Maxforce Brazilian Barks: Muira Puama and Catuaba Explained
Maxforce lists two Brazilian barks: muira puama (first on the jar) and catuaba (third). Both are folk tonics for men. Muira puama alone has no quality trials; older uncontrolled reports used 1 to 1.5 g a day. Catuaba evidence is limited, and many products did not contain the labeled plant. Maxforce amounts are not published.
What are the Brazilian barks in Maxforce?
Two Amazon barks, a long folk history and very little modern data.
Maxforce lists two Brazilian tree barks in its blend: muira puama extract and catuaba extract. Muira puama is the first ingredient on the jar. Catuaba is third.
Both have long folk histories in Brazil as tonics for men. Both are sold today for desire and energy. Neither has strong modern evidence.
This page covers what each bark is, how it has been used, what the research shows and the cautions worth knowing.
- On the jar
- #1 and #3of nine
- Amounts
- Not published82 mg blend
- Human trials
- Thinno quality RCTs
What is muira puama?
An Amazon tonic bark with more folklore than data.
Muira puama comes from Ptychopetalum, a tree of the Amazon basin. The bark and root are the parts used. Traditional preparations include teas and tinctures.
Its folk role is a general tonic for men, mostly for low desire and tiredness. That folk role is why it shows up in so many male vitality formulas today.
Modern science has not caught up with the folklore. Drugs.com sums it up: clinical evidence is lacking for muira puama used alone, and there are no quality trials to guide dosing (Drugs.com, Muira puama, 2026).
Muira puama at a glance
| Fact | Muira puama |
|---|---|
| Plant | Ptychopetalum, a tree from the Amazon basin |
| Part used | Bark and root |
| Traditional form | Tea or tincture |
| Folk use | Tonic for men; desire; tiredness |
| In Maxforce | First blend ingredient; amount not published |
What is catuaba bark, and why is it confusing?
One common name, several different trees.
Catuaba is the trickier of the two. The name is not one plant. Several different Brazilian trees are sold as catuaba, and they do not share the same chemistry.
That creates a real quality problem. An independent analysis found that many catuaba products did not contain the species on the label. Some contained tropane alkaloids, and some held unlisted prescription drugs (WebMD, Catuaba, 2026).
The Maxforce label says only "catuaba extract". It does not name the species or show a test result.
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Do muira puama and catuaba work? What the evidence says
No placebo-controlled trials for either bark alone.
Short answer: the evidence is too thin to say. Here is everything in our verified sources, sorted by how strong it is.
Human evidence for the Brazilian barks
| Bark | Best human evidence | Placebo group? | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muira puama | Older reports, 262 men, 1–1.5 g a day for 2 weeks | No | Uncontrolled; cannot judge |
| Muira puama | 3-month pilot, 54 men, combination product with 500 mg a day | Not stated | Effect cannot be pinned on muira puama |
| Catuaba | Limited human data | None established | Benefits not well defined |
Sources: Drugs.com, Muira puama, 2026 and WebMD, Catuaba, 2026.
Plain evidence-strength rating (our reading of the sources)
Why does a placebo group matter so much? Desire and energy shift with mood, sleep, stress and expectation. Without a comparison group, a study cannot tell the herb apart from simply hoping it works.
The FTC also says studies on an ingredient do not support a finished product unless dose and formula match (FTC Health Products Compliance Guidance, 2022).
How much of each bark is in Maxforce?
At most 77 mg, against older reports that used a gram or more.
Neither amount is published. What we know is the ceiling. The whole blend is 82 mg, caffeine takes 5 mg, and eight ingredients share the other 77 mg.
Muira puama is listed first, so it is likely the largest share. Even so, the most it could be is 77 mg, and the real figure is probably far lower.
Muira puama amounts compared (bar = share of 1,500 mg)
For catuaba, there is no human dose to compare with at all (WebMD, Catuaba, 2026). Our Maxforce ingredients page shows the same math for the other seven ingredients.
Are muira puama and catuaba safe? The cautions
Thin safety data, plus a quality problem with catuaba.
Small amounts lower the odds of trouble. Still, these barks have gaps in safety data that are worth knowing.
Brazilian bark cautions
| Caution | Bark | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Nervousness and agitation possible; adverse-reaction data lacking | Muira puama | Drugs.com, Muira puama, 2026 |
| Avoid in pregnancy and breastfeeding | Muira puama | Drugs.com, Muira puama, 2026 |
| Interaction research incomplete; SSRIs, SNRIs and MAOIs mentioned | Catuaba | WebMD, Catuaba, 2026 |
| Products may not contain the labeled plant; some had hidden drugs | Catuaba | WebMD, Catuaba, 2026 |
For every ingredient's safety notes in one place, see Maxforce side effects.
Should you try a gummy with these barks? Quick fit check
Five questions before you add these barks to your day.
Answer five quick questions. They come from the cautions above and the label warning. Nothing you click is saved or sent.
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How the barks fit the Maxforce label claim
Folk tradition behind one word on the jar.
The Maxforce label says the gummies "May Support: Vitality*, Drive*, Performance*". The Brazilian barks are the folk picks behind the word "drive". *These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
That is a structure and function claim. FDA does not review it before sale (FDA Supplements Q&A, 2026). It is not a promise that the barks will change anything for you.
If desire or erections have changed, that is worth a doctor visit. ED may be a symptom of another health problem, such as diabetes or high blood pressure (NIDDK, Symptoms & Causes of ED, 2024). Our male vitality guide covers what to ask.
Muira puama and catuaba: the bottom line
A traditional touch with little modern proof.
What is in their favor
- Long folk history in Brazil as tonics for men
- Muira puama is listed first, likely the largest blend share
- Only small amounts in each gummy
- One gummy a day keeps the routine simple
What holds them back
- No placebo-controlled trials for either bark alone
- Amounts in the gummy are not published
- Catuaba products often do not match their label
- Interaction research for catuaba is incomplete
Seen honestly, the barks are a traditional touch, not a proven engine. Next, see how maca root compares, the other folk pick for drive.
Muira puama and catuaba questions
What is muira puama used for?
In Brazilian folk practice, muira puama bark is used as a tonic for men and for low desire. Modern evidence is thin: clinical data for muira puama alone are lacking, and there are no quality trials to guide dosing (Drugs.com, Muira puama, 2026).
Does muira puama really work?
Nobody can say yet. The only human data are older uncontrolled reports and a pilot study of a combination product (Drugs.com, Muira puama, 2026). Without placebo-controlled trials, any effect cannot be separated from expectation.
What is catuaba bark good for?
Catuaba is sold for desire and energy, based on folk use in Brazil. WebMD notes that human evidence is limited and its benefits are not well defined (WebMD, Catuaba, 2026).
Is catuaba safe to take?
Safety research is thin. Several different plants are sold as catuaba, and an independent analysis found many products did not contain the labeled species (WebMD, Catuaba, 2026). Interaction research is incomplete, so ask a pharmacist if you take antidepressants.
What are the side effects of muira puama?
Adverse-reaction data are lacking. Nervousness and agitation are possible, and it should be avoided in pregnancy and breastfeeding (Drugs.com, Muira puama, 2026).
How much muira puama is in Maxforce?
The amount is not published. Muira puama is the first ingredient in an 82 mg blend shared by nine ingredients, so it is likely the largest share, but its exact weight is unknown.
Can you take catuaba with antidepressants?
Ask your doctor or pharmacist first. Interaction research is incomplete, and SSRIs, SNRIs and MAOIs are named as medicines to be careful with (WebMD, Catuaba, 2026).
Are muira puama and catuaba the same thing?
No. They are two different Brazilian trees. They are often sold together because both have a folk reputation as tonics for men.
How long does muira puama take to work?
There is no reliable answer. The older reports ran about two weeks and a combination pilot ran three months, but neither had a placebo group.
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