Organically grown in Brazil from a certified organic grower

Ensuring top quality, efficacy and flavour. Many growers create plants that are but a shadow of the real wild quality – buy organic for best health, flavour and results

 Family: Aquifoliaceae
Genus: Ilex
Species: paraguariensis
Part Used: Leaves
Actions

• increases energy
•  burns fat – thermogenic
•  suppresses appetite
• cleanses blood
•  stimulates digestion
•  cleanses bowels
• stimulates heart
• fights free radicals
•  relieves pain
•  increases bile
• mildly laxative
•  promotes perspiration
•  enhances immunity

Traditional Use:

Yerba mate was has been used as a beverage since the time of the ancient Indians of Brazil and Paraguay. In the early 16th century, Juan de Solís, a Spanish explorer of South America’s famed La Plata River, reported that the Guarani Indians of Paraguay brewed a leaf tea that “produced exhilaration and relief from fatigue.”

The wild plant has a distinct aroma and taste that has not been matched by plantation cultivation. Thus buying wildcrafted or certified organic is much more sought after for full efficacy.

In South America yerba mate is considered a national drink in several countries

In addition to its standing as a popular beverage, yerba mate is used as a tonic, diuretic, and as a stimulant to reduce fatigue, suppress appetite, and aid gastric function in herbal medicine systems throughout South America. It also has been used as a depurative (to promote cleansing and excretion of waste). In Brazil, mate is said to stimulate the nervous and muscular systems and is used for digestive problems, renal colic, nerve pain, depression, fatigue, and obesity. A poultice of the leaves also is applied topically to anthrax skin ulcers (for which mate’s tannin content – highly astringent – may be the reasoning behind this use).

In Europe it is used for weight loss, physical and mental fatigue, nervous depression, rheumatic pains, and psychogenic- and fatigue-related headaches. In Germany it has become popular as a weight-loss aid. Yerba mate is the subject of a German monograph which lists its approved uses for mental and physical fatigue. In France yerba mate is approved for the treatment of asthenia (weakness or lack of energy), as an aid in weight-loss programs, and as a diuretic. It also appears in the British Herbal Phamacopoeia (1996) and indicated for the treatment of fatigue, weight loss, and headaches. Some properties are due to its caffeine content.

Traditional Preparation: A leaf tea or infusion is the standard preparation, utilizing 2-4 g of cut leaves in 150 ml of hot water. Powdered leaf and leaf extracts with standardized caffeine content are being used in capsules and formulas in herbal products as well. General dosages recommended are the equivalent of 2 g once or twice daily, or follow the labeled dosage information.

Contraindications:

• Yerba mate contains caffeine and should not be used by those who are sensitive or allergic to caffeine. Excessive consumption of caffeine is contraindicated for persons with high blood pressure, diabetes, ulcers, and other diseases.
• Yerba mate should not be consumed excessively and chronically (as it has been documented to increase the risk of certain such cancers as oral and esophageal cancer).
• Yerba mate has been reported to have MAO-inhibitor activity in one in vitro study. Those persons taking MAO-inhibitor drugs should use yerba mate with caution to monitor these possible effects.

Drug Interactions: None documented, however; it may potentiate monoamine oxidase inhibitor drugs (MAOIs).

In Australia, it is a violation of TGA regulations to list any therapeutic claims for any medication, natural or orthodox prescriptive, without TGA approval. For further information about this herb, we recommend doing your own thorough research, such as using any links provided or reliable researched websites

http://www.rain-tree.com/plistbot.htm

http://www.australiannaturaltherapistsassociation.com.au/

http://www.herbmed.org/

Disclaimer:  The information contained here is intended for educational purposes only. It is not provided in order to diagnose, prescribe, or treat any disease, illness or injured condition of the body and the author, publisher, printer and distributors accept no responsibility for such use. All herbs should be taken with care whether topically or internally. Please skin test if using it topically and discontinue use in cases of rnegative reactions. Unless taken as a food/tea, please always take internally under proffesional supervision & consult your practitioner if symptoms persist or you have any concerns including drug/herb interactions. Please consult with a proffesional herbalist or your doctor if you are taking any medications to check for herb/drug interactions.