Catuaba is popular for a wide range of conditions related to memory, ageing, mood, and sexual health.

The bark of the Catuaba tree is used to correct impotence, improve memory and mood, and increase libido.  

Preliminary research on catuaba has shown promise towards conditions such as depression, anxiety, ADD/ADHD, infertility, and erectile dysfunction. As a result, a lot of companies are making their own version of catuaba supplements to support the growing demand for the herb.

However, there is just one problem with Catuaba…

There are over seven completely unrelated species of plants that go by the common name catuaba.

What’s the right one to use?

In this article we’re going to cover what the difference is between the different species of catuaba, which ones to use, and offer a few of our favorite catuaba supplements to get you started.

Featured Catuaba Products

Catuaba: What’s Causing The Confusion?

Common names often cause problems in herbal medicine. The issue is that multiple plants often go by the same common name — which is why it’s important to compare the botanical name of herbal supplements before you buy. These names are completely unique and will avoid a situation where you accidentally order the wrong herb.

In the case of catuaba, there are at least 7 different species going under the same name.

This is why common names are confusing and why herbalists and naturopaths alike prefer using the botanical names of plants.

These names offer a universal system of naming. Trichilia catigua can only refer to one species of plant no matter where you are in the world.

This effectively eliminates any degree of confusion.

The Confusion Originates From Catuaba’s Meaning

The word catuaba is a Guarani term meaning “something that gives the native strength”.

The Guarani are a local Amazonian tribe who frequently use catuaba bark as medicine.

For this reason, other herbs in the rainforest that were used to provide strength adopted this name as well.

This is why so many different species have been given the common name catuaba in the Amazon rainforest.

Catuaba Plants have Other Names As Well

The naming for catuaba is a total mess — there are numerous other names for some of these plants as well.

Common names include Chuchuhuasha, Tatuaba, Pau de Reposta, Piratancara and Caramuru, and more.

This could be a whole article in itself to name all of the separate common names that overlap with catuaba species and other Amazonian medicinal species.

There are also preparations that include catuaba with similar names that have made people confused on the herb as well.

For example there’s a popular South American herbal formula known as “Catuama®” —  which is a combination of Catuaba (Trichilia catigua), Muira puama (Ptychopetalum olacoides), Ginger (Zingiber officinalis), and Guarana (Paullinia cupana).

Some people have been confused by this product and report it as a substitute for catuaba.

This, again is misleading.

Catuama is a combination of herbs, and will have a different effect on the body than a simple catuaba preparation. 

There is also a common alcoholic beverage named catuaba used to promote sexual activity in Brazil.

The list goes on.

What Are The Different Kinds Of Catuaba?

I’m going to cover all the main species of plants that go by catuaba as a common name — but the first two are by far the most common you’ll find available for sale online.

Both are used for the same applications, but each one has subtle differences in their effects.

1. Trichilia catigua

Most Common Use: Depression, anxiety, concentration.

This species is the most commonly used in the Amazon, and is the best for conditions involving pain, depression, and other neurological disorders. This species works primarily by regulating dopamine in the brain.

Trichilia catigua is a member of the Meilicaceae family of plants — which includes the mahogany trees.

There are about 80 different species in the Trichilia genus, which can be found all the way from Mexico to Argentina. 

This species is known locally as “big catuaba” for its large size (most mahogany species are large trees).

One issue with this species is similar appearance of the bark compared to mahogany trees. The barks of these trees are all very similar in color, and easily passed off as one or the other — leading some companies to adulterate (mix) mahogany bark with catuaba bark. Mahogany isn’t dangerous, but it doesn’t offer any of the same benefits as catuaba.

This is another reason why it’s important to purchase catuaba from a reputable herb dealer who actually lists the species used on the bottle. Even better is to look for a company that tests their products to prove the species inside the bottle.

2. Erythroxylum catuaba

Most Common Use: For memory, bacterial infection, energy, and libido.

Outside of South America this species is the most common species you’ll find. Within Amazonia, this species is commonly named “little catuaba” due to the much smaller size of the tree compared to Trichilia catigua.

Erythroxylum catuaba is a member of the Erythroxylaceae family of plants. This makes this species related to Erythroxylum coca — which is the plant that gives us the street drug “cocaine”. 

Although none of the alkaloids responsible for cocaine's inebriating effects are found in this catuaba species — a lot of the other chemicals in the plant are similar.

This species of catuaba is preferred for its stronger effect as an antibacterial agent and for providing a boost in energy levels and libido.

This species lacks the antidepressant and anxiolytic abilities of big catuaba (Trichilia catigua).

3. Juniperus braziliensis

Most common uses: Not commonly used outside South America.

This species is related to the evergreen juniper trees of North America.

This species is not frequently used, and is considered one of the weaker Catuaba’s available.

There really isn’t much research on this species, which means the chemical composition, and effectiveness for the conditions traditionally treated with this herb are not well understood. 

It’s recommended you avoid using this species unless administered by someone familiar with the actions of this species of Catuaba. 

4. Anemopaegma Arvense & A. mirandum

Most common uses: Neurodegenerative diseases

This species of catuaba is listed in the Brazilian pharmacopoeia as the recommended species — however, this doesn’t reflect what recent studies have indicated as the most commonly used species in the region, which suggest that Trichilia catigua [2] is the most commonly used species in South America. 

The effectiveness of Anemopaegma arvense has been not been thoroughly investigated, however, its close relative, Anemopaegma mirandum has been shown in at least one study to provide protective effects the neurological systems of mice.

In this study, mice were protected from neurological dysfunction after being administered rotenone — which is a well known neurotoxin.

Researchers in this study suggested this species of catuaba to be beneficial against conditions such as Parkinson’s disease. [4]. 

5. Eriotheca candolleana

Most common uses: Not commonly used as medicine outside South America.

Also known as white catuaba, this species of catuaba is a member of the marshmallow family (Malvaceae).

This family has a wide range of phenotypes, from small herby plants like the common marshmallow, to large trees like white catuaba. 

This species is commonly used for landscaping.

Although considered an attractive tree overall, it has little medicinal significance despite being included in the catuaba collection of plants. 

6. Micropholis spp. 

Most common uses: Boosting energy and libido

Micropholis is a member of the Sapotaceae family which includes plants like Vitellaria paradoxa which is the source for shae butter. 

Micropholis contans about 38 species of plants, may of which are commonly referred to as catuaba.

Other names for these plants include “cafetos”, which means “coffee plants”. 

Traditionally the bark of Micropholis species of plants were used as an aphrodisiac and stimulant, which remains true to the catuaba class.

As with many of the South American herbal medicines, this species is facing overexploitation and deforestation.

It’s recommended to only purchase this plant from a reputable dealer who maintains high moral standards when sourcing the herbs for sale from the Amazon rainforest. 

7. Phyllanthus nobilis

Most common uses: Diabetes

Phyllanthus is a genus of flowering plants with incredible diversity, which has the widest range of pollen forms on earth.

Also contained in this genus is the medicinal species Phyllanthus niruri or Chanca De Piedra, which is a popular anti-diabetic species also originating from the Amazon rainforest. 

Very little information could be found on the Phyllanthus nobilis species in reference to its uses as a catuaba species.

It’s possible this species simply shares the common name of catuaba yet lacks any traditional use for similar conditions. 

8. Tetragastris catuaba

Most common uses: Not commonly used as medicine.

This large tree species of Brazil is mysterious and remains largely unexplored.

This plant tends to grow high up in the mountains of the Amazon rainforest far from human contact.

This plant species is particularly strange and has provoked a series of ethnobotanical debates around its taxonomical classification. This is because the majority of the Tetragastris species prefer the coastal dune regions of Bahia which is significantly different than the high, humid, and cold regions of the Amazonian mountains. 

This particular species of the Tetragastris species is considered endangered and is unlikely to find its way into a consumer catuaba preparation outside of South America [3]. 

Muira Puama & Catuaba in Combination

You’ll find a lot of catuaba products mixed with another herb — muira puama (Ptychopetalum olacoides).

The reason for this is because both of these herbs have a long history of use together. In the Amazon, catuaba and muira puama bark are shredded, mixed, and left to steep in water overnight. The concoction is then drunk throughout the following day.

Muira puama and catuaba (big catuaba and small catuaba) have very similar uses (for age-related cognitive decline, low libido, infertility, and poor memory). These two herbs work very well together and have complimenting effects.

While catuaba mainly works through dopamine, muira puama has an affinity for another neurotransmitter known as acetylcholine — which is a key neurotransmitter involved with memory and learning.

Muira Puama & Catuaba Formulas

The Importance of Testing Catuaba Products

Many catuaba products purchased today are simply labelled as “Catuaba” and have no indication of the actual species being used in the preparation. 

Other companies have been found to list the species name — but after chemical analysis were found to have gotten it wrong.

Techniques like HPLC testing can quickly identify which species is being used, but not many companies take the time and effort to do these tests to prove what’s in the bottle. In Australia and Germany, supplement companies are required to do these tests to prove what they’re selling is exactly what’s advertised on the bottle.

This practice is not yet common in North America — which makes it very easy for a company to buy generic “Catuaba” from South American suppliers, turn it into a herbal extract, and label it incorrectly.

It’s best to look for companies that provide lab test results to prove the species it’s using in its products. This isn’t a common practice yet, but is becoming more common as a byproduct of the cannabis industry expansion.

Confusion of Catuaba in Medical Research

More scientific research exploring the effects of catuaba is published each year.

Some of this research has discovered possible mechanisms of action for Catuaba against depression and low libido through dopamine pathways [1]. 

The problem with this research is that many of the older studies don’t list the species they were actually testing.

This makes the study completely null and void because we have no idea which plant is being used. Any of the 7 medicinal plants listed as catuaba could have been used in the study — but without knowing we really can’t draw any conclusions on using the herb.

Despite the confusion, marketers are still using this research as evidence for the efficacy of catuaba supplements.

Even credible studies that report the species name and dosages of the plants being used can be interpreted or sourced incorrectly.

You may see an article outlining the effectiveness for a particular catuaba species against something like depression. They then go out and purchase some catuaba, which may contain a totally different species inside the bottle.  

Many of the catuaba products on the market today don’t actually list the species and therefore should NOT be used.

This is bad practice in general and can have negative side effects. In the best case, the herbal extract will simply be ineffective. In the worst case scenario, the wrong dosage, or a drug interaction from misidentification can cause serious side effects. 

Summary: The Best Catuaba Supplements:

With all the various catuabas found in the wild, there are really only a small handful used commonly in medicinal preparations.

The preferred species for mood disorders is Trichilia catigua, which also appears to have the best activity on the dopaminergic system and therefore memory, and concentration. 

Erythroxylum catuaba is a close second in popularity, and appears to be better as an antibacterial agent and energy booster — though still provides some modest dopaminergic activity. 

When shopping for catuaba, it’s recommended to use The Trichilia catigua or Erythroxylum catuaba species.

We also highly recommend you purchase any Amazonian medicinal plant supplements from reputable herb dealers. The reason for this is two-fold. Reputable dealers will decrease your odds of getting adulterated or mislabelled products, and tend to have better ethical practices when sourcing plant medicines from the Amazon.

Author: 

Justin Cooke

The Sunlight Experiment

(Updated October 2018)

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References:

1. Maria M. Campos, Elizabeth S. Fernandes, Juliano Ferriera, Adair R. S. Santos, Joao B. Calixto. (2005). Antidepressant-like effects of Trichillia catigua (Catuaba) extract: evidence for dopaminergic-mediated mechanisms. Phytopharmacology. 182. 45-53. Retrieved from the web.

2. Christina Daolio, Flavio L. Beltrame, Antonio G. Ferriera, Quezia B. Cass, Diogenes Aparicio Garcia Cortez, and Marcia M. C. Ferriera. (2007). Classification of Commercial Catuaba Samples by NMR, HPLC and Chemometrics. Phytochemical Analysis. 19. 218-228. DOI: 10.1002/pca.1019

3. Daly, D. C. (1990). The Genus Tetragastris and the Forests of Eastern Brazil: Studies in Neotropical Burseraceae III. Kew Bulletin, 179-194.

4. De Andrade, D. V. G., de Oliveria, D. M., Barreto, G., Bertolino, L. A., Saraceno, E., Capani, F., & Giraldez, L. D. (2008). Effects of the extract of Anemopaegma mirandum (Catuaba) on Rotenone-induced apoptosis in human neuroblastomas SH-SY5Y cells. Brain research, 1198, 188-196.