Have you ever wished you could combine the kick of coffee with the health benefits of green tea? Want to stay alert and focused without the jittery feeling you get after too many cups of coffee?
Well, the indigenous people of Ecuador discovered a treasure, and lucky for us, they're willing to share it. It’s known as guayusa or the "Watchman's Plant." Ever since its discovery, this culture has depended on guayusa for both overall health and natural energy.
Guayusa - Treasured for Centuries
Ilex Guayusa (pronounced “Wah-u-sah”) is an evergreen holly native to the Amazon rainforest – a known birthplace of countless beneficial plants. Groves of guayusa trees have been cultivated for centuries for their powerful energizing properties.
We know guayusa has been a treasured medicinal plant for at least 1,500 years, ever since a bundle of guayusa was discovered in a medicine man’s tomb high in the Bolivian Andes.
The spiritual and medicinal benefits of guayusa were well-known. In fact, guayusa must have been a very valuable trade good since only items of great worth would have been carried on the long, treacherous journey to the Andes.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, missionaries reported that native peoples consumed guayusa every day. Jesuit priests traded guayusa as a medicinal plant. Even today, it is common for tasty guayusa tea to be brewed in a large communal pot so everyone in the village can enjoy the benefits of guayusa.
The Traditional Benefits of Guayusa
Guayusa's leaves contain caffeine and other important compounds, including L-theanine, theobromine, amino acids and glutamic acid. While guayusa leaves have been traditionally brewed into a tea, many people today find a guayusa tincture offers a more convenient way to take advantage of guayusa's many health benefits.
Some of these benefits include:
- Stimulates the central nervous system (aka keeps you alert)
- Can induce a mild dream-like state when mixed with other sacred plants
- Supports a healthy digestive system
Guayusa - A Natural Energy Drink
If you rely on caffeine to make it through the day, then guayusa just might be your new best friend.
It gives you the same boost as your morning cup of Joe without the jitters, shakes or anxiety. Guayusa also doesn’t slam your system like many commercial caffeine drinks. The L-theanine in the leaves acts as built-in protection against the caffeine's negative effects.
Even people who are sensitive to caffeine often find they handle guayusa very well. For busy, busy people, this is one of guayusa's most valuable benefits.
Bottom line: Guayusa gives you the energy you're looking for, but it won't keep you awake staring at the ceiling all night.
Guayusa's Natural Antioxidant Benefits
The ancient people knew guayusa was important for maintaining health, but they didn't understand why. Today, researchers have proven that guayusa is loaded with antioxidants, crucial for protecting the body from serious problems associated with oxidative stress.
Why are antioxidants so important?
- They help prevent premature aging
- They reduce the risk of some cancers, particularly digestive tract cancers and neurodegenerative disease
- They improve cardiovascular health
Lose Weight Naturally with Guayusa
Guayusa is also known to support healthy and natural weight loss. The caffeine in the guayusa leaf helps to suppress your appetite. For this reason, it’s a popular dietary supplement, working to provide energy while making it easier to stick to a strict diet.
Digestive Health and Anti-inflammatory Benefits of Guayusa
Guayusa has always been considered a valuable digestive aid. We now know this is due to the high levels of methylxanthines, especially theobromine and caffeine found naturally in the leaves. Guayusa also works to prevent infection in the digestive tract and keep everything running as it should.
Is Guayusa a Unique Alternative to Coffee and Green Tea?
People who rely on coffee to keep going often find that green tea doesn't provide the boost they need. Green tea drinkers, on the other hand, count on green tea for its health benefits, but they're missing the stimulant effect.
Guayusa offers a unique alternative to both green tea and coffee, acting as a middle ground between the two. It offers the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits of green tea PLUS caffeine without the mid-day crash. Guayusa's caffeine boost is both energizing (theobromine) and calming (L-theanine).
Naturally energizing guayusa tinctures are a powerful way to get the safe boost you need without the crash or any unwelcome side effects. Consider adding it to your routine today!