Mulateiro (Calycophyllum spruceanum)
In Peruvian herbal medicine mulateiro is used for many purposes including eye infections, infected wounds, skin spots, skin depigmentation, wrinkles and scars and as a hair tonic.
Cardona Zuleta, L. M., et al. "Seco-iridoids from Calycophyllum spruceanum (Rubiaceae)." Phytochemistry. 2003 Sep; 64(2): 549-53. Portillo, A., "Antifungal activity of Paraguayan plants used in traditional medicine." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2001 Jun; 76(1): 93-8.

Muira Puama (Ptychopetalum olacoides)
Native peoples along the Brazilian Amazon's Rio Negro river use muira puama as a tonic to treat neuromuscular problems; for paralysis and beri-beri, and for sexual debility, rheumatism, grippe, and cardiac and gastrointestinal weakness. It's also valued there as a preventive for baldness.
Bucci, L. R., et al. "Selected herbals and human exercise performance." Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 2000 Aug; 72(2 Suppl): 624S-36S. Paiva, L., et al. "Effects of Ptychocepalum olacoides extract on mouse behaviour in forced swimming and open field tests." Phytother. Res. 1998; 12(4): 294–96. Waynberg, J. "Male sexual asthenia—interest in a traditional plant-derived medication." Ethnopharmacology; 1995.

Nettle (Urtica dioica)
Nettle root has a long history of use in herbal medicine in the Americas as a diuretic, for relief of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and other prostate problems and as a natural remedy to treat or prevent baldness.
Nettle has shown in preliminary studies to help prevent the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone.* Schottner, M., et al. "Lignans from the roots of Urtica dioica and their metabolites bind to human sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG)." Planta Med. 1997; 63(6): 529-32. Carson, C., et al. "The role of dihydrotestosterone in benign prostatic hyperplasia." Urology. 2003; 61(4 Suppl 1): 2-7 Schneider, T., et al. "Stinging nettle root extract (Bazoton-uno) in long term treatment of benign prostatic syndrome (BPS). Results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled multicenter study after 12 months" Urologe A. 2004 Mar;43(3):302-6. Melo, E. A., et al. "Evaluating the efficiency of a combination of Pygeum africanum and stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) extracts in treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH): double-blind, randomized, placebo controlled trial." Int. Braz. J. Urol. 2002 Sep-Oct; 28(5): 418-25. Lichius, J. J., et al. "The inhibiting effects of Urtica dioica root extracts on experimentally induced prostatic hyperplasia in the mouse." Planta Med. 1997; 63(4): 307-10. Hryb, D. J., et al. "The effect of extracts of the roots of the stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) on the interaction of SHBG with its receptor on human prostatic membranes." Planta Med. 1995; 61(1): 31-2.

Piri-Piri (Cyperus articulatus)
In the Peruvian Amazon, piri-piri is traditionally used on the head as a hair tonic to treat or prevent baldness.
Kiuchi, F., et al. "Inhibition of prostaglandin biosynthesis by the constituents of medicinal plants." Chem. Pharm. Bull. 1983; 31: 3391-3396. Desmarchelier, C., et al. "Total reactive antioxidant potential (TRAP) and total antioxidant reactivity (TAR) of medicinal plants used in southwest Amazona (Bolivia and Peru). Int. J. Pharmacog. 1997; 35(4): 288-296. Desmarchelier, C., et al. "Studies on the cytotoxicity, antimicrobial and DNA-binding activities of plants used by the Ese'ejas." J. Ethnopharmacol. 1996; 50(2): 91-96. Mongelli, E., et al. "Antimicrobial activity and interaction with DNA of medicinal plants from the Peruvian Amazon region." Rev. Argent. Microbiol. 1995 Oct-Dec; 27(4): 199-203.

Guarana (Paullina cupana)
In Brazil, guarana is used in body care products for its tonifying and astringent properties, and to reduce cellulite.* Guaraná also has been used as an ingredient in shampoos for oily hair and as a ingredient in hair-loss products.
Basile, A., et al. "Antibacterial and antioxidant activities of ethanol extract from Paullinia cupana Mart." J. Ethnopharmacol. 2005 Oct; 102(1): 32-6. Fukumasu, H., et al. "Chemopreventive effects of Paullinia cupana Mart var. sorbilis, the guarana, on mouse hepatocarcinogenesis." Cancer Lett. 2005 May 7; Espinola, E. B., et al. "Pharmacological activity of guaraná (Paullinia cupana Mart.) in laboratory animals." J. Ethnopharmacol. 1997; 55(3): 223–29. Marx, F., et al. "Analysis of guaraná (Paullinia cupana var. sorbilis). Part 1. HPLC determination of caffeine, theobromine and theophylline in guaraná seeds." Dtsch. Lebenstm. Tundsch. 1985; 81(12): 390–92.

Suma (Pfaffia paniculata)
A U.S. patent has been filed on the topical use of ecdysterone chemicals found in suma which claims their suma ecdysterone extract strengthened the water barrier function of the skin, increased skin keratinocyte differentiation, gave the skin a smoother, softer appearance and improved hair appearance.*
Meybeck, A., et al. "Use of an ecdysteroid for the preparation of cosmetic or dermatological compositions intended, in particular, for strengthening the water barrier function of the skin or for the preparation of a skin cell culture medium, as well as to the compositions." U.S. patent no. 5,609,873 March, 11, 1997 Matsumoto, I., "Beta-ecdysone from Pfaffia paniculata." Japanese patent no. 82/118,422. January 20, 1984. de Oliveira, F. G., et al. "Contribution to the pharmacognostic study of Brazilian ginseng Pfaffia paniculata." An. Farm. Quim. 1980; 20(1–2): 277–361. Nishimoto, N., et al. "Three ecdysteroid glycosides from Pfaffia." Phytochemistry. 1988; 27(6): 1665–68.

For more in-depth information on these unique and highly effective rainforest plants, click on the ingredient names below to go to the database entry file for each rainforest plant.

Suggested Use: Spray directly onto the scalp and massage in. Avoid contact with eyes. Let dry and leave in overnight. Wash and style hair as normal in the morning