Meet Mucuna, the Mood Boosting Bean that’s Better than Coffee

Brain health is rarely discussed in terms of diet. Usually we eat what we think will be healthy in terms of keeping a trim waist, amirite? 

But if we want to fuel our brains for a tough day when we really need to be at the top of our game, we have to feed our brains, too! 

Mucuna pruriens is an excellent tool for supporting your healthy lifestyle and brain health! 

Mucuna pruriens is a prevalent Ayurvedic herbal adaptogen also known as velvet bean.

It is also well identified for its wide range of unifying, strengthening and all around constructive properties such as increasing brain power, calming the nerves and uplifting the mood. Perhaps it is best known as a potent herbal aphrodisiac.

“It is also considered as of the most beneficial herbs for normalizing the Vata dosha.  In other words, it is a great herb for calming the nervous system and deeply nourishes tissues and fluids of the body.  It is one of the rare Ayurvedic herbs that balances all three doshas or body types Vata, Pitta and Kapha,” says Dr. Krishna Maddikera.

The tropical climbing legume Mucuna pruriens is an ancient healing ally known for its wide range of tonifying, strengthening, and long lasting mood and health balancing gifts. The seed of Mucuna, commonly known in the west as velvet beans or cowhage, is an important herb in the ancient Indian Ayurvedic system of medicine and Unani Tibb (Greco-Arabic) medicine, and has been worked with medicinally for at least 2000 years.

Both traditional use and modern research and applications share of its multi-diversified functions in the management of Parkinson’s disease, increasing dopamine levels in the body naturally, aiding in addiction issues, promoting fertility in both men and women, increasing strength, endurance and energy, and as a nootropic (an herb that gives broad cognitive benefits to the human brain. )

Some direct applications for Mucuna are to help protect humans from free radical mediated diseases, atherosclerosis, nervous system disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, depression and much more. Mucuna has been successfully worked with as a companion and cover crop and a nitrogen fixing soil builder across the globe.

It has a long tradition as an amulet herb and of ceremonial and ritual usage in several different indigenous cultures.

There is a modern day resurgence of interest in Mucuna for helping people with chronic disease, dopamine deficiency depression, infertility and addiction issues. It’s important to note that Mucuna is big medicine, containing l-dopa (the precursor to dopamine) and has a potent effect on our entire physiology.

Mucuna pruriens is also an antioxidant and contains serotonin which supports digestive wellness and a sunny mood,” writes The Alchemist’s Kitchen.