Catuaba is a vigorously-growing tree from the northern part of Brazil and has a long history in herbal medicine as an aphrodisiac. Brazilian herbal medicine today considers catuaba as a central nervous system stimulant with aphrodisiac properties. A bark decoction is used for sexual impotency, agitation, nervousness, neurasthenia, poor memory or forgetfulness, and sexual weakness. It is regarded as an aphrodisiac with "proven efficacy" and in addition to treating impotency, it is employed for many types of nervous conditions including insomnia, hypochondria and pain related to the central nervous system.

In European herbal medicine, Catuaba is considered an aphrodisiac, and a brain and nerve stimulant used for sexual weakness, impotency, nervous debility and exhaustion.

Herbalists and health practitioners in the U.S. use Catuaba in much the same way; as a tonic for the genitals as well as a central nervous system stimulant, for sexual impotence, general exhaustion and fatigue, for insomnia related to hypertension, agitation and poor memory. Clinical studies on Catuaba have also found very interesting results involving its antibacterial and antiviral properties.