna pruriens is a dietary supplement that is sold in many countries around the world, but is not legal for sale in Canada. A number of supplements containing Mucuna pruriens seed extract have recently been recalled by retailers in Canada.

Health Canada is responsible for overseeing the regulation of dietary supplements in Canada. In order for an ingredient to be legally included in a dietary supplement, it must be considered a Natural Health Product under the definition set out by Health Canada.

Mucuna pruriens has not received authorization to be marketed as a supplement in Canada because its seeds contain small quantities of Levodopa (L-Dopa), which is considered a Schedule F prescription drug.

As a result, supplement formulations and single ingredient products that contain Mucuna extract which are legally sold in the United States cannot be sold within Canada. However, Canadian residents are legally allowed to import this product for personal use, so long as they only purchase it in quantities equal to or less than a three month supply.

Mucuna Pruriens

Herbal Supplement

Mood

Nootropic

Body -building

How It Works:

• Elevates dopamine & norepinephrine
• Boosts mood, focus & motivation
• Improves stress response & libido

Dosage:

Between 500 - 1000 mg per day

Safety:

Rated Possibly Safe

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Mucuna Pruriens Use in Canada

Mucuna pruriens is a legume that is native to Africa and India. It vines out and develops seed pods which are covered in prickly fuzz, which is why it was given the name “velvet bean“.

Since Vedic times in India, ayurvedic medical practitioners have used M. pruriens as a basic therapeutic agent. It was traditionally used to manage Parkinson’s (kampavata) symptoms, an aphrodisiac, a mood enhancer and a cure for snakebites.

Also, Mucuna pruriens is believed to balance pituitary hormones, improve male fertility issues, remedy symptoms of erectile dysfunction and more. It is also frequently taken as a nootropic supplement to promote focus, motivation and mental clarity.

As a natural source of L-dopa, the precursor to dopamine, Mucuna may have a number of therapeutic benefits. However, there has been relatively little human research into this supplement and most of the information available regarding its use is based on historical tradition.

Mucuna pruriens may also cause side effects, especially when it is overused. There is significant research into the safety and efficacy of the pharmaceutical agent L-dopa which shows that excess dosages can cause adverse effects and changes in personality.

Testosterone Boosting with Mucuna Pruriens

As in the United States and much of the rest of the developed world, testosterone replacement therapies (TRTs) for Canadian men are becoming very prevalent.

Middle aged and older men are experiencing chronic fatigue, low sex drives, irritability, sexual dysfunction and various other issues induced by chronically low testosterone levels.

The causes of this “Low T” prevalence are many and include poor dietary choices, sedentary living, ineffective or lacking stress management and more. The issue is that TRTs are known to possibly cause a variety of very serious side effects when used for long periods of time.

Men with low testosterone levels use Mucuna pruriens to naturally boost testosterone synthesis.

Velvet bean extracts contain concentrated amounts of levodopamine, the precursor to dopamine. One of dopamine’s many biologic roles is that is acts to upregulate the secretion of prolactin inhibitory factor (PIF).

By doing so, it decreases prolactin production. As prolactin is known to have a negative effect on testosterone synthesis, upregulating dopamine production acts to encourage testosterone production by suppressing prolactin.

Treating Male Infertility with Mucuna Extract

Ayurvedic doctors have been using velvet beans to treat the symptoms of male infertility and erectile dysfunction for more than 3000 years. Clinical research shows that it may be effective, but more studies are required to determine efficacy and safety.

In one study involving 150 men with infertility, 6 months of daily supplementation with 5 grams of Mucuna pruriens was found to:

• Normalize catecholamine levels of dopamine, adrenaline and noradrenaline in blood and semen samples;
• Upregulate testosterone synthesis, particularly in subjects that presented excessively low baseline sperm counts;
• Increase rates of conception by 22%;
• Improve sperm count, sperm motility, sperm quality and semen quantity;

Mucuna Pruriens and Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease develops as neurons in the substantia nigra in the midbrain degrade over time. Dopamine is largely manufactured in the substantia nigra. When the small number of neurons involved in dopamine synthesis begin to die off, we lose the ability to synthesize sufficient amounts of dopamine from L-dopa (levodopa).

Since the 1970s, the best therapeutic course for treating the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease has been to increase bioavailable levodopa in order to upregulate dopamine synthesis.

Some naturopathic physicians in Canada recommend using Mucuna pruriens seed extract as a first-line treatment option for Parkinson’s. There is no known cure for Parkinson’s, but increasing bioavailable dopamine impedes the symptoms.

Patients may experience fewer episodes of uncontrolled motor activity and a general increase in quality of life.

However, mucuna has not been approved in Canada for the treatment of Parkinson’s symptoms. This usage is largely based on the historical tradition of treating Parkinson’s (kampavata) symptoms based on Ayurvedic medicine.

Additional Uses for Mucuna Pruriens

Mucuna pruriens demonstrates antioxidant, antidiabetic, antivenom, antimicrobial, prosexual, cardioprotective and other properties in clinical tests. Its full scope of possible therapeutic uses is not defined yet.

The following are some additional findings attributed to the use of velvet bean extracts:

• Enhancing the absorption and utilization of glucose, increasing insulin sensitivity and decreasing spikes in blood sugar levels;
• Improving the metabolism efficiency of fats and proteins, possibly improving fat mass/lean mass ratios;
• Treating parasitic worm infestations, particularly when feeding in the digestive system;
• Increasing epidermal blood flow, helping to alleviate various skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis;
• Ameliorating adverse joint and bone conditions;
• Decreasing excessive prolactin synthesis (hyperprolactinemia);

The long history of velvet bean usage suggests that it is safe when used in appropriate dosages for short periods of time. However, more research is needed to define the full scope of potential side effects, interactions and contraindications.

If you are pregnant, nursing, scheduled for surgery, diabetic or are using any prescription medications, then please talk with a doctor before beginning to use this supplement.

Because mucuna pruriens is not authorized as an ingredient in dietary supplements by Health Canada, you will not be able to purchase this product at a local health food store. However, if your naturopathic doctor recommends this supplement, you may be able to purchase it online and have it imported to Canada.

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