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GUARANA (Paullinia cupana Kunth) ++Activities (Guarana) — Analgesic (f; DAV); Anorectic (1; APA); Antiaggregant (1; APA; HH2;
PHR; PH2); Antiinflammatory (1; APA); Aphrodisiac (f; APA; CRC; DAV); Astringent (1; CRC;
HHB; SKY); Bitter (1; CRC); Bronchorelaxant (1; PHR); Cardiotonic (1; PHR; PH2); Cariogenic
(1; APA); Catabolic (f; SKY); Catecholaminogenic (1; PH2); CNS Stimulant (1; PH2; SKY);
Cyanogenic (1; HH2); Diuretic (1; APA; CRC; SKY); Gastrostimulant (f; PHR; PH2); Genotoxic
(1; APA); Immunostimulant (1; HH2); Mutagenic (1; APA); Myorelaxant (1; PHR); Narcotic (f;
CRC); Nervine (1; CRC); Positive Chronotropic (1; PHR; PH2); Positive Inotropic (1; PHR;
PH2); Resorptive (1; HHB); Stimulant (1; APA; CRC; PHR); Thermogenic (1; FNF); Tonic (1;
CRC; PHR).
Indications (Guarana) — Cardiopathy (f; DAV); Diarrhea (1; APA; CRC; SKY); Dysentery (f;
DAV); Dysmenorrhea (f; APA; CRC; PH2); Dyspepsia (f; PH2); Enterosis (1; APA); Fatigue (f;
CRC; SKY; PH2); Fever (f; APA); Gastrosis (f; HHB); Hangover (f; CRC); Headache (1; APA;
CRC; PH2); Heart (f; CRC); Hunger (f; CRC; PH2); Immunodepression (1; HH2); Inflammation
(1; APA); Malaria (f; APA); Migraine (1; APA; CRC; DAV); Neuralgia (f; CRC; DAV); Obesity
(1; APA; SKY); Pain (f; APA; DAV); Rheumatism (1; APA; CRC); Stress (f; APA); Thirst (f; PH2);
Water Retention (1; APA; CRC; PH2; SKY).
Dosages (Guarana) — 500–1000 mg dried herb (APA); 1 g powdered guarana (HH2; PH2); 0.5–4
g powdered guarana (APA; PNC); 1–2 g crushed seed or resin per cup water 3 ×/day providing up
to 50 mg guaranine each cup (SKY).
Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Guarana) — Class 2d. CNS-stimulant. Not
recommended for excess or prolonged use (AHP seems to say this about most caffeine-containing
plants) (AHP). Lininger et al. (1998) don’t say this about all the caffeine containing herbs as
they do about guarana, “Caffeine may have adverse effects on the blood vessels and other body
systems as well as on a developing fetus and presumably guaranine would have similar effects.
As with any caffeinated product, guarana may cause insomnia, trembling, anxiety, palpitations,
urinary frequency, and hyperactivity” (SKY). Should be avoided during pregnancy and lactation.