Mucuna pruriens, (known in Ayurveda as Kapikacchu), is a nutritive tonic commonly used to nourish the nervous system, support healthy sexual energy, and strengthen and tone the reproductive organs. In men, Mucuna encourages natural potency and helps to build ojas, the essence of virility, vitality, and immunity. In women, it promotes fertility and a healthy libido. The vitality bestowed by mucuna nourishes the entire body and calms the nerves, making it an excellent rejuvenative for Vata. By balancing vata in the nervous system, mucuna supports the body’s ability to maintain healthy muscular movements, proper sensation, coordination, and keen motor skills. It is also a natural source of levodopa (L-dopa), which is an essential precursor to the neurotransmitter dopamine.*

Related scientific research references:

1. Lucia Raffaella Lampariello, Alessio Cortelazzo, Roberto Guerranti, Claudia Sticozzi, and Giuseppe Valacchi. J Tradit Complement Med. 2012 Oct-Dec; 2(4): 331–339.

2. Kamla Kant Shukla, Abbas Ali Mahdi, Mohammad Kaleem Ahmad, Shyam Pyari Jaiswar, Satya Narain Shankwar and Sarvada Chandra Tiwari. . Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2010 Mar; 7(1): 137–144.

3. R Katzenschlager, A Evans, A Manson, P Patsalos, N Ratnaraj, H Watt, L Timmermann, R Van der Giessen, and A Lees. . J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2004 Dec; 75(12): 1672–1677.