Catuaba
Catuaba Bark: A Folk Tonic With No Human Trials
Catuaba bark is used in Brazilian folk medicine as a tonic for fatigue, stress and impotence, but the 2018 study we read tested extracts only in the lab and in rodents, with no human trials. In Maxforce it is third of nine lines, so a gummy holds at least 5 mg. The label prints no amount.
Written by the Maxforce label deskUpdated
The bark01
What is catuaba bark?
Catuaba is the bark of several Brazilian trees, and the species most often studied is Trichilia catigua. In folk medicine it is brewed as a tonic.
The folk uses named in the research paper we read are fatigue, stress, impotence and memory deficit (Antioxidant, anticholinesterase and antifatigue effects of Trichilia catigua (BMC CAM, 2018)). "Folk use" means people have used it for generations. It does not mean anyone has measured it in men.
The Maxforce label lists "Catuaba Extract" in third place. Like the others, it has no printed amount, species, plant part or extract ratio.
| Name on the label | Catuaba Extract |
|---|---|
| What it is | Trichilia catigua, a Brazilian bark |
| Place on the label | 3 of 9 in the 82 mg proprietary blend |
| Amount per gummy | Not printed; at least 5 mg (listed before the 5 mg caffeine line) |
| Amount used in research | No human dose (lab and rodent work only) |
| Strength of evidence | None in people |
| Marketed or traditional use | Folk tonic for fatigue and impotence |
| Main caution | No human safety data in the source used. |
Evidence02
What does the research on catuaba show?
It shows lab and animal results only. The 2018 study in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine reports no human trials (Antioxidant, anticholinesterase and antifatigue effects of Trichilia catigua (BMC CAM, 2018)).
The authors tested extracts in the lab and in rodents. The extract did not protect rats from cold-immobilization stress. In a fatigue test it gave a partial benefit, mainly at the highest dose, and the authors say this partially supports the folk use as an anti-fatigue agent (Antioxidant, anticholinesterase and antifatigue effects of Trichilia catigua (BMC CAM, 2018)). They report no formal toxicology and no human safety data.
| Question | Finding |
|---|---|
| Human trials | None reported |
| Rodent stress test | No protection |
| Rodent fatigue test | Partial benefit, mostly at the highest dose |
| Sexual function | Not tested in this study |
| Toxicology and human safety | Not available |
Notice what is missing. The folk use includes impotence, yet the study did not test sexual function. A rat result on fatigue cannot be carried over to a man's erection.
The dose math03
How much catuaba is in a Maxforce gummy?
At least 5 mg, because it is listed before caffeine. No upper figure is printed.
Catuaba is third. The first four lines hold at least 57 mg together, so the average of the group is at least 14.25 mg. The shares are not equal, and the order only says that each is no smaller than the next. Catuaba may be above or below that average.
The rodent study used extract doses we cannot map to a gummy, since the label gives no ratio. That means any sentence such as "contains the amount used in studies" would be a guess, and we do not write it. Even a mouse dose scaled to a man would not tell us whether the extract in a gummy matches the extract in the study, since extracts differ by solvent, ratio and bark source.
Cautions04
Is catuaba safe?
Nobody knows, because the study we read found no formal toxicology and no human safety data (Antioxidant, anticholinesterase and antifatigue effects of Trichilia catigua (BMC CAM, 2018)).
That is the honest answer, and it matters more here than for the better-studied lines. A gap in the data is not the same as a safe result. Folk use over generations is some reassurance, but it was never a controlled safety trial.
- Pregnant or nursing: the label says to consult a doctor first.
- On medications or with a medical condition: the same rule applies.
- Any adverse reaction: stop and consult a doctor, as the label directs.
Because catuaba is one of nine lines in a blend, a reaction cannot be traced to it alone. Note the date you started and any symptom, then share it with a clinician.
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See packsReading claims05
How should you read claims about catuaba?
Treat any claim about catuaba and men as a hope, not a result.
| If you read | The sources allow |
|---|---|
| "Lifts desire" | No human data found |
| "Fights fatigue" | Partial rodent result at the top dose |
| "Traditional Brazilian aphrodisiac" | True as a description of folk use |
| "Safe for daily use" | No safety data reported |
The third row is fair, and brands use it with care. The others go beyond the evidence. Our benefits page sets the sales claims beside the label so you can see the gap for every line, and the supplement facts page shows the label itself.
Ask your doctor06
What should you ask a doctor about catuaba?
Ask what is known, and accept the answer "very little".
Show the label
Point to the third line and the 82 mg total. Explain that no line but caffeine has a printed amount.
Mention your medicines
With no safety data, a doctor or pharmacist has nothing to look up, so they will judge on the whole blend.
Name your goal
If the goal is better erections, the cause matters more than any bark. Heart, blood sugar, sleep and mood all play a part, and a visit can check them.
Our guide on erections and heart health lists the checks doctors usually start with. The side effects page covers the whole blend, not one line.
Keep reading07
What comes after catuaba in the Maxforce blend?
Green tea extract and caffeine take places four and five, and they are the only lines with a well-known stimulant effect.
Read green tea and caffeine next, or go back to maca. The ingredients overview lists all nine lines in label order.
FAQ08
Maxforce questions people ask
What does catuaba do for men?
No human trial we found shows what catuaba does for men. It is used in Brazilian folk medicine for fatigue, stress and impotence, but the 2018 study tested extracts only in lab and rodent work.
Is catuaba an aphrodisiac?
Traditionally it has that reputation. The study we read did not test sexual function, so the label of aphrodisiac describes folk belief, not a measured effect in men.
What species is the catuaba in Maxforce?
The label does not say. It lists only Catuaba Extract. The most studied species is Trichilia catigua, but the gummy's species, bark part and ratio are not printed.
Is catuaba legal in supplements?
Catuaba bark is sold as a dietary ingredient, and the FDA does not approve supplements before sale. Legal to sell is not the same as proven to work or proven safe.
Are there catuaba side effects?
The research reports no formal toxicology and no human safety data, so side-effect rates are unknown. If you have a reaction, stop and consult a doctor, as the Maxforce label directs.
How is catuaba taken traditionally?
Traditionally the bark is brewed as a tea or steeped in a tonic. A gummy extract is a different preparation, and no study compares the two.
Who wrote this09
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label, the sales page and linked NIH, FDA, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by Maxforcevitality, a Maxforce U.S. retail desk, not by the manufacturer or the distributor named on the label. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
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