Back to Homepage

5 Surprising Benefits Of Muira Puama

Muira puama is a relatively new supplement in Western markets, so many people haven’t heard of it. That said, it has been widely used for centuries in South American traditional medicine. This makes now the perfect time to explore the 5 surprising benefits of muira puama.

For a long time, most supporters relied on anecdotal evidence to back its benefits. Recent clinical trials, however, have begun to provide scientific support for many of these claims.

Its popularity is rising, and more supplements and products containing muira puama are hitting the market. Despite this, many people remain hesitant, as they lack clear information about how it works and what benefits it can provide.

In this article, we’ll explain exactly what muira puama is, detail its key benefits, and show how it produces them. By the end, you’ll have all the information needed to decide whether to try muira puama and enjoy the health benefits it offers.

Table of Contents

What Is Muira Puama & How Does It Work?

Muira puama is a powder made from the roots and bark of a tree native to Brazil and nearby countries, called Ptychopetalum olacoides. It has been used for centuries in Amazonian traditional medicine as a nerve tonic and aphrodisiac, supporting mood, mental health, and sexual performance. This has earned it nicknames like “potency wood” and “erection root.”

There is currently no universally agreed-upon daily dosage of muira puama. However, available evidence suggests that the 800 mg in each serving of Prime Male Enhance is sufficient to deliver its known benefits, especially when combined with other ingredients in the formula, such as damiana leaf powder and saw palmetto.

Tested and Trusted
By Over 1 Million Men

Order Now

5 Surprising Benefits Of Muira Puama

Supports Your Hormonal Balance

Muira puama is best known for supporting hormonal balance. It primarily works by influencing the neuroendocrine system, which regulates sex hormones and stress hormones.

Studies are currently unclear whether muira puama directly increases testosterone production or simply improves its bioavailability. Either way, it affects testosterone by boosting dopamine signaling and interacting with other brain neurotransmitters, which stimulates the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal (HPG) axis.

The HPG axis controls luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which in turn regulate testosterone, estrogen, and other reproductive hormones. This helps create a healthier hormonal environment, improving libido, sexual function, and muscle maintenance. It also helps balance estrogen and progesterone, indirectly supporting reproductive health and sexual desire.

Muira puama’s effects are not limited to sex hormones. It acts as a mild adaptogen, supporting adrenal function and helping the body respond to stress. By reducing excessive cortisol production it prevents stress-related suppression of sex hormone levels (1).

Enhances Sexual Function

Another well-known benefit of muira puama is its ability to act as an aphrodisiac and enhance sexual function through several mechanisms.

Some of these relate to its impact on hormonal balance. By modulating testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone, muira puama supports normal sexual function in both men and women. Combined with reduced cortisol levels, it can counteract sexual dysfunction caused by stress or fatigue, improving desire, vitality, energy, and stamina.

Increased dopamine activity in the brain further enhances sexual arousal and motivation.

Muira puama also promotes blood flow, including to the genitals, by supporting nitric oxide signalling. This relaxes blood vessels, making it easier for men to achieve and maintain an erection. This effect works alongside hormone support to improve overall sexual function, response, and performance.

Additionally, muira puama may improve nerve signalling and sensitivity, enhancing sexual pleasure and responsiveness in both men and women, which can increase the desire to engage in sexual activity (2).

Boosts Energy Levels & Stamina

Muira puama can also boost energy levels and stamina through multiple mechanisms.

Its ability to support balanced testosterone and other sex hormones plays a key role. Healthy hormone levels help reduce fatigue, enhance physical performance, and support muscle strength, endurance, and overall vitality.

As a mild adaptogen, muira puama improves adrenal function and helps the body respond better to stress. This lowers cortisol levels, preventing stress-related fatigue and conserving energy for mental and physical tasks.

Muira puama also increases dopamine signalling and boosts norepinephrine activity. These effects improve motivation, focus, alertness, and mental energy while reducing feelings of fatigue.

Its adaptogenic and neuroprotective compounds help the body resist stress-induced exhaustion, enabling faster recovery from physical exertion and improving stamina during exercise, sex, or daily activities.

By enhancing sexual health, energy, motivation, and overall vitality, muira puama supports better physical and mental endurance and performance (3).

Improves Cognitive Health & Function

Muira puama’s effects on neurotransmitters, blood flow, and stress resilience also support cognitive health.

By boosting dopamine and norepinephrine it improves motivation, alertness, and mental energy. This helps regulate serotonin production, supporting mood balance, stress management, sleep quality, appetite, and digestion — all important for mental well-being.

Muira puama may also enhance acetylcholine signalling, a neurotransmitter critical for focus, mental clarity, learning, and memory. Improved neurotransmitter balance further enhances motivation, stress resilience, and emotional health.

As a mild adaptogen, muira puama helps the nervous system cope with physical and mental stress, reducing cortisol-related cognitive impairment and improving concentration and mental endurance. Its antioxidant compounds also protect neurons and brain cells from oxidative stress and free radical damage, supporting long-term brain health (4).

Check out 5 Surprising Benefits of Saw Palmetto

Reduces Stress & Lifts Mood

One of the earliest known uses of muira puama was as a nerve tonic and mood enhancer. It works by interacting with the brain and nervous system.

Like other adaptogenic herbs, muira puama helps the body adapt to stress by regulating the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. This lowers excessive cortisol production, which can cause anxiety, fatigue, and low mood.

Its compounds also influence dopamine and serotonin, neurotransmitters linked to motivation, reward, and emotional stability. This promotes a more positive outlook and reduces irritability. Muira puama further improves cerebral blood flow, enhancing mental clarity, focus, and overall emotional well-being.

Combined with its ability to relax the nervous system and boost energy levels, muira puama reduces mental and physical exhaustion, indirectly supporting mood, especially during times of stress (5).