Adaptogen, Sexual Dysfunction, Diabetes
Chronic Fatigue, Cancer, Detoxifier Suma
Summarized Description:
Suma has varied common and botanical names, which can make it
confusing. Taylor refers to it as Pfaffia paniculata; Duke prefers
Hebanthe eriantha, but lists other acceptable scientific names
as Gomphrena paniculata or Hebanthe paniculata. Other
common names besides Suma include Brazilian ginseng, Carango Acu,
Paratudo, Russian Secret, and Para Tudo ("for everything") which is a reference
to many Brazilian herbalist's belief that it is a veritable panacea --
an exaggeration perhaps, but certainly a sign of reverence.
Uses & Protocols
Among the indigenous in Brazil, Suma is used
primarily as a general tonic (taken in tea form), as a rejuvenating, energy,
and sexual tonic; calming agent; aphrodisiac; and calming agent. With the advent
of more thorough investigations, additional indications have been added by
modern practitioners: for use as an adatogen, cellular oxygenator, memory enhancement, blood sugar
regulation, immune booster, estrogen builder, muscle strengthening, impotence, chronic
fatigue, diabetes, cancer, PMS, mononucleosis, menopause, and hormonal disorders.
Additional applications include: menopausal and menstrual symptoms, minimizing
the side effects of birth control medications, high cholesterol, infertility,
neutralization of toxins, and as a general restorative after illness.
Warnings & Contraindications
Women with estrogen-positive cancers should avoid.
Dosage should be reduced if stomachic or gastric discomfort result. No drug
contraindications reported.
Shelf-Life
Five years or more.Medicinal Activities
Further information for practitioners:
World-famous botanist Dr. James Duke attributes the following activities
to this plant (p. 347-349; see hardcopy cover at right),
drawn from the extant literature. (See his graduation for "level of
efficacy" on our amazon traditionals page;
followed by Duke's bibliographic abbreviations (in capital letters),
which we identify
on a separate page.) Duke provides a "food farmacy potential" score for this plant of "FNFF=!."
Indications
Further information for practitioners:
Duke provides the following indications for this plant:
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Recent Studies on Suma Sourced from PubMed As of Jan. 2017, there were three citations for Hebanthe eriantha and three under Pfaffia paniculata . . . Below we list a few of the more notable:
Suma (as Hebanthe eriantha) is briefly described in Wikipedia. |