Organ Specific Guide - Raintree Nutrition, Inc

AMAZON HEART SUPPORT
Description: A synergistic formula of rainforest botanicals traditionally used in South America for the heart.
Traditional uses by organ or system: Cardiovascular: For hypertension.
Ingredients: A proprietary blend of Brazilian peppertree (Schinus molle), abuta (Cissampelos pareira),
chanca piedra (Phyllanthus niruri), picão preto (Bidens pilosa), erva tostão (Boerhaavia diffusa), mulungu
(Erythrina mulungu), graviola (Annona muricata), and mutamba (Guazuma ulmifolia).
Suggested Use: Take 2-3 capsules twice daily (depending on body weight).
Contraindications:
• Not to be used during pregnancy or while breast-feeding.
• Plants in this formula have been documented to reduce blood pressure. It is contraindication in people
with low blood pressure.
Drug Interactions: May enhance the effect of diuretic, ACE-inhibitor, antihypertensive, and cardiac depressant
medications.
Other Practitioner Observations and Possible Precautions:
• Several plants in this formula have various actions on heart function, including reducing heart rate and
having a cardiac depressant effect. Those with bradycardia, or those on medications to depress heart
function and heart rate should be monitored more closely.
• Several plants in this formula have a hypoglycemic effect. Individuals with hypoglycemia should monitor
their blood sugar levels when taking this formula.
Synopsis of research: (Please the online Tropical Plant Database for all cited research.)
• Brazilian peppertree is traditionally used in South America for hypertension, arrhythmia, and as a
cardiotonic. In laboratory studies with rats and dogs Brazilian peppertree was shown to evidence a
hypotensive effect.
• Abuta has been reported with hypotensive actions in animal studies over the years. Abuta contains
several cardioactive alkaloids including tetrandrine and berberine, which have shown in research to have
a hypotensive effect through numerous pathways and mechanisms of action.
• Chanca piedra’s hypotensive effects were first reported in a dog study in 1952 (in which a diuretic effect
was noted also). The hypotensive effects were attributed to a specific phytochemical in chanca piedra
called geraniin in a 1988 study. In 1995 Indian researchers gave human subjects with high blood pressure
a chanca piedra leaf powder in capsules. They reported a significant reduction in systolic blood
pressure, and a significant increase in urine volume and sodium excretion in all subjects.
• Picão preto was documented to prevent hypertension in rats fed a high-fructose diet, and to lower the
resulting (elevated) blood pressure and triglyceride levels. In hypertensive rats (including high dietary
salt-induced hypertension), picão preto significantly lowered blood pressure—without having an effect
on heart rate and urine volume. A leaf extract was also shown to have smooth-muscle relaxant activity
on the heart.
• In clinical studies with animals, erva tostão demonstrated smooth muscle and skeletal muscle stimulant
activities in frogs and guinea pigs; anti-inflammatory actions in rats; and hypotensive actions in dogs as
well as in vitro hypotensive actions.
• Mulungu's hypotensive and heart-regulatory activities were studied and attributed to its alkaloids.
• Graviola has demonstrated hypotensive, vasodilator, and cardiodepressant activities in various animal
studies over the years.
• In the first study published on mutamba which used various animals (rats, rabbits, guinea pigs, cats and
insects), researchers reported that it lowered heart rate and blood pressure, relaxed smooth muscles and
stimulated the uterus.