Scientific Research Data On Yerbamatè

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    Yerba Mate is a widely cultivated medium-sized 4 to 8 meter evergreen tree indigenous to Paraguay, Brazil and other south American countries.^(1,2) It is in the holly family with holly-like leaves that are somewhat leathery.⁽³⁾ In the wild, mate grows near streams. The white flowers produce a small red, black or yellow berries, but it is Ilex's leaves which are used medicinally and as a natural refreshing tea beverage throughout South America.⁽⁴⁾ Yerba Mate is a wild plant that has a distinct aroma and taste that has never been surpassed through plantation cultivation, although it widely cultivated now to keep up with demand. In South America, yerba mate is considered a "national drink" and in Europe it is called "the green gold of the Indios".⁽⁵⁾ In Brazil and Paraguay, the leading exporting nations, some production still comes from wild stands, most of which are found in the humid depressions of the foothills. It is not unusual for one wild tree to yield 65 to 85 pounds of dried leaves annually. In harvesting, mate gatherers called tarrafeiros or yebateros travel through the jungle searching for a stand of trees called a mancha. Harvesting is done between May and October, when the tree is in full leaf, and leaves are picked from the same tree only every third year thus protecting the tree for the ensuing crop.

    Yerba Mate is the subject of a German Monograph which lists its uses for mental and physical fatigue, and having "analeptic, diuretic, positively inotropic, positively chronotropic, glycogenolytic and lipolytic effects." ⁽⁵⁾ Yerba mate has been used medicinally as a diuretic, tonic, and a central nervous system stimulant.^{(6, 7)} Another traditional use has been as a depurative (to promote cleansing and excretion of waste).⁽⁸⁾ Herbalist, Daniel Mowrey, states that yerba mate is a "whole body tonic," even in large amounts" and "promotes balances in many body systems without overstimulating any system." Yerba mate's tonic effect on the body helps to regulate sleep cycles and reduce fatigue.⁽⁹⁾Mate is used to reduce appetite, invigorate the body, and affects the muscles by reducing fatigue.⁽¹⁰⁾

    In Europe, Mate is used for weight loss, "as the ideal slimming remedy which facilitates losing weight in a natural way and still the distressing feelings of hunger and thirst."⁽⁵⁾ Dr. James Balch, MD recommends Yerba Mate for arthritis, headache, hemorrhoids, fluid retention, obesity, fatigue, stress, constipation, allergies and hay fevers stating that it "cleanses the blood, tones the nervous system, retards aging, stimulates the mind, controls the appetite, stimulates the production of cortisone, and is believed to enhance the healing powers of other herbs."⁽¹¹⁾

    Research on the active constituents of Yerba Mate were reported in the mid-1970s through mid-1980's ^{(12, 13)} The primary active chemical constituency of yerba mate is made up of 0.3-2.0% caffeine^{(2, 5)} theobromine, theophylline, saponins, and 10% chlorogenic acid.^{(5, 7)} Sterols resembling ergosterol and cholesterol are also present in yerba mate.⁽⁵⁾ In addition, Yerba Mate is a rich source of minerals and 15 amino acids are present in the leaves.⁽¹⁴⁾ In a study by Swantson-Flatt with the closely related Ilex species guayusa, the mate extract "retarded the development of hyperglycaemia" in streptozotocin diabetic mice and "reduced the hyperphagia, polydipsia, body weight loss, and glycated haemoglobin."⁽¹⁵⁾ This study suggests the presence of potentially useful antidiabetic agents in Mate. The antioxidant properties demonstrated clinically by Yerba Mate were reported in two clinical studies demonstrating its high antioxidant values linked to rapid absorption of known antioxidant phytochemicals found in Mate leaves.^(16,17) Of most recent clinical interest is a group of known and novel saponins that researchers have isolated in Mate leaves. Saponins are a group of phytochemicals with known pharmacological activities, including, as the latest research shows, stimulating the immune system.^{(18 - 20)}

Footnotes:

1. Schultes, R.E., and R.F. Faffauf, 1990. The Healing Forest, Dioscorides Press.
2. Tyler, Varro E., 1994. Herbs of Choice The Therapeutic Use of Phytomedicinals, Haworth Press, Inc.
3. Duke, James A. and Vasquez, Rodolfo. 1994. Amazonian Ethnobotanical Dictionary, CRC Press, Inc.
4. Grieve, Mrs. M., 1971. A Modern Herbal, Dover Publications.
5. Wichtl, Max, 1994. Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals, CRC Press.
6. Easterling, John, 1992. Traditional Uses of Rainforest Botanicals.
7. de Sousa, et. al., 1991. Constituintes Quimicos Ativos de Plantas Medicinais Brasileiras, Laboaratorio de Productos Naturais.
8. Mate, The Review of Natural Products, February 1997. Facts and Comparisons Group.
9. Mowrey, Daniel B., 1993. Herbal Tonic Therapies, Keats Publishing, Inc.
10. Duke, J.A.., 1985. CRC Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL
11. Balch J.F. & Balch, P.A., 1990, Prescription for Nutritional Healing. Avery Publishing Group
12. Alikaridis F, 1987 Natural constituents of Ilex species. J Ethnopharmacol 20(2), 121-144 (1987)
13. Fossati C, 1976 On the virtue and therapeutic properties of "yerba-mate" (Ilex paraguayensis or paraguariensis St. Hilaire 1838) Clin Ter 78(3), 265-272 (1976)
14. Tenorio Sanz MD, 1991 Mineral elements in mate herb (Ilex paraguariensis St. H.) Arch Latinoam Nutr 41(3), 441-454 (1991)
15. Swanston-Flatt SK, 1989 Glycaemic effects of traditional European plant treatments for diabetes. Studies in normal and streptozotocin diabetic mice. Diabetes Res 10(2), 69-73
16. Gugliucci A, 1996. Antioxidant effects of Ilex paraguariensis: induction of decreased oxidability of human LDL in vivo. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 224(2), 338-344
17. Gugliucci A, 1995. Low density lipoprotein oxidation is inhibited by extracts of Ilex paraguariensis. Biochem Mol Biol Int 35(1), 47-56
18. Kraemer KH, 1996. Matesaponin 5, a highly polar saponin from Ilex paraguariensis. Phytochemistry 42(4), 1119-1122
19. Schenkel EP, 1996. Triterpene saponins from mate, Ilex paraguariensis. Adv Exp Med Biol405, 47-56
20. Gosmann G, 1995. Triterpenoid saponins from Ilex paraguariensis. J Nat Prod 58(3), 438-441

3. "ACTIONS: Mental stimulant, Increases stamina and endurance, Diuretic. TRADITIONAL USE: Yerba Mate is considered a stimulant and effective as a diuretic. Yerba Mate carries a colorful tradition on the South American Pampas. Gauchos drink Yerba Mate from a cow horn. It is a general tonic and invigorating to the physique, as well as mentally stimulating. Yerba Mate is now widely used for its tonic effects. Yerba Mate is an invigorating tonic to the body and mind. MERIDIAN INDICATIONS: Increases circulation by invigorating Spleen / Kidney Qi, Heat to Triple Warmer, Opens Liver meridian, Clears mist from Upper Burner, Fortifies Heart and Lung heat. EVA POINTS: Kidney, Circulation"

4. "Medicinal Action and Uses: Tonic, diuretic, and powerfully stimulant."

5. "For arthritis, headache, hemorrhoids, fluid retention, obesity, fatigue, stress, constipation, allergies, and hay fever. Cleanses the blood, tones the nervous system, retards ageing, stimulates the mind, controls the appetite, stimulates production of cortisone, and is believed to enhance the healing power of other herbs."

14. "For reasons unknown at this time, echinacea in high doses tends to promote continued immune system stimulation rather than balanced immune function. This is not true of most [herbal] tonics. Most behave like yerba mate', a more of less whole body tonic; yerba mate', even in large amounts, continues to promote balance in many body systems without overstimulating any system." . . .
"Of the many immunomodulators in the plant kingdom, I think the best are lapacho, echinacea, astragalus, yerba mate', licorice root and all species of ginseng."
"Smilax together with ginseng and yerba mate' would act to enhance the physical development of muscle tissue. These would help oxygenate cells and help them burn calories. The entire musculoskeletal system would benefit.". . .
" Last but certainly not least, I believe a modern elixir should address energy production. The solution in a liquid extract is to combine the only really good herbs for this effect, yerba mate' and ginseng species. First, it contains significant amounts of the South American herb yerba mate'.This would give the product a natural energy wallop not shared by other liquid herbal extracts. This natural energy would not interfere with the ability to sleep. On the contrary, it would help regulate sleep cycles and produce a better sleep. It would also allow one to work longer without fatigue, get more done, and feel better about doing it. Indirectly, then, the nervous system benefits, as stress and anxiety are reduced, muscle tension lessens and performance effectiveness increases."

21. "AQUIFOLIACEAE
Holly Family
The four genera and over 450 species are widely distributed in tropical and temperate regions of both hemispheres, but the centre of representation lies in Central and South America. The species are usually medium-sized (sometimes large) trees. The largest and economically most important genus is Ilex, a number of species of which are horticulturally employed as ornamentals and as the source of several caffeine-rich preparations: yaupon (L vomitoria), yerba mate (L paraguariensis), guayusa (L guayusa). The family is closely related to the Celastraceae.
Most of the chemical work has been done on the many species and varieties of Ilex used as stimulants, bitter tonics and diaphoretics. Caffeine is a major constituent of the genus; triterpenes and chlorogenic acid derivatives are also present.
Ilex Linnaeus
Including about 300-400 species of evergreen or deciduous trees and shrubs of temperate and tropical regions, this genus is represented on all continents except Antarctica. Several species are employed for their caffeine content. Many species are planted as ornamentals."