Yerba Maté

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Botanical:  Ilex paraguariensis; Ilex paraguayensis
Family: Aquifoliaceae (holly)

Other common names:  Maté, South American Holly, Ilex, Paraguay Tea, St. Bartholomew's Tea, Ilex Maté, Missionaries' Tea, Jesuit Tea, Hervea, Matté Tea, Houx Maté, Brazil Tea, Gon-gouha

Maté (pronounced mah-tay), the tea made from the Yerba Maté plant, is the South American equivalent to coffee in the United States.   Charles Darwin called it "the ideal stimulant," and it is estimated that South Americans inhabitants consume approximately eight million pounds of Yerba Maté each year.

Disclaimer:
The information presented herein by Viable Herbal Solutions is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

History and Uses:
Yerba Maté is a large, white-flowered shrub that is native to Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay, potentially growing to a height of twenty feet.  Maté tea is the national drink of Argentina, where it is consumed more frequently than tea or coffee.  Upon drinking it, especially for the first time, one feels a remarkable inflow of strength, energy and good cheer as a direct and almost immediate result.  The early Jesuit missionaries learned the use of this herb from the South American Indians, and they found the brew so refreshing and healthful that they risked their lives searching for the small trees in the dense jungles of Brazil.  Later they brought the tree under cultivation near their missions, and Yerba Maté became widely known as "Jesuit's Tea" or "Missionaries Tea." The name, Maté, is derived from the name of the vessel in which the herb is infused (Maté is the Spanish word meaning "gourd," as the tea is often consumed from cups made of calabash gourds).  Burnt sugar or lemon juice is usually added to it.  It is sucked through a tube with a bulb strainer at the end, and the cup is then passed round.  Charles Darwin called it "the ideal stimulant," and the parts of this plant used medicinally are the roasted leaves, collected when the berries are ripe.  The actions of this herb are stimulant to the central nervous system, thymoleptic, diuretic, antirheumatic, mild analgesic, tonic and depurative.  The primary chemical constituents of Yerba Maté include xanthine derivatives (caffeine citronate, theobromine, theophylline), neocholerogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, beta- carotene, vitamins B and C and sulphur. The caffeine in Yerba Maté is said to stimulate

the burning of fat.  Yerba Maté is sometimes combined with other remedies in the treatment of psychogenic headache, fatigue, mild nervous depression and rheumatic pains. It is believed to stimulate mental and physical energy.  Its beneficial effects are mainly due to the caffeine and theobromine constituents.

Recommended Dosage:
Take two (2) to three (3) capsules, one (1) time each day with water between mealtimes.

Contraindications:
Pregnant or nursing women and people who suffer from insomnia should not use Yerba Maté, because of the stimulating effects of the caffeine content.  The herb should not be taken with meals, since it may interfere with the absorption of nutrients, and Yerba Maté should not be used in large amounts (many times the recommended dosage), as it is a potent stimulant.   Taking Maté may interfere with the actions of lithium, and this interaction might also occur with other drugs used for manic depression and mental illness (studied but not proven).  Those with liver problems should avoid Yerba Maté. Taking Yerba Maté and the phenyl-propanolamine in certain antihistamines and diet drugs may increase blood pressure (studied but not proven). Taking Yerba Maté may interfere with the actions of several prescription drugs, and the warnings associated with caffeine apply to this plant. Those with cardiac disorders should consult a physician before taking Yerba Maté.

Capsule Information:
Our Yerba Maté supplements are encapsulated in 100% Gluten-free, Vegetable Cellulose, Certified Kosher, size "00" Capsules. (click here for size comparison) Each capsule contains approximately 600 mgs.