“Guayusa Tea - Superfood of the Shaman”

“Guayusa Tea goes back over 4000 years as a herbal tea that is still used today by the shaman and villagers in the rainforests of Ecuador, Brazil, and other countries. This tea contains caffeine and the relaxing agent theophylline and polyphenols that provides balanced energy without jitters or the caffeine crash we associate with drinking coffee. Plus Guayusa Tea has other health benefits because it’s one of the most “Powerful” antioxidant around… and it can create lucid dreaming.”

Guayusa Tea pronounced gwhy-you-suh and also called “The Night Watchman” because it keeps people wake, helps with overcoming fears, and helps to keep people calm when things are chaotic. Guayusa Tea is very popular in Ecuador and has a fruity, mild, and it’s not bitter. Most people take one teaspoon of the dried herb and steep them in a cup of very hot water for 5 to 15 minutes for potent cup of herbal tea that will start the day off with lots of energy. And Guayusa Tea can also be made into ice tea with has a nice aroma. Guayusa Tea also contains theophylline which is a wonderful relaxing agent found in green tea which helps to put a person into an alpha brain wave state… or relaxation state and focused energy. The shamans of the Ecuadoran rainforest use this tea in spiritual ceremonies to create an altered state of ultra awareness… and some feel it can also create lucid dreaming.

Guayusa Tea much better than coffee and in Ecuador it’s used to replace Yerba Mate’, which is a powerful stimulant that’s popular in South America. The Guayusa tree grows to be almost 30 feet tall and it’s related to our holly plants we have in North America. Guayusa also contains theobromine which is also found in chocolate which is a powerful antioxidant and a vasodilator which opens up the lungs… and it’s a stimulant and a diuretic.

Guayusa has much less caffeine than coffee and more than green tea and yerba mate’. Guayusa contains about 90 mgs per typical 8 ounce cup of tea. In rainforest villages they make a large pot of Guayusa tea every morning to get everyone up and going.

Guayusa Tea is also called a Superfood because it contains an amazing amount of powerful antioxidants. Only raw cacao powder has more antioxidants than Guayusa tea… in fact Guayusa contains more antioxidants than acai berries, goji berries, black berries, blue berries, and even kale. And Guayusa Tea even has 50% more antioxidants than green tea… powerful! This means that Guayusa Tea is great for cleaning up vasodilator in the body and preventing cardiovascular disease, strokes, and even cancer. And it also contains saponins and flavonoids that are also powerful antioxidants.

Guayusa Tea also contains lots of Vitamin C which is great for helping to prevent colds and flus. Plus it also contains Vitamin D and calcium for strong bones, zinc for a strong immune system, chromium for strong muscles, magnesium for enzyme production… and even 15 essential proteins including leucine which is very important for health and for slowing the aging process.

Other functions of Guayusa Tea are that it helps to tone and strengthen the lungs, digestive system, kidneys, and urinary tract systems. Guayusa Tea boosts metabolism because it contains chlorgenic acid thus helping with weight loss and obesity, and it depresses appetite at the same time. Also Guayusa Tea lowers and balances blood sugar making it great for diabetics… and it lowers blood pressure.

And Guayusa Tea production provides income for native people in the rainforest. Thus helping to preserve the rainforest in natural way… and helping the people at the same time.

There is an old shamanic story of twin brothers who lived in a village who wanting to know more about their life and the spirit realm. The were sleeping one night when they heard noises across the river and went out to find a village of spirits living there. They crossed the river and joined the spirits and followed a spiral staircase to heaven where they found a palace. In the palace they met all their ancestors since the beginning of time. And their ancestors gave them a tree that would help them dream and create wisdom.

The next morning they woke up and thought it was all a dream. But beside them stood a tree that was 3 feet tall… the same tree as in their dream.
So they shared their experience with the villager and planted the tree. Soon they all drank the tea and dreamt of their ancestors… thus the village found great wisdom.

So try some Guayusa Tea and perhaps you will find great wisdom.

But for sure anyone who drinks this tea will have great health!

Guayusa Tea can be found on-line or ask for at your local health food store.

Dr. Paul Haider - Master Herbalist