Meet Mulungu: A Naturally Relaxing Herb From The Amazon

If you venture into the rainforests of Brazil and Peru, there's a chance you'll encounter the mulungu tree. Stretching high into the air, with flowers resembling coral, it stands out as one of nature's many beautiful artworks.

You might not guess from looking at it that it produces one of the most powerful natural sleep promoters on Earth. It was first noted in botanical records back in 1829, although indigenous tribes were likely using it long before then. Recently, however, it's become increasingly popular outside of South America, especially in Europe. If you're one of the many who's become curious about the famed natural relaxing herb, we're glad you stumbled upon this guide! Let's give you a full rundown on what this plant is, how we came to start using it, and the effects it has on people in turn.

WHAT IS MULUNGU?

Mulungu (known scientifically as Erythrina mulungu) is a tree native to Brazil, Peru, and other tropical regions in South America. It's typically found in wet areas, especially in marshes and along riverbanks. It's a bit of a show-off, boasting orange, coral-like flowers and stretching to heights averaging between 10–14 metres. It's an impressively large tree, and a beautiful one at that. People even use the seeds to make jewelry sometimes!

The real stars of the show, however, are the active ingredients in the bark. Specifically, it's the active isoquinoline alkaloids, including cristamidine, erysodine, and others, that combine into what we know as the effects of mulungu. We'll discuss those in detail later, though. Flavonoids (a type of chemical that's also in cannabis), along with triterpenes, also have a large presence here. We can't list every chemical, but The Healing Power of Rainforest Herbs by Leslie Taylor has a detailed list.

HISTORY OF MULUNGU

As mentioned before, botanical records first acknowledged mulungu trees back in 1829. Indigenous tribes in the Amazon, however, were using it in their traditional medicine for quite some time before. Along with appreciating the relaxing properties, they believed it to have a special way of soothing the mind.

As time rolled on, other South Americans exploring the Amazon began to take note of the mulungu tree. Taking cues from the indigenous people, people across the continent began trying it for themselves. It spread to North America, and the rise of global trade eventually led it to be introduced across the Atlantic.

EFFECTS OF MULUNGU

Once only accessible in the Amazon, you can now find mulungu across the world. As it's been observed, the experience of modern users is similar to what the indigenous people described.

Namely, mulungu's ability to promote lengthier, consistent sleep in humans has been well-documented. It's also been shown to help when experiencing nervous feelings. In step with that, it's been observed to help people maintain healthy blood pressure levels. It also comes in handy when you're feeling down at the end of the night, cheering you up before you're sent off to dreamland.

Curious to try some for yourself? We just so happen to offer mulungu for sale on our site! It comes in 80-gram packages and the average dose is only around two teaspoons, so you'll have plenty of peaceful nights when you pick up this pack.

Luke Sholl

Luke Sholl has been writing about cannabis, the wellness potential of cannabinoids, and the positive influence of nature for over a decade. Working with several cannabinoid-centric publications, he publishes a variety of digital content, supported by strong technical knowledge and thorough research.

Read full bio