HEALTH INFORMATION

Guarana Naturale and Guarana Active are ethically labeled and are two of the best guarana products in the marketplace.

Both supplements are the real thing... 100% pure guarana seed powder (Paullinia Cupana). They are unadulterated in that they are not extracts. Nor are they restricted by the pharmacology limitations placed on some of the herbal cocktails in the marketplace.

Guarana Active capsules are listed on the Australian Register (Aust L 69933) as a therapeutic product and are packaged and marketed according to the requirement of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989.

Guarana Active is an excellent remedy and if maintained will give all of the benefits as detailed on the packets.

Guarana Naturale powder is approved as a food product and is packaged and marketed according to the requirements of the States and Territory Food Legislation and the Australian and New Zealand National Food Authority (ANZNFA) Code.

Both products are used by a broad section of the community including fatigue sufferers, athletes and partygoers alike.

Chemistry
Contrary to popular belief, guarana is relatively low in caffeine-like alkaloids per unit dose.

Guarana seed powder contains not less than 4% of naturally occuring caffeine (as guaranine), .03% theophylline, .02% theobromine with traces of related alkaloids, timbonine, xanthine, adenine, guanine hypoxanthine and 5% to 25% tannin as catechutannic acid, 3% fats, 5-6% starches, 7% resin, a saponin, mucilage, choline and pigments (1,2,3,4,5,6).

It's the natural synergy of these individual compounds within the guarana seed that contributes to the overall beneficial effect of Guarana Active.

Guarana Active is pure guarana powder and contains naturally occurring caffeine (as guaranine) and other constituents resembling tea, cola and cocoa. These ingredients are released gently from the seed fibre.

Each 550mg capsule contains approximately the same amount of caffeine (20mg) as 1/15th of an expresso coffee.

Indications of use
Herbal Tonic (2,3)
Helps relieve mild anxiety, stress and nervous tension (2,3)
Temporary relief from headaches (2,3,4,5)
Maintains stamina and physical endurance (2)
Relief of menstrual pain (2,3,4)
Herbal diuretic (4)
Herbal anti-diarrhoeal (2,3,4,5,6)
Appetite suppressant: assists weight control in conjunction with a balanced low kilojoule/calorie diet (1)

Action
Guarana has been classified as a tonic and a coolant for tropical conditions (3,7).

The medicinal effects of guarana are believed to result from the high content of guaranine, associated alkaloids and tannin (8).

It has been suggested that the long-lasting effects of guarana occur because of the other components of the seeds.

Future research may show that various saponins also play an important part in the herb's pharmacology.

Guaranine and the other alkaloids have muscle-relaxant and diuretic properties (2,3,4,7). Guaranine is an alkaloid similar to the theine of tea and caffeine of coffee (2,4).

Case studies have indicated that guarana acts in a different way from caffeine and produces none of the undesirable side-effects (1).

Results of a trial comparing guarana and caffeine found that guarana had a strong and consistent positive effect on reported disposition and performance.

Guarana is useful for mild forms of diarrhea because it contains high tannin levels (1,2).

Results of ongoing research will help define guarana's medicinal role in the future.

Directions for use
For adults only. Keep out of reach of children.
Store below 30C.

MEDICAL INFORMATION

Guarana Active

If guarana is used as an appetite suppressant for weight loss, it should be used in conjunction with a balanced low kilojoule/calorie diet.

People suffering cardiac disorders should exercise the same caution when using pure guarana seed as with other caffeine-based products such as tea, coffee and chocolate.

Guarana is generally regarded as safe by the US Federal Drug Authority (FDA) (GRAS 172.5100) (3,6).

Contra-Indications
Hypersensitivity to any component. Not recommended for children, pregnant and breast-feeding women.

Drug interactions
Guarana seed powder contains not less than 4% of the alkaloid caffeine (as guaranine) and therefore the general drug interaction for caffeine should be considered.

Note
The calculations, tables and information contained on this web site only apply to 100% pure guarana seed powder Guarana Naturale© and Guarana Active©.

The data supplied does not apply to any other products containing guarana, either in powdered form, extract form or liquid extracts of guarana.

All calculations have been based on the mean averages for product specifications.

Reference
1. Van Straten, M., (1994) Guarana. England: The CW Daniel Company Limited.
2. Grieve M.,(1988) A Modern Herbal. England: Watson and Viney.
3. Willard T., (1991) The Wild Rose Scientific Herbal, Calgary: Wild Rose College of Natural Healing Ltd.
4. Duke J. A., (1985) Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, Florida: CRC Press Inc.
5. Todd R G., (1990) Extra Pharmacopoeia Martindale, 25th edition. London: The Pharmaceutical Press.
6. Leung A.Y., (1980) Encyclopedia of Natural Ingredients used in food, drug and cosmetics.
7. Scott J., (1989) Guarana - an amazing new tonic. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.
8. Menman A.R., (1982) Guarana (paullinia cupana) Journal of Ethnopharmacology 6(3): 311-338.