Sky mentioned this herb as something useful for sinus and lung congestion. My best friend has a lot of problems with this related to allergies. Does anyone care to share their experiences with it? Do you buy the herb and make tea, or buy the softdrinks, capsules, or what?

Thanks, emmy

[saudade]

Hi.

Guarana is a fruit, not herb, originally from the Amazon (Rain, as foreigners call it) Forest. It is mostly consumed in drinks and can be used as an energetic suplement (in powder, capsules, etc.). It has never been listed as a remedy, though, except for extreme tiredness (better than snorting cocaine cause it doesn't damage your health). Guarana has absolutely no effect on sinus/lung congestions and anyone with high blood pressure should stay away from it.

Hope it helps :-)

[Larry_Hoover]

I don't know that guarana would do anything for respiratory problems. Its a concentrated source of xanthines, which tend to be stimulatory. Examples are caffeine, theobromine, and theophylline (all found in cocoa, also). Some vendors try to hide the caffeine, calling it guaranine instead, but its caffeine.

There may well be other active principles in guarana (I'd be surprised if there weren't), but I can't find any evidence for treating congestion.

Lar