Mucuna Pruriens Extract for Relaxation
Mucuna Pruriens (also known as cowitch) is a plant/herb that is native across Asia, specifically on mountains. It is used all over the world as a treatment for a number of conditions and is also used as a general health supplement.
Mucuna Pruriens Extract is commonly referenced across numerous bodybuilding and fitness forums for increasing testosterone, though it is speculated to only increase testosterone in people who . It is also popular among many other supplement forums for its relaxation effects, although is known to clinically increase dopamine and testosterone which is quite contrary to most relaxation supplements.
Mucuna is a good source of L-Dopa, a direct precursor to dopamine in the body. It is likely that this is the method of relaxation that people often experience with Mucuna. L-Tyrosine and L-Phenylalanine are converted into L-Dopa in the body, however, Mucuna is a good direct source of L-Dopa. The method of relaxation is quite separate than typical relaxation because dopamine is our body’s “reward” system. Oftentimes companies will advertise Mucuna as being enhancing for mood and emotional well-being.
However, it can be dangerous to mess around with the dopamine system in the body. Oftentimes, people will pursue a dopamine “high” and experience a depressive comedown. It is for this reason that Mucuna should be taken in moderation, at the recommended dose on the bottle. It is also known that dopamine converts into adrenaline in the body. Examine.com states, “L-DOPA is then decarboxylated via aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase into Dopamine, which later turns into noradrenaline via oxidation from the enzyme dopamine-beta-hydroxylase and then finally converted to adrenaline via Phenylethanolamine-N-methyl-transferase“. [1] The “relaxation” that companies and distributors use on their Mucuna products isn’t a typical relaxation that one would experience with a supplement like Melatonin or GABA.
Like always, do your research before taking any supplements not regulated by the FDA because potential side effects may be present upon consumption.
[1]: http://examine.com/supplements/L-Tyrosine/
