How to Prepare Muira Puama

Muira Puama is a small tree native to the Brazilian rain forest. It has gained popularity over the last few years as a tonic for neuromuscular problems, rheumatism, gastrointestinal problems and sexual impotence. Many forms of this tree's roots and leaves can be found on retail shelves. According to Rain Tree Nutrition, smart consumers may pass up the pill, capsule or tea form of this plant for an alcohol tincture, which they say is the only way to take this herb effectively.

Things You'll Need

• 2 oz. dried muira puama root, stem or bark
• Mortar and pestle
• 4 oz. 80- to 100-proof vodka or grain alcohol
• Wide-mouth glass jar with lid
• Strainer
• Cheesecloth
• Dark glass bottle or jar
• Labels and markers

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Instructions

Preparing Muira Pauma Tincture

• 1

  Get your herbs from a reputable source for quality and ethical harvesting.

  Put 2 oz. muira puama into mortar and grind it the smallest pieces you can. Pour contents into a glass jar.

• 2

  Pour 4 oz. alcohol over the muira pauma. Close the lid tightly on the jar to prevent leakage or evaporation. Label the jar "muira pauma preparation" and the date.

• 3

  Muira pauma root and bark must sit in the jar for four weeks to make a tincture. Place the jar in a dark area or cupboard. Shake the herb in the jar at least once daily to allow all parts of the roots and bark to steep effectively in the alcohol.

• 4

  Strain the muira pauma tincture preparation through the strainer into the other clean jar. Press hard on the herb to get as much of the liquid out as possible. If any plant material made it through the strainer, pour your prepared muira pauma back into the first jar and strain again through the cheesecloth.

• 5

  Seal the jar tightly and label "muira pauma tincture." Prepared this way, the tincture lasts for up to one year.