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Erythrina Mulungu

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just curious if anyone has any experience with this plant, ive decided to try as many different plants as possible whilst they are available to me, and this one is at the top of my list.

experential feedback would be appreciated.

Mulumgu has long been used in Brazil by indigenous peoples as a natural sedative: it has been used to calm an overexcited nervous system and promote a restful sleep.

In both North and South American herbal medicine systems mulumgu is used to calm agitation and nervous coughs and to treat other nervous system problems including insomnia and anxiety.

Much research has been performed on Erythrina alkaloids ( present

in this plant ) over the last decade, as they represent a group of

very active chemicals with various properties and are almost always present in Erythrina species. Thus far, alkaloids have been found in 78 of 107 species in the genus Erythrina; mulungu is documented with 20 isoquinoline alkaloids. Many of these have demonstrated anti-inflammatory, cardioactive, narcotic, and sedative activities.

Mulumgu is a medium-sized, well-branched tree that grows 10-14m

high. It produces a profusion of pretty, reddish-orange flowers at

the ends of the tree's many branches. It produces black seed pods

containing large, red-and-black seeds, which are sometimes used by indigenous peoples to make necklaces and jewelry. Mulungu is indigenous to Brazil, parts of Peru, and tropical areas in Latin America. Several Erythrina tree species are used by indigenous peoples in the Amazon as medicines, insecticides, and fish poisons.

Cautions :This plant is a sedative and may cause drowsiness.

Mulungu has been used as a hypotensive, and people with a low blood pressure condition should be cautious when using it. Mulungu may potentiate some anti anxiety and antihypertensive drugs.

www.amazonhealing.com

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Havent tried it Personally as of yet, does sound promising tho E. Will try and find some info i read while back on it. i think i do remember reading its not too good for repitious use can anyone confirm that at all? Gotta Love South America :wub: soo many amazing plants and herbs!!

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great muscle relaxant and mild sedative. all erythrinas can be used this was. our native species (E.vespertilio) and even our weed species (E.crista-galli) have very potent seeds that can substitute for the overharvested E.mulungu bark. In fact, some botany texts say that E.mulungu is not a distinct species and should be E.crista-galli.

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great muscle relaxant and mild sedative. all erythrinas can be used this was. our native species (E.vespertilio) and even our weed species (E.crista-galli) have very potent seeds that can substitute for the overharvested E.mulungu bark. In fact, some botany texts say that E.mulungu is not a distinct species and should be E.crista-galli.

That is very interesting info Torsten!, learn something new everyday :) Is there anyone around actually harvesting the seed of E.crista-galli for these specific uses? Taking it would be fairly widespread then being a weed.

TRIBAL AND HERBAL MEDICINE USES

Several Erythrina tree species are used by indigenous peoples in the Amazon as medicines, insecticides, and fish poisons. Mulungu has long been used in Brazil by indigenous peoples as a natural sedative: it has been used to calm an overexcited nervous system and promote a restful sleep.

In both North and South American herbal medicine systems mulungu is considered to be an excellent sedative to calm agitation and nervous coughs and to treat other nervous system problems including insomnia and anxiety. It also is widely used for asthma, bronchitis, gingivitis, hepatitis, inflammation of the liver and spleen, intermittent fevers, and to clear obstructions in the liver. In both Brazil and Peru mulungu is used for epilepsy. Herbalists and practitioners in the United States use mulungu to quiet hysteria from trauma or shock, as a mild, hypnotic sedative to calm the nervous system, to treat insomnia and promote healthy sleeping patterns (by sedating overactive neurotransmitters), to regulate heart palpitations, and to treat hepatitis and liver disorders. Positive regulatory effects on heart palpitations and decreased blood pressure have been reported; Dr. Donna Schwontkowski, a chiropractor who has used Amazonian plants in her practice, recommends mulungu for hernias, stomachaches, and epilepsy - and to help augment milk flow as well.

PLANT CHEMICALS

The chemicals in mulungu have been studied extensively; they have been found to comprise large amounts of novel flavonoids, triterpenes, and alkaloids. Much research has been performed on Erythrina alkaloids in the last decade, as they represent a group of very active chemicals with various properties and are almost always present in Erythrina species. Thus far, alkaloids have been found in 78 of 107 species in the genus Erythrina; mulungu is documented with 20 isoquinoline alkaloids. Many of these have demonstrated anti-inflammatory, cardioactive, narcotic, and sedative activities. One novel alkaloid discovered in mulungu is called cristamidine. Its positive effect on the liver was demonstrated in a 1995 clinical study with rats. Mulungu's hypotensive and heart-regulatory activities were studied and attributed to its alkaloids. Another alkaloid in mulungu (and other Erythrina plants), erysodine, has been documented with neuromuscular effects characteristic of curare arrow poisons. Two studies also indicate that it might be useful as an anti-nicotine drug, as it demonstrated actions as a competitive antagonist and to block nicotine receptors. Interestingly, both of these studies were published by major (and competing) pharmaceutical companies!

The main plant chemicals in mulungu include: alanine, arginine, aspartic acid, cristacarpin, cristadine, crystamidine, dimethylmedicarpin, erybidine, erycristagallin, erycristanol, erycristin, erydotrine, erysodienone, erysodine, erysonine, erysopine, erysotrine, erysovine, erystagallin A-C, erythrabyssin II, erythralines, erythramine, erythratine, eryvariestyrene, gamma-amino butyric acid, glutamic acid, hypaphorine lectins, n-nor-orientaline, oleanolic acid, oleanonic acid, phaseollidins, proteinases, sandwicensis, ursolic acid, and vitexin.

BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES AND CLINICAL RESEARCH

The traditional use of mulungu for anxiety and stress has been validated by researchers in a recent (2002) study, where it was shown to alter anxiety-related responses. An animal model (correlating to human generalized anxiety disorder, as well as panic disorder) was undertaken on a water-alcohol extract of mulungu. The researchers reported that the mulungu extract had an effect similar to the commonly-prescribed anti-anxiety drug diazepam. It was suggested in this study that the alkaloids in Erythrina "may alter GABAergic neurotransmission." GABA (gamma-amino butyric acid) acts as a neurotransmitter in the brain; abnormalities with its function is implicated in diseases including epilepsy, anxiety, and depression. Further research has validated the traditional use of mulungu as an antimicrobial agent for throat and urinary infections; mulungu has demonstrated antibacterial activity in two studies against Staphylococcus aureus, and antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium fortuitum and Mycobacterium smegmatis.

CURRENT PRACTICAL USES

Mulungu is not very widely known or used in North America; mostly appearing as an ingredient in only a few herbal formulas for anxiety or depression. It is a wonderful rainforest medicinal plant that is deserving of much more attention in herbal medicine systems outside of South America. The main herbal remedy sold in America today for stress, anxiety and as a general sedative is kava-kava. This plant however, has had some negative press in recent years concerning possible negative effects to the liver. Since mulungu provides the same calming and stress relieving effects (if not better), and actually has a positive effect on the liver; it is poised as the new replacement for this highly popular (and profitable) herbal supplement.

Taken from http://www.rain-tree.com/mulungu.htm

Edited by Young Tripper

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cristagalli seeds are widely available, including at SAB usually.

The analysis report sadly lacks the most significant aspect of erythrina, which are the proteins. These are very hard to analyse which is why they are generally ignored in such reports. However they are at the core of the primary action as a muscle relaxant. These constituents are called lectins. other lectins we know are ricin and abrin, two deadly toxins. Not all lectins are as dangerous though, but they do bind to their active sites very well and have long lasting effects.

Erythrina indica (the really common coral tree) is widely used in Sri lanka and India as a versatile home remedy and the leaves even as a food. E.indica bark appeared to have activity only about 20% that of E.mulungu, but identical in effect.

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Can I get an update on the availability of this plant, seeds legal status etc...?

Erythrina mulungu I mean.

H.

Edited by Hunab Ku

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Totally legal and unfortunately not very recreational. It's a relaxant and that's about it. It doesn't even help you get to sleep, or it doesn't for me. The effects seem to carry over into the next day. It can make you woozy so be careful when you drive on it.

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Totally legal and unfortunately not very recreational. It's a relaxant and that's about it. It doesn't even help you get to sleep, or it doesn't for me. The effects seem to carry over into the next day. It can make you woozy so be careful when you drive on it.

Yeah no I understand it's not recreational, in fact that's why I'm interested in it, I tend to suffer from body tension and sometimes can find my self completely frozen up from it... not good, so this plants properties are attractive to me as a kind of daily relaxant, something that just gets on with it's job in the background if you know what I mean.

H.

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Totally legal and unfortunately not very recreational. It's a relaxant and that's about it. It doesn't even help you get to sleep, or it doesn't for me. The effects seem to carry over into the next day. It can make you woozy so be careful when you drive on it.

affected me differently,i find it nootropic and pleasant.......i definately sleep better with it but its still not something i use regularly.

vespertillio is my preference over cristi-galli,indica and a couple others i've tried.

leaf works well.

t s t .

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