Kapikacchu (mucuna)

Mucuna pruriens · कपिकच्छु

Herbs & Roots. Ayurveda.

Also called Velvet bean, Cowhage, Cowitch

Sanskrit: कपिकच्छु (Kapikacchu)

Contains levodopa; drug interactions

Kapikacchu, or velvet bean, is a tropical seed that naturally contains levodopa, a Parkinson's drug, so it needs medical supervision.

Did you know? Its Latin name pruriens means 'itching,' because the fine hairs on the pods cause intense itch.

What it may help, and how strong the proof is

Nerve health. Small trials in Parkinson's disease found the seed powder eased symptoms about as well as standard levodopa in the short term. The trials are tiny and short.
Early proof
Sexual health. Traditional aphrodisiac. Few human studies exist, and most evidence is from lab or animal work.
Traditional proof

Parts of the body

Nerves & pain, Hormones & reproduction

Traditional use

Ayurveda uses kapikacchu as a strength tonic and an aphrodisiac (vrishya) to support sexual vitality. It is also used for nerve weakness.

How it is classified

Herbal actions: Aphrodisiac, Tonic, Nervine. Energy: warming.
Ayurveda: Calms Vata. Can raise Pitta. Taste (rasa): sweet. Energy (virya): heating. After digestion (vipaka): sweet. Vrishya (aphrodisiac), Balya (strength).

How people take it

Parkinson's studies used seed powder that supplies levodopa, but levodopa content varies between products and the right dose is not set. Do not use it in place of prescribed Parkinson's care.

Powder and capsule.

Where to get it

A twining tropical bean grown in India, Africa, the Caribbean and Central America. Sold as seed powder, capsules and extracts, and labels often list a levodopa percentage that may overstate what the body absorbs.

Be careful

Levodopa can cause nausea, irregular heartbeat, and changes in blood pressure, mood or movement. Combining it with MAO inhibitor antidepressants can cause a dangerous rise in blood pressure, and it can block the effect of dopamine-blocking drugs such as some antipsychotics. The seed hairs and pods cause itching, and it should be avoided in pregnancy.

Avoid if: pregnancy; heart disease; high blood pressure; melanoma.

Mixing with other things

Works well together
Both are used in Ayurvedic strength and men's vitality blends.
Works well together
Both are classic Ayurvedic men's vitality herbs.
Works well together
Both are traditional Ayurvedic men's and strength herbs.
Don't mix
Antidepressants (Zoloft, Prozac, Lexapro and others)
MAO inhibitor antidepressants combined with levodopa can cause a dangerous rise in blood pressure.
Use caution
Blood pressure medicine (lisinopril, amlodipine, losartan)
Levodopa can raise blood pressure and heart rate in some people, which can work against blood pressure medicines.

The honest take

Mucuna is unusual because it contains levodopa, a real Parkinson's drug. Small Parkinson's trials are promising, but they are tiny and short, and the dose in supplements is uneven. Its aphrodisiac claims rest on tradition, so do not use it in place of prescribed Parkinson's care.