Suma is a large, scrambling, shrubby ground vine which has an intricate and deep root system. It is indigenous to the Amazon basin area and other tropical parts of Brazil, Ecuador, Panama, Paraguay Peru and Venezuela.^{(1, 2)} Since it first botanical recording in 1826, it has been referred to by several botanical names including Pfaffia paniculata, Hebanthe paniculata and Gomphrena paniculata.⁽³⁾ The genus Pfaffia is well known in Central and South America with over 50 species of Pfaffia growing in the warmer tropical regions of the area.⁽⁴⁾

In South America, Suma is known as Para Toda which means "for all things" and as Brazilian Ginseng since it is widely used as an adaptogen for many things, much like regular ginseng. The Indigenous Peoples of the Amazon region who named it Para Toda, have used the root of Suma for generations for a wide variety of things including a general tonic, energy and rejuvenating tonic as well as a general cure-all for many types of illnesses.⁽⁵⁾ Suma has been used as a tonic, an aphrodisiac, a calming agent and to treat ulcers for at least 300 years, and is an important herbal remedy in the folk medicine of several indigenous Indian tribes today.^{(6, 7)}

In herbal medicine throughout the world today Suma is considered an adaptogen. The word adaptogen was coined in 1947 by a Russian scientist named N.V. Lazarev. His definition of the word was a medicinal substance fulfilling three criteria: a.) It must cause only minimal disorders in the body's physiological functions; b.) It must increase the body's resistance to adverse influences not by specific action but by a wide range of physical, chemical, and biochemical factors; and c.) It must have an overall normalizing effect, improving all kinds of conditions and aggravating none. Suma, with its wide range of documented uses, certainly meets this criteria. In herbal medicine in Ecuador today, Suma is considered a tonic for the cardiovascular system, the central nervous system, the reproductive system, and the digestive system and is used to treat hormonal disorders, sexual dysfunction and sterility, arteriosclerosis, diabetes, circulatory and digestive disorders, rheumatism, and bronchitis.⁽⁸⁾ In European herbal medicine Suma is used as to restore nerve and glandular functions, to balance the endocrine system, to strengthen the immune system, for infertility, menopausal and menstrual symptoms, to minimize the side-effect of birth control medications, for high cholesterol, to neutralize toxins and as a general restorative tonic after illness.⁽⁹⁾ In North and South American herbal medicine Suma root is used as an adaptogenic and regenerative tonic regulating many systems of the body, as an immunostimulant, and is used to treat exhaustion resulting from Epstein-Barr disease and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, hypoglycemia, impotency, arthritis, anemia, diabetes, cancer, tumors, mononucleosis, high blood pressure, PMS, menopause and hormonal disorders and many types of stress.^{(10 - 15)} Suma has also been called "The Russian Secret" because it is taken by Russian Olympic athletes to increase muscle-building and endurance without the side effects associated with steroids.⁽¹⁵⁾ This action is attributed to the anabolic agent, beta-ecdysterone as well as three novel ecdysteroid glycosides which are found in high amounts in Suma.^{(16, 17)} Suma is such a rich source of beta-ecdysterone, that it is the subject of a Japanese patent for the extraction methods employed to obtain it from this root.⁽¹⁸⁾ Two other plant hormones found in Suma, sitosterol and stigmasterol, are believed to encourage estrogen production and may account for it's use for menopausal symptoms.⁽¹⁵⁾

Nutritionally, Suma root contains 19 different amino acids, a large number of electrolytes and trace minerals including iron, magnesium, cobalt, silica, zinc and the vitamins A, B-1, B-2, E, K, and pantothenic acid.⁽¹⁷⁾ The high content of germanium accounts for its properties as an oxygenator at the cellular level. The root of Suma is composed of up to 11% saponins.⁽¹⁹⁾ These saponins include a group of novel chemicals called Pfaffosides as well as Pfaffic acids, glycosides and nortriperpenes. These saponins have clinically demonstrated the ability to inhibit cultured tumor cell melanomas and help to regulate blood sugar levels.^{(20 - 24)} The pfaffosides and pfaffic acid derivatives in Suma have been patented as antitumor compounds in two Japanese patents.^{(25, 26)}. In addition to these patents, several U.S. patents have been filed on Suma and/or compounds found in Suma roots. In 1995, a U.S. Patent was filed detailing how certain compounds extracted from Suma roots were given to subjects having sickle cell disease which resulted in increased hemoglobin levels, inhibited red blood cell sickling and generally improved physical condition during the treatment.⁽²⁷⁾ A French research group has been studying the ecdysteroids found in Suma roots and their beneficial effects to the skin and hair, filing two patents, one in 1993 and another in 1997.^{(28, 29)}

1 "Suma is called "Brazilian ginseng" because it is a near panacea in Brazil. Although it is not a true ginseng from the Panax plant family; like ginseng, it has both adaptogenic and immune-enhancing properties. Some researchers report that it has the ability to strengthen the immune system and reduce tumors. Other researchers have found that Suma acts primarily as a regulator of the endocrine, nervous, musculoskeletal and digestive systems without stimulatory or inhibitory effects, thus classifying it as a true adaptogen. An important ingredient in Suma is the saponin nortriterpenoid. Six different pfaffic acid sugar compounds have been isolated from nortriterpenoid. Five of these six pfaffic acid derivatives inhibit cultured tumor cell melanomas and some of them have been reported to regulate blood sugar levels. Two plant hormones, sitosterol and stigmasterol, also occur naturally in Suma. They have been reported to encourage estrogen production and reduce high serum cholesterol levels. Beta-ecdysone, another plant steroid isolated from Suma facilitates cellular oxygenation. Nutritional analysis has found that Suma contains 19 different amino acids, a large number of electrolytes and trace minerals including iron, magnesium, cobalt, silica, zinc and the vitamins A, B-1, B-2, E, K, and pantothenic acid. It is especially high in the trace element germanium which is considered an oxygenator and is used as a nutritional supplement for the immune system. Suma is reported to increase chi (energy flow in the body). It has been used as a tonic, an aphrodisiac, a calming agent, and in the treatment of ulcers for at least 300 years." 2 "Suma has been called "para todo" which means "for all things" by the Brazilians. It is said to be the South American version of ginseng. It contains up to eleven percent saponins. Derivations from saponins have been patented as antitumor compounds. Suma has been used to help many chronic diseases including leukemia, arthritis, asthma, high blood pressure, mononucleosis, candida, hypoglycemia, Epstein Barr Syndrome, high cholesterol, and the early stages of cancer. It seems to balance female hormones and is good for menopause. It is also used for impotency and frigidity." 3 "ACTIONS: Increases energy, Boosts immunity, Inhibits tumors, Regulates blood sugar levels, Balances hormones. TRADITIONAL USE: Suma has been proved to increase oxygen in the system, boosting energy and immunity. In the Amazon it is called "Para Todo' which means "for everything'. Studies conducted by scientists on three continents suggest that unique chemicals present in Suma inhibit tumor cell growth. Research indicates the presence of germanium as one of the active constituents in Suma. Because of this it is an excellent catalyst and increases oxygen at the cellular level. Based on years of clinical experiments, researchers believe Suma is both safe and effective. Suma balances hormones and increases energy by increasing oxygen at the cellular level. MERIDIAN INDICATIONS: Increases Qi, Liver blood tonic, Increases Yang in Lung and Heart meridian, Regulates Triple Warmer, primarily Upper Burner. EVA POINTS: Triple Warmer (endocrine system), Spleen, Liver, Heart" 5 "Suma has properties that combat anemia, fatigue, stress, and diabetes. An immune system booster. In Brazil suma was reported to be more powerful than ginseng, and it is referred to as Brazilian ginseng. Research in Japan found that the suma root contains pfaffic acid, which is capable of inhibiting certain types of cancerous cells. Dr. Takemoto was the first to study suma in Japan." 11 "Article 1: "Suma, called "Brazilian ginseng," strengthens the immune system and reduces tumor formation. Of six pfaffic acid sugar compounds isolated from this plant, five of them were shown to inhibit cultured tumor cell melanomas. The nutrient composition of Suma shows it especially high in the trace element germanium, very important for proper immune system function. Suma is also a cellular oxygenator and contains two plant hormones, sitosterol and stigmasterol, which encourage estrogen production and reduce high serum cholesterol levels. Some patients report an increased resistance to extreme highs or lows in the temperature of their environment from Suma." Article 2: "Of the more than 200,000 plant species found in the Amazon, many have been found to contain hormone-like compounds that are quite similar to estrogen and testosterone. These plants have been traditionally used to treat women with PMS, menopause and miscarriages, and men with impotence and prostatitis. One of the most effective herbs from the Amazon for female problems is Suma. Suma is called "Brazilian ginseng" because of the wide variety of conditions it is used to treat in Brazil. Researchers report that it acts primarily as a regulator of the endocrine, nervous, musculoskeletal and digestive systems. Suma is classified as a true adaptogen. Adaptogens differ from other herbs in that they can be used safely on a daily basis. Their action is normalizing, as opposed to stimulating or inhibitive. Two plant hormones, sitosterol and stigmasterol, occur naturally in Suma. These two plant hormones are phytoestrogens, plant compounds that mimic some of the properties of estrogen. Another plant compound found in Suma, beta-ecdysone, facilitates cellular oxygenation. Mary Ellen found that by taking a combination of Amazon herbs containing phytoestrogens, her menopausal symptoms stopped quickly. Plants containing phyto-estrogens have been found to be protective against female hormonal-related cancers, including breast cancer, cancer of the cervix, and endometriosis." Article 3: "Of these eight herbs, Suma (Pfaffia paniculata) is by far the most well-researched. Studies by Okui and Otaka dating back to 1968 revealed that the plant enhanced muscle-building without producing the negative hormonal effects steroids are noted for. By 1976, the Russian scientist V.N. Syrov was convinced that the anabolic agent in Suma was beta-ecdysterone. This gave the Russians the competitive edge in the Olympics, and Suma began to be called "the Russian Secret." A dosage of 500 mg. of Suma twice a day helped all athletes during any stage of their training, according to a research report by Health Research which studied amateur athletes. Experiment participants first noted a "sense of well-being" within 3-5 days, and a money1 increased desire to get to their next training session. Weight lifters experienced much less pain during heavy lifts when they took Suma. These researchers recommended 500 mg. for every 40 lbs. of body weight, spread out evenly in two divided doses, for the maximum gain in muscle strength and size. During a 54-day period (almost 8 weeks), the dosage was only taken on days 1-10, 16-25, and days 31-40. Despite the 24 days off the herb, researchers reported that Suma's effects were still felt by the athletes on the off days." 15 "A number of other herbs have been receiving good reports as strengtheners of the immune system. Among the most prominent of these are chaparral, Pau d'Arco, tang-kuei, hoelen, various Chinese formulas, and the Suma brand of Pfaffia paniculata." "(Pfaffia paniculata). Enhances energy and vitality and shows great promise as a healing agent in chronic disorders believed to result from a lowered immune response." 21 "AMARANTHACEAE
Cockscomb Family, Amaranth Family
The herbs, shrubs or vines of the Amaranthaceae, numbering 400 to 500 species in 40 genera, occur in temperate, tropical and subtropical zones in both hemispheres. The family has been classified into two subfamilies based on the structure of the stamens and ovaries. There are many weedy species. Ornamentals are numerous. The edible seeds and young plants of several species have been valued as food in Central, and South America and the Himalayas.
Saponins are widespread in the family; cyanogenic compounds are found to a limited extent. More characteristic is a group of nitrogen-containing protoalkaloids (betacyanins and betaxanthines). Some members accumulate nitrate (potentially carcinogenic). The occasional presence of alkaloids has been reported; saponins are widespread in the family.