Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 1

Guayusa (Ilex guayusa) is a caffeinated Amazonian plant traditionally consumed as a tea by indigenous peoples in Ecuador and Peru. In terms of its use for nervousness, historical accounts suggest that guayusa was consumed for its stimulating effects, to enhance alertness, and to promote wakefulness, particularly during night watches or hunting. There is limited evidence that it was specifically used to treat or support nervousness in the sense of anxiety or agitation; in fact, caffeine-containing plants like guayusa are more commonly associated with increased alertness rather than calming effects.

Traditional uses recorded in ethnobotanical literature focus on guayusa’s role in social rituals, as a stimulant, and as a general tonic. Some indigenous practices included drinking guayusa tea in the early morning for ritual cleansing and communal gatherings, but not specifically for soothing nervousness. If anything, the caffeine content would be expected to exacerbate symptoms of nervousness or anxiety in sensitive individuals.

There is currently no robust scientific evidence to support the use of guayusa for treating nervousness. Most research on guayusa focuses on its antioxidant properties and caffeine content, rather than anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) effects. Therefore, any use of guayusa for nervousness is grounded more in tradition than in science, and the relevance to this condition is minimal and not well-established.

More about guayusa
More about Nervousness

Other ingredients used for Nervousness

Other health conditions supported by guayusa

Products containing guayusa