Guayusa
Ilex guayusa
Herbs & Roots. Latin American & Amazon.
Also called Wayusa, Guayusa tea
Caffeine: jitters and sleep lossGuayusa is an Amazon holly whose leaves are brewed into a caffeinated tea that is drunk for energy and alertness.
Did you know? Guayusa is part of Kichwa culture in Ecuador, where families often drink it together, sometimes before dawn.
What it may help, and how strong the proof is
- Energy & tiredness. Traditional energy tea. Human studies of guayusa itself are few, though caffeine's alertness effects are well known.Traditional proof
- Memory & focus. Sold for focus and mental clarity. Human brain studies are few.Traditional proof
Parts of the body
Traditional use
The Kichwa people of the Ecuadorian Amazon have drunk guayusa for alertness and energy, often in group settings.
How it is classified
- Herbal actions
- Stimulant, Brain tonic. Energy: neutral.
How people take it
Brew dried leaves in hot water. Most people drink one to two cups a day. Caffeine content varies with the leaves and how long the tea steeps.
Tea.
Where to get it
Grows wild in the Amazon basin of Ecuador, Peru, and Colombia. Sold as dried leaf, tea bags, and blends.
Be careful
Guayusa has caffeine. Too much can cause jitters, trouble sleeping, a fast heartbeat, and stomach upset. Avoid large amounts late in the day, and pregnant women should limit caffeine.
Avoid if: pregnancy; heart disease; anxiety disorders.
Mixing with other things
- Works well together
Both are South American caffeinated leaf teas.
- Use cautionSleep or anxiety medicine (Ambien, Xanax, Ativan)
Caffeine can cancel out the effect of sedatives and sleep medicines.
- Use cautionAlcohol (beer, wine, spirits)
Alcohol adds to the drowsiness.
- Worth knowingBlood pressure medicine (lisinopril, amlodipine, losartan)
Caffeine can raise blood pressure for a few hours after a dose.
Adds up with others that can make you drowsy: , , , , , , , , , , , , , and 14 more.
The honest take
Guayusa is an energizing tea with a long Amazon history. Its effects are mostly from caffeine, and human research on the leaf itself is thin. Drink it like coffee or tea, and keep an eye on sleep and heart symptoms.