by Marjorie Wise

Created on: May 12, 2008   Last Updated: June 16, 2008

With 30 to 60 times the vitamin c or oranges, the camu camu fruit is one more amazing discovery from the Amazon rainforest. Not only do the berries contain the highest amount of vitamin c of any known fruit , they also offer significant amounts of phosphorus, potassium, calcium, iron, and the amino acids valine, serine, and leucine.

Camu camu (Myrciaria dubia) grows on shrubby trees that often have their roots submerged under water for months at a time. The wild berries are harvested by indigenous people from canoes. The government of Peru began funding planting of camu camu trees, which can take up to eight years to bear fruit, in 1996 for the Japanese market, the largest consumer of camu camu.

While little research has been done on camu camu, Gary Null, who holds a Ph.D. in human nutrition and public health science, and James Duke, PhD, called America's number one herbalist, hold camu camu to be effective in treating a range of health issues, such as:

Depression
Arthritis
Liver disorders
All forms of herpes virus
Allergies
Periodontal disease
Glaucoma
Heart disease
Stress
Colds and flu
Asthma

Camu camu is used in as flavoring in beverages, vinegars, candy, jams, and ice cream and has long been used as fish bait in Peru. As a nutritional supplement, it is available in capsule or powder form. The powder form can be mixed with water, tea, or juice.

There seem to be no adverse effects of camu camu, except that large doses of vitamin c affect some people in the form of stomach upset of diarrhea. No drug interactions have been noted.

Learn more about this author, Marjorie Wise.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.