Yerba Mate

History:

Yerba Maté is a large, white-flowered, evergreen shrub that grows wild near streams in moist, well-drained soil in sun or shade and requires at least a forty-five-degree Fahrenheit temperature to succeed. It is native to subtropical South America and has been cultivated as a very valuable commercial crop in northern Argentina (Corrientes and Misiones), southern Brazil, eastern Paraguay and western Uruguay (and it has also been naturalized in Texas). Paraguay exports millions of pounds of Yerba Maté annually. The Yerba Maté plant grows as a shrub or small tree that produces a large red fruit or drupe (which is never consumed) and leafy shoots that may be picked at intervals throughout the year in the same manner as tea. Its leaves have a serrated margin, and they are used in herbal preparations and also made into a tea that is the beverage of choice in much of South America. Because of its enormous popularity, Yerba Maté is heavily cultivated as a valuable crop and has displaced great areas of rain forest canopy trees. Although the trees can sometimes reach a height of twenty feet, they are still much lower than the rain forest canopy they replace and have, thus, created an environmental issue. A beverage made from the leaf is the national drink of Argentina, where it is touted as an energy tonic, and it is so popular that the average Argentinian consumes about eleven pounds annually. The odor is not particularly agreeable and the taste rather bitter, but it is drunk at every meal and every hour. Yerba Maté was first brought under cultivation by Jesuit missionaries, who had learned of the herb and its health benefits and as a cooling drink from the South American Indians; and the Jesuits risked their own safety, searching for the shrubs in the dense jungles of Brazil, where it grew wild. After cultivating the small trees in their missions, the common names, Jesuit Tea and Missionaries' Tea, emerged. The name Maté (pronounced mah-tay) is derived from the Spanish word, meaning "gourd," which was the vessel in which the drink was infused in the manner of tea, and the cup passed around. In Portuguese (the language of Brazil), the hollow gourd is called cabaça; and in Paraguay, Yerba Maté is drunk as a cold beverage - usually out of a cow's horn in the countryside. Yerba Maté was introduced into the United States in the 1970s, and the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has generally recognized the herb as safe for use as a food additive and supplement. Some of the constituents in Yerba Maté include caffeine, theobromine, theophylline, chlorophyll, flavonoids (rutin, kaemferol, quercetin and rutin), tannins (caffeic and chlorogenic acids), rich polyphenols, ursolic acid, amino acids, vanillin, choline, inositol, nicotinic acid, pyridoxine, trace minerals, high potassium, magnesium and manganese levels, B-vitamins and vitamins C and E.

Recommended Dosage:
Take two (2) capsules, one (1) to two (2) times each day with water on an empty stomach.

Contraindications:
Pregnant or nursing women and people who suffer from insomnia should not use Yerba Maté Herbal Supplement 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. 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). Yerba Maté and the phenyl-propanolamine in certain antihistamines and diet drugs may increase blood pressure (studied but not proven). Those with liver problems should avoid Yerba Maté. 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 Mate 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.

Special Note:
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Disclaimer:
The information presented herein by Herbal Extracts Plus 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.