Yerba Mate Purchase & Information
Alternative Names
Chimarrao, Green Mate, Hervea, Ilex, Jesuit's Tea, Jesuit's Brazil Tea, Maté Folium, Maté, Mate de Yerba, Paraguay Tea, St. Bartholemew's Tea, Thé des Jésuites, Thé de Saint Barthélémy, Thé du Paraguay, Thé du Brésil, Yerba Maté, Yerba Mate, Yerbamate CAUTION: Please refer to separate listings for Green Tea, Caffeine, Oolong Tea, White Tea, Cola Nut, Cocoa, Guarana
Scientific Name
Ilex Paraguayensis
Why Do People Use Yerba Mate?
The oral preparations of Ilex paraguariensis (Yerba mate), or yerba mate powder, is used for physical fatigue and as stimulant to relieve mental fatigue. Oral preparations of yerba mate powder are also used a diuretic, and as a laxative in large amounts, as a mild analgesic for rheumatic pains and headaches or for modifying mood. Yerba mate powder is also orally consumed for weight loss, depression, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), urinary tract infections (UTIs), arrhythmias, cardiac insufficiency, nervous heart complaints, hypotension, to promote excretion and cleansing of waste and also for removal of kidney and bladder stones.
In foods - Mate is utilized as flavoring agent in tea-like beverages.
Is It Safe To Use?
Possibly Safe - Oral and for appropriate time period (short term) consumption of yerba mate powder is considered safe.
Possibly Unsafe - Yerba mate powder is considered safe when utilized orally for prolonged periods of time and large amounts. Prolonged use can results in increased risk of of esophageal cancer, mouth cancer, kidney cancer, laryngeal cancer, lung cancer and bladder cancer.
Possibly Unsafe - Yerba mate powder reported with adverse effects when very high doses ingested orally. There is large amount of caffeine in yerba mate powder, which may result in severe toxicity.
Likely Unsafe for Infants - Oral consumption of Yerba mate for infants is consider unsafe. It may lead to enhanced risk of esophageal cancer, bladder cancer, mouth cancer, kidney cancer, laryngeal cancer and lung cancer.
Possibly Unsafe in Pregnancy - Oral consumption of yerba mate have adverse effects for pregnant females. Yerba mate powder may be responsible for increased risk of esophageal cancer, mouth cancer, kidney cancer, laryngeal cancer, lung cancer and bladder cancer. These adverse effects are possibly due to caffeine in yerba mate.
Possibly Unsafe In Lactation - Breastfeeding women should avoid oral consumption of yerba mate powder. Yerba mate powder may be responsible for esophageal cancer, mouth cancer, kidney cancer, laryngeal cancer, lung cancer and bladder cancer.
How Effective Is Yerba Mate?
There is insufficient information available to rate the effectiveness of Ilex paraguariensis for following conditions:
• Obesity
• Osteoporosis
More evidence is needed to rate the benefits of yerba mate powder for other conditions.
How Yerba Mate Works?
The most effective parts of Ilex paraguariensis are the leaves and its stem parts. It consists of theobromine, stimulant, phytol, theophylline, squalene and stigmasterol. The concentrations of these constituents differ with, harvesting and growing conditions. Yerba mate powder also contains different minerals including iron, phosphorus, calcium, riboflavin, thiamine, vitamin C and vitamin E. Other constituents also include N-nitroso and tannins compounds that are potential carcinogens.
The normal concentration of caffeine in yerba mate is 0.5% - 0.8%. The caffeine in yerba mate powder invigorates the central nervous system (CNS), muscles, heart and potentially the brain center that control blood pressure. Possible mechanism includes adenosine receptor block and inhibition of phosphodiesterase. By blocking adenosine receptors, caffeine is thought to increase the release of neurotransmitters like dopamine. It also diminishes resistance of airway. It has also been suggested that caffeine in yerba mater powder may diminish serotonin and GABA signaling. Caffeine stimulates gastric acid secretion and increases plasma catecholamine levels. Caffeine can have chronotropic and positive inotropic effects on the cardiac functions. Caffeine can also strongly elevate both systolic and diastolic blood pressure but may not have this effect in habitual users.
Caffeine can have diuretic effects as well. Tachyphylaxis to the diuretic impact creates quickly, reducing liquid losses related with caffeine consumption. Caffeine containing drinks taken exercise don't seem to compromise body hydration status. Caffeine does not considerably influences the liquid status of individuals who drink caffeine containing drinks on regular basis.
What Are The Side Effects /Adverse Reactions of Yerba Mate?
Extended consumption of yerba mate powder may be related to increased risk of esophageal cancer, mouth cancer, kidney cancer, laryngeal cancer, lung cancer and bladder cancer. The impact appears to be depend on dose of caffeine. The tumor risk with Ilex paraguariensis consumption appears to enhance if orally ingested in shape of warm beverage. Alcohol and tobacco utilization can increase the risk up to 7-fold. There is one report of venous occlusive disease related with long term and excessive yerba mate utilization.
The caffeine constituent in yerba mate powder can also lead to sleeping disorder, restlessness, nervousness, nausea and vomiting, gastric irritation, quickened respiration, as well as tachycardia, delirium, tremors, diuresis and convulsions.
Caffeine can result in anaphylaxis in sensitive people, IgE-medicated caffeine allergy appears to be comparatively uncommon.
Large amount of caffeine can result in excessive catecholamine discharge and subsequent sinus tachycardia, metabolic acidosis, ketosis and hyperglycemia. Other symptoms include anxiety, headaches, ringing in the ears, agitation, respiratory alkalosis, hypokalemia, arrhythmia, premature heartbeat and chest pain. In lethal caffeine toxicity, the death is generally caused by ventricular fibrillation.
How Yerba Mate Interacts With Other Herbs and Supplements?
Yerba mate may interact with following supplements/herb:
• Antiplatelet or Anticoagulant containing Supplements & Herbs
• Bitter Orange
• Herbs And Supplements containing Caffeine
• Calcium
• Creatine
• Ephedra (Ma Huang)
How Yerba Mate Interacts With Drugs?
Yerba mate powder may interacts with various drugs, such as:
• Adenosine (Adenocard)
• Alcohol (Ethanol)
• Amphetamines
• Drugs Containing Anticoagulant/Antiplatelet Properties
• Antidiabetic Drugs
• Beta-Adrenergic Agonists
• Cimetidine (Tagamet)
• Clozapine (Clozaril)
• Cocaine
• Contraceptive Drugs
• Dipyridamole (Persantine)
• Disulfiram (Antabuse)
• Ephedrine
• Estrogens
• Fluconazole (Diflucan)
• Fluvoxamine (Luvox)
• Lithium
• Mexiletine (Mexitil) • Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (Maois)
• Nicotine
• Pentobarbital (Nembutal)
• Phenylpropanolamine
• Quinolone Antibiotics
• Riluzole (Rilutek)
• Terbinafine (Lamisil)
• Theophylline
• Verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan)
How Yerba Mate Interacts With Foods?
Not known.
How Yerba Mate Interacts With Lab Tests?
Ilex paraguariensis may interact with the following lab tests:
• 5-Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid
• Bleeding Time
• Catecholamines
• Creatine
• Dipyridamole Thallium Imaging
• Glucose
• Lactate
• Neuroblastoma Tests
• Pharmacological Stress Tests
• Pheochromocytoma Tests
• Pulmonary Function Tests
• Theophylline
• Urate
• Urinary Calcium
• Vanillylmandelic Acid (VMA)
How Yerba Mate Interacts With Diseases and Conditions?
Following are some conditions or diseases which are affected by yerba mate powder:
• Alcoholism
• Anxiety Disorders
• Bleeding Disorders
• Cardiac Conditions
• Diabetes
• Diarrhea
• Glaucoma
• Hypertension
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Osteoporosis
• Smoking
What Should Be the Dose/Administration of Yerba Mate?
There is no information about the dosage of yerba mate.
Comments
Mate de yerba also called as Yerba Maté is a famous beverage, much similar to tea or coffee in Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil. The beverage is normally made from Ilex paraguariensis leaves which is also known as Jesuit's Brazil tea, Jesuit's tea, St. Bartholemew's tea and Paraguay tea. The herbal tea has been reported with various anticholinergic toxicities. However, alkaloids of belladonn were identified and the toxicity were traced to a one contaminated lot of imported herbs.
General Certificate of Analysis (COA)
Specification sheet links below are a standard copy of the COA less the batch or lot number and manufactures dates. Specification sheet can be dated and should only be considered as a general information. Please contact and request an up to date COA if needed for specific updated information before placing order by filling out the contact form with product name and SKU number. If ordering quantities of twenty five kilos or more contact for availability.
