By Wairimu Gikenye

Velvet beans hold a natural ingredient that scientists have found eases the tremors, stiffness and loss of balance caused by nerve-related conditions, such as Parkinson’s, better than prescription drugs

Known locally as Mucuna, the velvet bean has long been used in traditional medicine and contains natural L-DOPA, which is also the main ingredient in prescription medicines for Parkinson’s. 

In Parkinson’s patients, brain cells that produce dopamine, the chemical that controls movement, motivation, and mood, begin to die off. L-DOPA helps replenish the chemical, easing the disease’s most debilitating symptoms.

A study in the Journal of Neurology Research in 2017 compared patients using Mucuna powder with those on prescribed Levodopa medicines. The patients using the velvet bean powder had faster symptom relief and reported fewer side effects, especially when the powder was taken with meals.

Another Indian study in the Movement Disorders Journal found Mucuna was four times faster in triggering symptom control than standard Parkinson’s tablets.

Mucuna has long been used by herbalists in Kenya to manage age-related stiffness and trembling.

In Ghana and Nigeria, traditional healers also use it to treat snakebites, infertility, and anxiety, suggesting its benefits could go beyond treating tremors.

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The beans may also treat ADHD, depression, and mood disorders, thanks to their effect on dopamine regulation.

A small study in the Journal of Child Neurology in 2021 found children with ADHD showed improved focus and behaviour after taking supplements of Mucuna and essential vitamins.

However, it is important to prepare the beans safely. They can be poisonous if they are b or dried and roasted.

Most herbalists sun-dry and roast the beans to remove the toxins, then grind them into a fine powder, mixing one teaspoon into porridge once a day.

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