by Micah Olson

Created on: May 12, 2008   Last Updated: April 19, 2009

The camu-camu (Mycaria Dubia) is a bush that grows wildly in black water rivers and most predominately in abandoned river courses which are called Cochas within the Amazonian jungles of Peru. This is one of the most incredible fruits I have ever decided to study. The Amazon is bursting with fruits and lush greenery that all seem to have enormous benefits to humans in a seemingly infinite variety of ways. The Camu Camu offers tremendous health benefits. In joint studies with the ILAP, Sandoval (2000) of Albany University has demonstrated that Camu Camu fruit has great anti-oxidant power and it inhibits the radical DPPH (.1, 1-diphenil-2- picrilhydrazil), surpassing that of absorbic acid and trolox (water soluble analog of vitamin C).

The camu-camu has amino acids like Serine, Valine, and Leucine and contains more vitamin C then any other plant in the world. The fruit itself has a purplish-red skin with a yellow pulp. Amazingly, the camu-camu contains 30 to 60 times more vitamin C then an orange. The camu-camu has astringent, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, emollient, and nutritional properties. Those nutritional properties include beta carotene, calcium, iron, niacin, phosphorus, riboflavin, and thiamine. The flesh of the camu-camu is known around the world for its antioxidant capabilities.

This incredible fruit also was ranked #2 out of 19 on Nulls list of fruits that work incredibly against depression. Many patients with depression are prescribed camu-camu to wean themselves off anti-depressants like Zoloft and Prozac. A half teaspoon of camu-camu powder in a glass of water 4 times daily is the often suggested usage. Likewise camu-camu is helpful for less talkative people, people with panic attacks as well as those with anxiety issues. Of 19 plants on Nulls list in their ability to ward off herpes the camu-camu ranks number one. The camu-camu contains an immense amount of anti-herpetic phyto-chemicals.

In Brazil the camu-camu is used to protect, strengthen, and untangle hair. Camu-camu is said to leave the hair with incredible shine and vitality. Recently camu-camu has been used in a cosmetics line that creates products for people with damaged and dull hair. The products include shampoos, conditioners, hair masques that are great for hair renewal and add great body and shine to ones hair. Camu-camu is non-toxic but should not be taken during pregnancy. Store camu-camu in a fresh, dry place. The camu-camu has opened my eyes to the world of fruits that we don't always see at the Super Market.

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