Kola nut is the seed of the cola nut plant. Kola nut is used widely in Nigeria and many West African countries as part of traditional hospitality, cultural, and social ceremonies. It is also used to make medicine.
Contents
Uses
- Weight loss
- Depression
- Exhaustion
- Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)
- Dysentery
- Diarrhea
- Anorexia
- Migraines
- Mental and physical fatigue
Benefits
- According to a study published in the August 2009 “Food and Chemical Toxicology,” kola nut has similar effects to an equivalent dose of caffeine. Further, this same study concluded that you can safely consume kola nut in quantities up to 0.69 mg per 2.2 pounds of body weight, per day.
- According to the “Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine: The Definitive Home Reference Guide to 550 Key Herbs With All Their Uses as Remedies for Common Ailments,” kola nut is a stimulant you can use to effectively suppress hunger and fight fatigue.
- Kola nut can decrease feelings of intoxication from alcohol, and that kola nut may work as a cerebral vasodilator, improving the blood flow to the head.
Cautions
- If you have allergies to caffeine or other stimulants, you should not consume kola nut. Women who are pregnant or breast-feeding should also avoid the extract. People who have high blood pressure, anxiety, ulcers, seizures, stroke, heart disease or sleeplessness should talk to their doctor before using kola nut. Should you experience any adverse reaction to kola nut, immediately discontinue use and seek medical attention.
Interactions
Do not take this combination
- Amphetamines interacts with KOLA NUT
Stimulant drugs such as amphetamines speed up the nervous system. By speeding up the nervous system, stimulant medications can make you feel jittery and increase your heart rate. The caffeine in cola nut might also speed up the nervous system. Taking caffeine along with stimulant drugs might cause serious problems including increased heart rate and high blood pressure. Avoid taking stimulant drugs along with caffeine. - Cocaine interacts with KOLA NUT
Stimulant drugs such as cocaine speed up the nervous system. By speeding up the nervous system, stimulant medications can make you feel jittery and increase your heart rate. The caffeine in cola nut might also speed up the nervous system. Taking caffeine along with stimulant drugs might cause serious problems including increased heart rate and high blood pressure. Avoid taking stimulant drugs along with cola nut. - Ephedrine interacts with KOLA NUT
Stimulant drugs speed up the nervous system. The caffeine in cola nut and ephedrine are both stimulant drugs. Taking caffeine along with ephedrine might cause too much stimulation and sometimes serious side effects and heart problems. Do not take caffeine-containing products and ephedrine at the same time.
Other Names
Arbre à Cola, Arbre à Kola, Bissey Nut, Bissy Nut, Cola acuminata, Cola nitida, Guru Nut, Gworo, Kola Nut, Kolatier, Noix de Cola, Noix de Gourou, Noix de Kola, Noix du Kolatier, Noix de Soudan, Noix du Soudan, Nuez de Cola, Soudan Coffee, Sterculia acuminata, Sterculia nitida.
References
Source: WebMD, http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-937-cola%20nut.aspx?activeingredientid=937&activeingredientname=cola%20nut
Live Strong, http://www.livestrong.com/article/435975-what-is-kola-nut-extract/