The History Of Guarana And Its Use In Herbal Medicine

Other Common Names: Paullinia, Guarana Bread, Brazilian Cocoa, Uabano, Uaranzeiro, Paullinia Sorbilis, Paullinia Cupana

Range: Brazil, The genus Paullinia is predominantly neotropical, extending from Mexico and the southern United States to Argentina.

This climbing shrub took the name of its genus from C. F. Paullini, a German medical botanist who died 1712. The seeds of Paullinia Sorbilis are often used or mixed with those of P. Cupana. Guarana is only made by the Guaranis, a tribe of South American Indians.

Guarana is undoubtedly among the stimulants that are attracting most attention from the developed countries nowadays. All kinds of qualities are being attributed to it, from that of being a simple stimulant to an aphrodisiac, and it is now a must in the herbalist's shop. It was already cultivated at the time of the discovery and, from the seventeenth century, its seed occupied a prominent place among the products used for local consumption and export in the region of Manaus in Amazonia.

The use of guarana in Europe was documented in 1775, but information on its production up to the beginning of this century is very uncertain. The only information available for last century relates to the export of 262 arrobas (1 arroba = 11.5 kg) to Europe in 1852.

The guarana carbonated drinks industry began in 1907 and the product became Brazil's national drink during the 1940s. In 1973, the Law on Juices laid down regulations for the use of guarana, defining the maximum and minimum concentrations for carbonated drinks, syrups and other products. In 1981, EMBRAPA's Agricultural Research Centre of the Semi-Humid Tropics (CPATU) developed soluble guarana. Nowadays, guarana is marketed as sticks and soluble or insoluble powder and is used industrially for the production of carbonated drinks, syrups and herbalists' products.

After the seeds are shelled and washed they are roasted for six hours, then put into sacks and shaken till their outside shell comes off, they are then pounded into a fine powder and made into a dough with water, and rolled into cylindrical pieces; these are then dried in the sun or over a slow fire, till they become very hard and are then a rough and reddish-brown color, marbled with the seeds. They break with an irregular fracture, have little smell, taste astringent, and bitter like chocolate without its oiliness, and in color like chocolate powder; it swells up and partially dissolves in water.

A crystallizable principle, called guaranine, identical with caffeine, which exists in the seeds, united with tannic acid, catechutannic acid starch, and a greenish fixed oil.

Nervine, tonic, slightly narcotic stimulant, aphrodisiac febrifuge. A beverage is made from the guaran sticks, by grating half a tablespoonful into sugar and water and drinking it like tea. The Brazilian miners drink this constantly and believe it to be a preventive of many diseases, as well as a most refreshing beverage. Their habit in travelling is to carry the stick or a lump of it in their pockets, with a palate bone or scale of a large fish with which to grate it. P. Cupana is also a favorite national diet drink, the seeds are mixed with Cassava and water, and left to ferment until almost putrid, and in this state it is the favorite drink of the Orinoco Indians. From the tannin it contains it is useful for mild forms of leucorrhoea, diarrhea, etc., but its chief use in Europe and America is for headache, especially if of a rheumatic nature. It is a gentle excitant and serviceable where the brain is irritated or depressed by mental exertion, or where there is fatigue or exhaustion from hot weather. It has the same chemical composition as caffeine, theine and cocaine, and the same physiological action. Its benefit is for nervous headache or the distress that accompanies menstruation, or exhaustion following dissipation. It is not recommended for chronic headache or in cases where it is not desirable to increase the temperature, or excite the heart or increase arterial tension. Dysuria often follows its administration. It is used by the Indians for bowel complaints, but is not indicated in cases of constipation or blood pressure.

Known Hazards: As with any caffeinated product, guarana may cause insomnia, trembling, anxiety, palpitations, urinary frequency, and hyperactivity. Guarana should be avoided during pregnancy and lactation.

  • Grieve. M. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
  • Plant Production and Protection Series No. 26. FAO, Rome, Italy. p. 223-228. Species of Paullinia with economic potential - E. Lleras (CENARGEN/EMBRAPA, Brasilia, Brazil).

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