Mucuna pruriens (aka Velvet Bean, Cowhage) is a vigorously growing tropical legume native to Africa and Asia, and now naturalized and cultivated in many other areas.
It can climb to over 50 feet and produces young furry leaves that become smooth as the plant matures.
The beans are borne in very fuzzy seed pods, which cause a severe itch if they come in contact with the skin. This is due to a protein produced and present on the hairs called mucunain—causing them to be used in some brands of ‘itching powder’.
The flowers are borne in panicles reaching up to a foot long and are typical pea flowers, white or purple in color.
The Mucuna pruriens is an important cover crop in many areas of the world, as it is capable of fixing nitrogen and fertilizing the soil.
The beans (called ‘Benguk’) are also consumed in some parts of the world, such as Indonesia, where they are eaten and also fermented into a form of tempe known as Benguk tempe. The beans are known for their high protein content (20-29%), as well as containing a good amount of carbohydrates and minerals.
Mucuna pruriens has been long used in both Unani and Ayurvedic traditional medicine systems and known mostly for its use in rejuvenation of tissues throughout the body, male infertility, nervous disorders, and also as an aphrodisiac. It is known to be especially helpful for vata and pita doshas with sweet and warming characteristics that contribute to its nourishing and restorative properties.
As the Mucuna pruriens has a high content of L-dopa (between 3-7%), it is also used as a dietary supplement for supporting the nervous system, men’s health, dopamine production, mood support, occasional stress, and supporting motor skills, coordination, cognition and focus.
Nutrigenomic testing identifies genetic variations in people (SNPs), such as the rs1800497, associated with lower dopamine receptor activity translating to an increase in reward-seeking behaviors for these people. The market is seeing an increase in practitioners who have been recommending nutritional products with Mucuna for supporting L-dopa for this reason.
*This post is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, cure or treat any disease. Always seek medical advice directly through consultation with a health professional.
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