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Suma, also called Para toda, is the dried
root of Pfaffia Paniculata, a plant found in the Atlantic
rain forest of Brazil. First introduced to the United States as
Brazilian Ginseng, Suma is one of the most highly regarded herbs
in South America, and is considered to be a true adaptogen. Used
by native peoples for centuries, Suma is advocated as an
effective adaptogen to support the immune system, adapt the body
to external stresses, relieve pain, fight chronic fatigue
syndrome, and accelerate wound healing.
Herbalists using Suma often refer to research
conducted by Dr. Milton Brazzach, head of the pharmaceutical
department at the University of Sao Paulo. Dr. Brazzach
originally become interested in Suma when his wife was cured of
breast cancer after ingesting the root. Dr. Brazzach has since
gone on to test Suma on thousands of patients suffering from
serious diseases such as cancer, leukemia, and diabetes. He
reportedly found Suma to have great healing and preventative
powers, yet has never published his clinical findings.
Researchers have isolated several active
compounds in Suma, including Beta Ecdysterone, a plant sterol
which has an anabolic and immune boosting effect in the body.
Suma is also rich in a broad spectrum of vitamins, minerals (particularly
the rare mineral germanium), amino acids, Allantoin (a
cell building compound) and 6 pfaffic acids.
Recent studies have shown that five of the
pfaffosides found in Suma have been able to inhibit growth of
cultured melanoma tumor cells, supporting at least some of the
claims made for this herb. To date, there are no reports
regarding the toxicity and there are no known side effects.
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