Suma, colloquially known as Brazilian ginseng, is a popular plant remedy that grows wild in South America. (R)
Suma is traditionally used to combat stress (R), fatigue and inflammation, as well as for raising immune system function (R) and treating cancer, (R) diabetes (R) and pain. (R)
It’s not hard to see why suma is also referred to in Brazil as “para todo,” or “for everything.”
Popularly sold suma is of the plant species pfaffia paniculata, but there are also studies supporting the use of a relative, pfaffia glomerata. While the latter is harder to come by, I’ve also noted some studies below specifically on the benefits of pfaffia glomerata.
The suma I take
Nature’s Answer Alcohol-Free Suma Root (Amazon)
Dose: 1-2 grams 3 times daily
Brazilian ginseng improves cognition
Brazilian ginseng is traditionally used to normalize cognition. (R)
Pfaffia glomerata boosted learning and reversed some memory decline in older mice. (R)
Suma improves sexual health
Suma increased sexual behavior in animals by raising blood levels of testosterone and activating the central dopaminergic system, (R) which synthesizes and releases dopamine. (R)
Consumption of Brazilian ginseng raised levels of the sex hormones progesterone, testosterone, and estradiol-17beta in animals. (R)
Suma improved sexual function in impotent and “sexually sluggish” animals. (R)
Suma root benefits the gut
Suma reduces intestinal inflammation through beneficially modulating cellular signaling, genetic expression, and mucus production. (R)
In a model of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), suma broadly reduced levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, the inflammatory marker CRP, and oxidative damage while preserving levels of the master antioxidant glutathione. (R)
Pfaffia glomerata protected against stress- and alcohol-induced ulcers, apparently through reducing histamine-stimulated acid secretion and increasing nitric oxide production in the stomach. (R)
Brazilian ginseng is anti-inflammatory
Suma is supported in the treatment of inflammatory disorders. (R)
Two compounds derived from suma exhibited anti-inflammatory activity against colorectal adenocarcinoma cells. (R)
Pfaffia glomerata shows promise in fighting inflammatory disorders in studies of edema, (R1, R2), partially through boosting nitric oxide production. (R)
Brazilian ginseng and cancer
Suma inhibits formation of new blood vessels in tumors, (R) which are necessary for tumors to receive the oxygen and nutrients they need to grow. (R)
Suma was described as having “weak to moderate” tumor-killing activity against neuroblastoma cells in vitro. (R)
Suma kills estrogen-positive breast cancer cells. (R)
Suma inhibited tumor growth by activating macrophages, (R) a type of white blood cell that engulfs and digests noxious substances in the body. (R)
Suma interferes with cancer progression by inhibiting cellular proliferation and inducing programmed cell death. (R)
Suma suppresses leukemia. (R)
Suma reduces the size and number of liver lesions, which constitute an early stage of liver cancer progression. (R)
Suma cuts the growth and viability of liver carcinoma cells. (R)
Suma root benefits sickle cell disease
Suma improves red blood cell deformability in sickle cell disease, (R) or the ability of cells to warp under stress without breaking. (R)
Suma increases the size of red blood cells in sickle cell disease and improves their hydration status. (R)
Additional suma root benefits
One derivative of suma may prevent the decrease in bone formation associated with exposure to high levels of glucocorticoids (R), such as cortisol.
Pfaffia glomerata contains the prebiotic fiber inulin. (R)
Pfaffia glomerata protects against some types of pain, partially through anti-inflammatory activity via inhibition of TNF-alpha. (R)
SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER
