Organ Specific Guide - Raintree Nutrition, Inc

AMAZON MOOD SUPPORT
Description: A botanical formula which combines 7 plants used by herbal practitioners in South America
for mood elevation.
Traditional uses by organ or system: Brain/CNS: For depression and mood disorders.
Ingredients: A proprietary blend of mulungu (Erythrina mulungu), graviola (Annona muricata), tayuya
(Cayaponia tayuya), damiana (Turnera diffusa), passionflower (Passiflora incarnata), chamomile
(Matricaria chamomilla), and muira puama (Ptychopetalum olacoides).
Suggested Use: Take 2-3 capsules twice daily or as needed.
Contraindications: Not to be used during pregnancy or while breast-feeding.
Drug Interactions: May potentiate hypotensive, MAO-inhibitor, and anxiolytic medications.
Other Practitioner Observations and Possible Precautions:
• In some individuals this formula may cause drowsiness. If this interferes with daily work the dosage
should be reduced.
• Several plants in this formula have been documented to reduce blood pressure. Individuals with low
blood pressure should be monitored for this possible effect.
Synopsis of research: (Please the online Tropical Plant Database for all cited research.)
• Mulungu has demonstrated in 4 recent rat studies to possess effective anxiolytic actions and in another
study it demonstrated sedative and CNS-depressant actions. In a 2006 study, mulungu was reported to
increase memory and learning. In one of the studies on anxiolytic actions, the researchers reported that
mulungu had an effect similar to the commonly-prescribed anti-anxiety drug, diazepam. Brazilian researchers
reported in two 2007 animal studies that the anxiolytic action of mulungu could be atttributed
to two erythravine chemicals found in the plant. In an earlier study, they suggested that these alkaloids
may alter GABAergic neurotransmission. GABA (gamma-amino butyric acid) acts as a neurotransmitter
in the brain; abnormalities with its function is implicated in diseases including epilepsy, anxiety, and
depression.
• Graviola was reported to possess antidepressant effects in a 1997 animal study. One study with rats
reported an increase in dopamine, norepinephrine, and monoamine oxidase activity, as well as a
inhibition of serotonin release in stress-induced rats.
• Tayuya is traditionally used in herbal medicine systems in North and South America for athletic training
and recovery (to help remove lactic acid accumulation), to reduce swelling, and to relieve emotional
fatigue and depression.
• Damiana is included in the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia which cites indications for the use of damiana
for "anxiety neurosis with a predominant sexual factor, depression, nervous dyspepsia, atonic constipation,
and coital inadequacy."
• Passionflower contains naturally occurring serotonin as well as a chemical called maltol which has
documented sedative effects and which might explain the natural calming properties of passionflower.
• For years researchers attributed the sedative effect of chamomile to the flavonoids, but it has recently
been demonstrated through numerous trials that other constituents also contribute substantially to the
total sedative action of chamomile.
• Muira puama has shown in laboratory experiments to have adaptogenic, antifatigue, antistress, and
beneficial effects on the central nervous system. Several animal studies from 2004 to 2007 report that
muira puama has anxiolytic actions as well as the ability to enhance memory and learning. A speciallyprepared
extract of muira puama has been patented for its ability to "relieve physical and mental fatigue"
and for "ameliorating a weakened constitution."