Guarana: Aphrodisiac or Sexy Jitter Bug?

And that’s probably why people like it so much. It’s a soft stimulant which works over a long period, without giving you the jolt of regular caffeine in coffee.

The first record of the use of Guarana dates back to 1669. A Jesuit missionary named J. Felipe Betendorf visited an area deep in the Amazon Basin where the Maué Indians were using Guarana as a daily stimulant. These Indians praised the beverage for its ability to ward off headaches, relieve cramps and fevers, and as an aphrodisiac.

Guarana is not a sex stimulant, however. While it has a “warming” effect and can give you an increase of energy, how you use that hot flash is up to you more than your genitals.

Guarana’s standing as a natural stimulant has caused its popularity to grow worldwide. You can find it under many labels and as an ingredient in many herbal formulas, energy drinks, and protein bars. Even Pepsi and Miller Beer are sneaking it into some of their products. One company sells it in their after dinner mints, called Jo Mints.

Unfortunately, many unethical manufacturers are putting the guarana name on their labels to capitalize on its popularity—but adding regular caffeine to their products instead.

It doesn’t matter, however. If you are looking to use guarana as a sex stimulant, you are barking up the wrong tree.

Taking large amounts of Guarana can lead to anxiety, diarrhea, headache, irritability, nausea, vomiting, heart problems, or even convulsions. Obviously, there is nothing sexy about those experiences.

In short, guarana may be useful for general energy and may even (in low doses) prevent headaches, but as a safe herb for increasing your love life, pass on it.