This is Starwest's nitrogen-flushed double-wall silverfoil pack.

Used as an infusion and tincture.

Roasted maté leaves are used throughout South America to make an infusion with stimulant effects. This plant provides a good alternative to tea or coffee, as it is not so upsetting to the system. There are also significant health benefits to its use.

Yerba maté contains xanthine alkaloids (caffeine, theobromine, and theophylline), saponins, and 10% chlorogenic acid. Sterols resembling ergosterol and cholesterol are also present in yerba maté, and novel saponins, called matesaponins, have been discovered.

Saponins are phytochemicals which have been shown to stimulate the immune system. Yerba maté leaf is also a rich source of vitamins, minerals, and 15 amino acids.

The 1997 Commission E on Phytotherapy and Herbal Substances of the German Federal Institute for Drugs recommends Maté for 'Mental and physical fatigue.'

'Average daily dosage: 3 g of drug; equivalent preparations. Mode of Administration: Comminuted herb for teas, herb powder for other galenical preparations for internal use.'

'Actions: Analeptic; Diuretic; Positively inotropic; Positively chronotropic; Glycogenolytic; Lipolytic.'

An analeptic is a CNS stimulant. Chronotropic means: rate of muscle contraction. Inotropic means: force of muscle contraction. This has significance for people with heart problems. A positive effect on these two actions would mean an increase in the rate of contraction (positive chronotropic) and an increase in the force of contraction (positive inotropic). A glycogenolytic agent promotes the conversion of glycogen to burnable glucose. A lipolytic agent promotes the hydrolysis of fat.

Maté is used for fatigue, nervous depression, rheumatic pains, psychogenic headache, and is specifically indicated for headache from fatigue.

The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia lists maté for psychogenic headache, fatigue, nervous depression, and rheumatic pains.

In Germany, maté leaf is used as a component of prepared bladder and kidney teas, headache teas, and laxative teas. Maté dry extract is found as a component of instant teas and the alcoholic tincture is used in compound fluid preparations.

In the United States, maté is used in monopreparations and as a component of central nervous system stimulant dietary supplements for mental and physical fatigue, aqueous infusion, alcoholic tincture, and aqueous dry extract.

Grieve's classic 'A Modern Herbal': 'The tea is very sustaining, and sometimes it is the only refreshment carried for a journey of several days. Tonic, diuretic, diaphoretic, and powerfully stimulant.'