Mucuna Pruriens

Mucuna pruriens, also known as ‘Velvet bean’, is a wild legume originally from southern China and eastern India that now grows throughout many tropical and subtropical regions of the world, where its pods are commonly used for food. In particular, its seeds are considered a rich source of dietary protein at about 23–35% protein and are rich in minerals.  

Mucuna is a powerful and popular Indian medicinal plant with a long history of use in traditional Ayurvedic medicine, including as an aphrodisiac and to treat to treat arthritis, nervous disorders and Parkinson’s disease. In fact, its traditional use in degenerative nervous system disorders such as Parkinson’s is clinically supported (see “Neuroprotective” below). 

All parts of the mucuna plant possess medicinal properties that have been the subject of clinical studies, including its anti-diabetic, antioxidant, anti-epileptic, anti-microbial, neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory activity.