Compound or practice · Supplement
Muira Puama
An Amazonian 'potency wood' for libido with almost no controlled evidence behind the tradition.
- Overall grade
- Grade D
- Last revised
- 1
- graded outcome
- 0
- references listed
A structured monograph in Prometheus's bundled library. Its grades are the monograph's own reading of the evidence, not a peer-reviewed review.
1 at grade D — 1 graded row
What is known
Each outcome with its grade (how strong the evidence is, A to D), the size of the effect where the entry records one, and how often studies agree.
- Libido / erectile functionEvidence grade D
Uncontrolled
Unclearlow
What is uncertain
Read off the same rows as above. Nothing here is added that the entry does not itself record.
- Thin evidence: Libido / erectile function (grade D).
The evidence in words
What it is
Muira puama (Ptychopetalum) is a Brazilian shrub traditionally used as an aphrodisiac and nerve tonic.
How it works
Proposed to support libido and erectile function via unclear mechanisms; often combined with other herbs, making attribution hard.
What the evidence shows
Human evidence is limited to a few small, mostly uncontrolled or combination studies reporting libido benefits — far short of proof. Popular in 'male enhancement' blends, but the standalone data are thin.
Safety & interactions
Generally tolerated short-term; long-term and controlled safety data are lacking.
Bottom line
Traditional aphrodisiac with minimal controlled evidence. Low-priority and usually buried in proprietary blends — hard to recommend on the data.
Related reading
Entries that share this one's tags or conditions.
- Muira Puama for Libido / erectile functionEvidence grade D — UncontrolledEvidence grade D
- Muira Puama: side effects, safety & interactionsGenerally tolerated short-term; long-term and controlled safety data are lacking.Evidence grade D
- CistancheA desert 'tonic' herb for vigor and libido with mostly traditional and preclinical backing.Evidence grade D
- Horny Goat WeedA libido herb whose active icariin is a weak PDE5 inhibitor in theory and essentially untested in humans.Evidence grade D
Sources
This entry lists no references of its own.
Last revised . A grade is this entry's reading of the evidence, not medical advice.