Safety Assessment: What Did We Find?
An Infusion with Ancient Roots
Guayusa, an ancient holly tree native to the Amazon Rainforest, has a rich history dating back over 2,000 years. Originating in what is now Ecuador, this revered plant has long been an integral part of indigenous cultures of the Amazon rainforest. They have traditionally used guayusa in daily early morning rituals, where community members gather before dawn to drink its brewed leaves. This ceremonial consumption is believed to connect them spiritually and clear negative energy. The leaves of guayusa are not only cherished for their stimulating effects, akin to coffee, but also for their medicinal properties, helping to treat ailments and improve overall health. This tradition of guayusa consumption and its cultural significance have been passed down through generations, highlighting the deep-rooted connection between the people and this ancient plant.
But when it comes to its safety as a beverage, the scientific research has been somewhat scarce. Today, we’re diving deep into the safety assessment of Guayusa, and the results are nothing short of fascinating
Assessing Guayusa’s Safety
Let’s cut to the chase: Is Guayusa safe to consume as a beverage? This is the question we set out to answer. The research we found focused on evaluating the safety of Guayusa use at both the national and provincial levels in Ecuador, a country where Guayusa is a significant part of daily life.
A Multidimensional Approach
To get a comprehensive understanding of Guayusa’s safety, data was gathered from various sources:
- National Disease Register: The records were scoured of the Subsecretaría Nacional de Vigilancia de la Salud Pública, which logs food-borne illness cases reported by hospitals and clinics. This national database covered a three-year period from 2015 to 2017.
- Toxicology Call Center: Also, examined data from the Centro de Información y Asesoramiento Toxicológico (CIATOX), Ecuador’s national toxicology call center. CIATOX is the go-to agency for processing toxicological information on food, medicines, and natural products. The records were searched for a three-year period from 2015 to 2017.
- Food Safety Notifications: Additionally, records were searched into public health notifications related to food products and health supplements issued by the Agencia Nacional de Regulación, Control y Vigilancia Sanitaria (ARCSA), the national agency responsible for surveillance and control to protect human health from risks associated with products for human consumption. These notifications covered the same three-year span.
- Hospital Admissions Data: At the provincial level, data was collected from the José María Velasco Ibarra Hospital (JMVIH) in the Napo province, an area renowned for its high consumption of Guayusa. The hospital’s records spanned three years, ending in 2017.
Results: A Clean Bill of Health
So, what did the extensive investigation reveal? The results are nothing short of reassuring:
Regional Incidence of Guayusa-Associated Illness
- José María Velasco Ibarra Hospital (JMVIH): Despite being located in the heart of Guayusa country, JMVIH recorded zero cases of day clinic visits, emergency department visits, hospitalizations, or ambulance transports related to poisoning or illness caused by Guayusa food products or the Guayusa plant itself. During interviews with the hospital staff, it was made clear that such cases simply don’t exist.
National Incidence of Guayusa-Associated Illness
- National Disease Register: Over a three-year period from 2015 to 2017, the national disease register, SIVE-ALERTA, logged not a single case of foodborne illness attributed to Guayusa consumption. To put it in context, this register documented over 8,000 foodborne disease cases during the same period.
- Toxicology Call Center (CIATOX): The national toxicology call center, CIATOX, received only one call related to Guayusa during the three-year study period. In this instance, a 31-year-old female reported mild hyperactivity and insomnia after drinking Guayusa as a beverage. Importantly, these symptoms resolved quickly without the need for medical treatment.
Public Health Notifications
- Food Safety Authority (ARCSA): Over the same three-year timeframe, ARCSA issued 172 public health notifications concerning various food products and health supplements in Ecuador. However, not a single notification related to Guayusa or its products. This lack of notifications is significant, considering that other notifications often involved microbial contamination, such as Salmonella and Listeria, or heavy metal contamination, such as mercury and lead.
What the Results Mean
In essence, the study paints a compelling picture of Guayusa’s safety. The absence of reported cases of illness or adverse effects associated with Guayusa consumption at both the regional and national levels is significant. It provides strong evidence that Guayusa has a history of safe use in Ecuador.
A Negligible Risk
The exceptionally rare occurrence of adverse effects associated with Guayusa consumption, as indicated by a single minor case reported to CIATOX, underscores the negligible risk associated with this amazonian infusion.
A Bright Future for Guayusa
These findings are not only reassuring for those who enjoy Guayusa in Ecuador but also hold significant implications for the international market. With further research and analysis of Guayusa’s chemical composition, the path is paved for Guayusa producers to introduce this antioxidant-rich, stimulant infusion to a global audience.
Guayusa Meets EU Regulations 🌍
Hold on to your teacups, folks, because Guayusa is ready to conquer the European markets! The European Union implemented a novel foods regulation in 2015, opening the door for traditional foods from non-EU countries with a history of safe use. And guess what? Guayusa fits the bill!
In 2017, the European Union received not one but two applications for products containing Ecuadorian Guayusa. As a result, Guayusa made its way onto the Union List of Novel Foods.
Assessing Guayusa’s Safety: Conclusion
In conclusion, the safety assessment of Guayusa in Ecuador has yielded overwhelmingly positive results. Guayusa’s remarkable safety record, combined with its touted health benefits, positions it as a herbal infusion worth exploring for those seeking a natural and stimulating way to boost their wellness journey.
Research for this article based on the study: Graham Wise, and Demetrio E. Santander, “Assessing the History of Safe Use of Guayusa.” Journal of Food and Nutrition Research, vol. 6, no. 7 (2018): 471-475. doi: 10.12691/jfnr-6-7-8.