MUCUNA PRURIENS: CONCERNS ABOUT LONGTERM SIDE EFFECTS FROM OVERUSE AND MISUSE
Published Monday, November 23rd, 2009 | By Karen
As an herbalist, I have strong concerns about the growing popularity and widespread use of the ancient herb, Mucuna pruriens, as an herbal and dietary supplement. Mucuna pruriens has an almost magical ability to improve motivation, well being, energy and sex drive along with decreasing the tendency to overeat. These properties are a result of its contents of natural L-dopa, a direct precursor to the neurotransmitter dopamine. Dopamine is always present in the nervous system. Ultra-low levels (or dysfunction of dopamine receptors) lead to conditions like Parkinson’s. Normal levels maintain proper function of the nervous system, promote normal motivation and sex drive and help to regulate the appetite. We experience a stronger sense of well-being when dopamine is released in response to activities such as engaging in something novel or seeing a beautiful sunset. We release even more if we accomplish a long-term goal or have a profound experience. Dopamine is artificially elevated in response chemicals contained in alcohol, cigarettes, cocaine, crystal meth and heroin as well as from overeating. Excessive exposure to dopamine results in dopamine receptors not working properly. As the nervous system needs higher and higher levels of dopamine to produce the same response, an individual seeks out more and more of the stimulating substance or activity. This is the heart of addiction.
With its naturally-occurring L-dopa, Mucuna can be carefully used as a natural remedy to treat conditions such as addiction, obesity, dopamine-related depression or Parkinson’s. However this MUST be done in conjunction with rehabilitation of the dopamine receptors. Otherwise, it actually exacerbates the problem and causes further damage. If given to people who suffer with depression from low serotonin, Mucuna can actually make the depression more severe by further lowering serotonin levels. (Dopamine tends to suppress seretonin)
The addition of Mucuna to general dietary supplements and even to some multivitamins is completely irresponsible. It has great capacity for misuse and in the long term could have health consequences. Because of the seemingly magical effects of L-dopa, almost all people notice they feel better on these supplements and notice they feel worse when they stop them. This is no different than creating another addiction.
Because of its effectiveness, I also have concerns about other herbalists and health care practitioners carelessly prescribing it without fully understanding its mechanism of action. I am pro-education and anti-regulation. I think Mucuna pruriens is a natural substance that practitioners need to actively educate themselves and the general public about.
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Pheonixalight
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Hi - regarding the article about Macuna Pruriens - and the effect it can have on Seretonin. Is Seritonin something lacking in Parkinson's Disease people?
Yes. More and more studies done with brain imaging show that Parkinson's is not just a movement disorder and is not just a Dopamine Disorder. It remains to be seen how well correcting the dopamine deficiency will enable the brain to balance itself in the other affected areas. serotonin, nor adrenaline and others.
I think (opinion here) this is why some people get good non motor symptom control of anxiety and depression during their on time but poor when they are wearing off, whereas others seem to have symptoms which are resistant to L-Dopa therapy.
Also, the mucuma pruriens plant has some (not much) but still, some 5htp which is the precursor of serotonin, plus nicotine - both good for PD, naturally in the bean.
There is a company called NeuroResearch - based out of University of Duluth, and in their abstract they use mucuna pruriens at 40% levopopa with large amounts of tyrosine, in conjunction with precursors to glutathione, and they brought back a Parkinson's patient who did not want Deep Brain Stimulation - everything else failed:
I would not be too concerned about the 'dangers' of mucuna pruriens. First, she (Karen) shows no scientific evidence that mucuna is dangerous - just an unsupported statement. Secondly, mucuna p. has been used in ayuvedic (Indian) medicine in combination with tribulus terrestris - an MAO inhibitor, for over 1,000 years. This combination, a dopamine producing supplement and MAOi, is standard fare for Parkinson's patients. Plus, if such a problem with the desensitization of dopamine receptors exists, Indian doctors would have known and warned of its dangers a long time ago.
Tribulus is an antidepressant, aphrodisiac, fertility enhancer and bodybuilding tonic. It is used in the treatment of eczema, heart disease and Parkinson's disease and has had one of the longest documented 'clinical trials' in history. MAOIs(mono-amine-oxidase-inhibitor) act in the brain by stopping the breakdown of certain chemicals, one of which is dopamine. This is a chemical that is low in people suffering Parkinson's disease and explains why the ancients used Tribulus for tremors. The Ayurvedics added Tribulus to another herb to treat for Parkinsonian tremors called Mucuna. This contains L-dopa, the direct precursor of dopamine in the brain. Tribulus basically helps you absorb the L-dopa and stops its breakdown. This is exactly the same as the modern treatment for Parkinson's-a combination of L-dopa and a MOAI. There is nothing new under the sun! Because the harmine(main active ingredient in Tribulus)contained in Tribulus acts as a MOAI, this leads to higher levels of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine though, is not just involved in movement. It is one of the brains happy chemicals-the higher the dopamine levels, the stronger, better and happier you feel. High dopamine levels in men also stimulate the pituitary gland to release leutenizing hormones which in turn leads to an increase in testosterone levels. This enhances libido, increases strength and lean muscle tissue and makes you feel great. In both men and women, high dopamine levels lead to increased growth hormone production. This is the major body repair hormone and is currently being used in anti-aging therapy. There is also a chemical in Tribulus called a furoctanol biglycoside which enhances sperm production and motility, therefore increasing male fertility. Another chemical, terrestrioside-F, enhances the libido in both men and women. Another interesting modern finding is that Tribulus seems to dilate the coronary arteries around the heart and therefore benefits heart disease sufferers. This circulatory effect is also useful for those with high blood pressure and hardening of the arteries.
I would like to see other research supporting this finding silvestrov. Two of the three researchers have a vested interest in these results. They own and run a laboratory and patient treatment service focused on the treatment they are advocating.
I think the position of my post was misleading, I was referring to the company called NeuroResearch - based out of University of Duluth and the amino acid management of Parkinsons which I think is unproven.
I am not associated with NeuroResearch in any way. Here is another abstract they did on Crohn's disease using the basic same methodology. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...
I think this article is also referring to the casual use of mucuna by people who are not exhibiting signs of PD or Pd-like conditions. I think this is an important distinction. Also that if one were to supplement with mucuna and one DID have PD or a similar low dopamine condition then it would be necessary to adjust any medication your were taking in order to prevent other potential problems. Dopamine levels have fine tolerances, even the meds we are prescribed are like a blunt object, because we take many times more than our needs because of absorbtion problems and difficulty with the BBB. To add another drug increases this load and potentially could increase side-effects. Which is why this should be done with the help of your medical provider, if at all possible.
I uderstand your worries over Mucuna use, but your understanding of addiction (and mucuna) is limited. Mucuna contains more than just l-dopa. It has 5htp & seritonine too, which balance the effects. Just be sure to keep b6 levels up.
Also your unlying ideas on addiction seem to be coming from the intentional misinformation that groups like the Partnership for a Drug Free America (who don't do science, just propaganda) are pushing.
Addiction isn't caused by substances. it is a coping mechanusm for unresolved trauma. read " chasing the scream". People with unresolved trauma issues can become addicted to anything that can give them a vacation from their emotional pain. That includes : shopping, clubbing, religion, facebook, porn, gambling, reading, video games - quite literally ANYTHING that can provide a mental vacation can be an addiction. Fix the trauma issues and no more addiction problems.
For comparison, there is no actual *good* peer reviewed science that supports the DARE/US propaganda model of addiction. none at all. Addiction is not caused by substances. if it were, every person who had major surgery would be a junky for the rest of their lives (after the post surgical doses of dihydromorphone). But in reality only 0.2% of people on pain meds have addiction issues. The rate in the general population is 10%. So it isn't the substances. The problem lies elsewhere.
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