Mucuna Pruriens Side Effects, Safety and Tolerance

What are the risks of Mucuna pruriens side effects from using this popular mood enhancing supplement?

This natural supplement, derived from the seeds of a tropical leguminous plant, is full of the amino acid L-Dopa, a chemical which is also produced by our own bodies. L-Dopa is a precursor to several key neural hormones, including Dopamine.

It has informally been used as a medicinal therapy for countless centuries in traditional medicine, and has been prescribed by modern medicine for very serious nervous system disorders like Parkinson’s Disease.

Many healthy users will take Mucuna pruriens for enhanced concentration and improved sexual function.

However, there are several known side effects if dosage is incorrect. Here’s what is known about how Mucuna works, and how best to avoid any possible side effects.

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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The Mucuna Plant’s Famous Itch

Mucuna pruriens is a tall, leafy plant that is native to certain tropical climates within China, India, Africa, and the Caribbean.

It has mainly been used as a traditional remedy for snakebite, though its mood enhancing, energizing qualities have also made it a popular additive to coffee and tea.

There are two main types of Mucuna, one with silky hairs on the seed pods; these are commonly called “velvet bean.” The other varieties have stinging hairs on their seed pods, and are often called cowhage or cowitch. When used traditionally, the most common Mucuna pruriens side effects come from the source plant itself.

Anyone who’s every touched a stinging variety of this very tall, leafy plant will tell you they probably wish that they hadn’t – its hair-like fibers cause severe itching when they come into contact with human skin.

This is caused by Serotonin and a protein called mucunain present on the stinging hairs found on Mucuna seed pods. Traditional solutions include rubbing tobacco and cow dung on the affected areas.

It’s important to note that this hazard does not persist once the plant has been prepared for use as an extract supplement. The mature beans and leaves of the plant are picked, dried, and crushed, then the L-Dopa within is extracted. The resulting powder can be touched without fear.

How Mucuna Works in the Body

Mucuna pruriens is highly bioavailable once it enters the body. The L-Dopa contained within is able to cross the blood brain barrier and interface directly with the brain and central nervous system.

L-Dopa is a direct precursor to the neurotransmitter Dopamine, which in turn is a precursor to Norepinephrine (Noradrenaline) and, indirectly, Epinephrine (Adrenaline). These hormones are known to regulate energy, create intense feelings of euphoria and physical pleasure, and aid in muscle coordination and movement.

Mucuna pruriens has several excellent benefits for mind and body that outweigh the possible side effects for most people. Most dramatically, the Dopamine produced from Mucuna’s L-Dopa can act as a powerful mood enhancer.

Users report feeling peaceful, euphoric, and pleasantly sensitive to sensory input like touch. Epinephrine and Norepinephrine give a notable boost to energy and focus, without the edgy qualities that might come from a dose of caffeine. Users report that jittery nerves are not among significant Mucuna pruriens side effects.

You may have seen Mucuna products marketed as sexual health boosters. Mucuna has been used as an aphrodisiac in traditional Ayurvedic Indian medicine for many years. Today, some people will use Mucuna to boost sexual desire and arousal.

In men with fertility issues, Mucuna has been seen to increase potency and sexual performance, boost testosterone, and improve semen quality and quantity. Additionally, Mucuna has antioxidant qualities which may work to protect sperm from free radical damage. More research is needed in this area on healthy men, and also on women, as studies in these groups are lacking.

The L-Dopa in Mucuna is also believed to help stimulate production of testosterone and human growth hormone, which may aid in the growing of lean muscle mass. The extract is widely sold on body building websites for this reason. Research on this is limited though, and more research is still needed to confirm these effects.

Use of Mucuna as a Medicinal

Due to its L-Dopa content, Mucuna pruriens has been suggested as a therapy for people suffering from the degenerative condition Parkinson’s Disease.

It has been shown to correct a Dopamine imbalance in these patients, and improve both cognitive function and muscle control overall.

There is some preliminary evidence that some Mucuna pruriens preparations may help improve symptoms of Parkinson’s disease when used in combination with conventional drugs such as amantadine, selegiline, and anticholinergic agents. There have also been some studies using Mucuna as an alternative natural source of L-Dopa.

One study found that the onset of action, duration of action, and the levels of serum L-Dopa were higher using a 30g dose of Mucuna pruriens powder compared to 200 mg of conventional Levodopa and Carbidopa. The faster onset of action and longer duration of action was not associated with an increase in the negative side effects that can be seen with L-Dopa, specifically dyskinesia (abnormal, uncontrolled, and involuntary movements).

The researchers suggested that Mucuna as a natural source of L-Dopa may possess advantages over conventional L-Dopa preparations in the long term management of PD.

Research on Mucuna pruriens has been very promising so far, especially in relation to its use for Parkinson’s disease, however more research is still needed. At this time there is still insufficient reliable evidence for the Natural Medicines database to rate the effectiveness of Mucuna for its most common uses. At this time the FDA has not approved Mucuna pruriens as a drug to prevent or treat any conditions, and it is available as a dietary supplement only.

Recommended Dosages and Known Mucuna Side Effects

Proper dosage is dependent on many different factors including age, weight, and the reason for taking a supplement. It is recommended that you speak with your doctor to help determine the best dosage for your individual needs. The following dosage recommendations are general guidelines only, based on the average dosage reported by users; your dosage may be different.

The typical best dosage for Mucuna is under a gram. Individual sensitivities will dictate if the amount is closer to the low or high end of the gram.

The best approach is to start at 100 mg and note effects. Then, if more effects are desired the amount can be increased in increments of 100 mg. 500 mg is the median dose at which most people report feeling improved energy, concentration, and sexual desire.

However, at doses above a gram or more, you will be at a greater risk for Mucuna pruriens side effects. While smaller doses are very easy to tolerate for most people, it’s important not to overload your system with more L-Dopa than it can effectively process. This will not lead to more benefits and should be avoided.

Mucuna has been rated by the Natural Medicines database as Possibly Safe when taken orally and appropriately by adults. There is insufficient research done on use in pregnant women, nursing women, and children, therefore use in these groups is not recommended.

There are many contraindications between Mucuna and various health conditions, medications, supplements, and drugs. It is highly recommended that you speak with your doctor before starting use, especially if you are taking antidiabetic drugs, antipsychotic drugs, Methyldopa, or MAOIs; or have diabetes, cardiovascular disease, liver disease, or melanoma.

In adults with no contraindications, Mucuna pruriens is generally well tolerated, and most people do not experience any side effects. Most Mucuna pruriens side effects are a result of improper dosage.

If too high of a dosage is taken, the most commonly experienced side effects abdominal bloating and nausea. Some users have reported experiencing vomiting, headaches, and sleeplessness. Other more serious side effects, like pounding heartbeat, high blood pressure, hair loss, and symptoms of psychosis including confusion, agitation, hallucinations, and delusions are also possible.

This is why dosage should be respected with this supplement. Again, no more than 500 mg a day is generally necessary to experience all of Mucuna’s effects. If you take Mucuna too frequently, you may start to develop tolerances over time which cause you to increase dosage too quickly.

This supplement is best used occasionally, and not as a part of daily regimen. Taken responsibly, it can safely and effectively improve your quality of life.

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