What Is Guarana?

Guarana is a fast-growing plant native to the Amazon Basin. It is especially common in Brazil. The name ‘guarana’ comes from the Mawé name for the plant, ‘warana’, which means ‘eyes of the gods’. Guarana has an astringent and nutty taste and is often used as a substitute for coffee.

How to Use Guarana (Common Uses)

Guarana can be taken internally as a tea, powder, capsules, or extract. Guarana is a popular source of caffeine and is often added to energy drinks.

Medicinal Uses and Benefits of Guarana

Guarana is best known for its caffeine content, although it contains other compounds which may also have a stimulating effect.

Guarana contains approximately 2.5%-5% caffeine. Coffee often has a caffeine content of 1%-2%, while tea can range from 1%-4%. Although guarana is stimulating, some people feel that the caffeine in guarana absorbs slower than that from other caffeine sources. For most people, the effects of guarana last for 1-3 hours.

Similar to coffee, guarana is an excellent source of antioxidants.

Guarana may be an effective herb for helping to reduce diarrhea. Traditionally, it has been used as a stimulant, aphrodisiac, headache treatment, and diuretic.

Active Constituents in Guarana

Caffeine, tannins, saponins.

Notable Facts About Guarana

Guarana became a commercialized herb in 1958.