MUCUNA PRURIENS / KAPIKACCHU (Velvet Bean)
Benefits of Organic Mucuna for Horses
A time-honoured adaptogen and nervous system tonic, this lush legume nourishes the mind, body, and spirit with its natural L-dopa content, helping uplift mood, spark vitality, and restore resilience.
Please note this is a nutritional, functional horse food supplement and not veterinary medicine. For more on this see Dr Kellon's Horse Sense - Nutrition is not 'Alternative' Therapy
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Find Mucuna in the EquiNatural range
Here’s where you’ll also find Mucuna in our supplement support for horses:
- CushTonic-1 - natural endocrine support for Cushing's/PPID symptoms
Feed Guide
💧Organic Mucuna Tincture
Our human-grade, certified organic tinctures give you a ready-to-absorb potent source of phytonutrients at the highest-strength available, for immediate absorption straight into the bloodstream and to the body’s cells.
- Mucuna pruriens
- Bean
- Decocted 1:3 65%
- Organically Cultivated
~ Feed Guide - mucuna tincture for horses
- 6ml/100kg bodyweight, daily in feed.
- ♻️ Our tinctures come in a heat-sealed, twin-neck, child-resistant HDPE plastic dosing bottle, complete with dosing chamber. *HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) plastic is 100% recyclable, and energy-efficient to produce. Safe for food/water storage, it reduces waste and emissions while resisting wear. A top sustainable choice to match the EquiNatural ethos.
🌿Organic Ground Mucuna
Grown, harvested and dried without the use of agri-chemicals, non-irradiated and GMO free - see our Quality page for Quality Management & Certification Documents.
- Mucuna pruriens
- Bean
- Wild Crafted
- Origin India
~ Feed Guide - dried mucuna for horses
- 5g/100kg bodyweight per day, i.e. 25g for a 500kg horse.
- Want a scoop? You can add a scoop to your basket during checkout.
- ♻️Supplied in a 100% fully recylable, resealable, food-grade foil pouch for freshness.
Footnotes
- Laboratory tested for identification and compliance to the British and European Pharmacopoeia standards.
- Human grade.
- Please be aware that if you're purchasing our dried botanicals for human use, our dried range is cut to appropriate sizes for feeding to horses.
- ♻️ Eco Note: Our packaging is recyclable and refillable.
- 🧊 Storage Tip: Keep cool and dry.
Functional Nutritional Value
Constituents: Protein 24–31.44%, 42.79–64.88% crude carbohydrates, 5.3–11.5% crude fibre, 4.1–14.39% crude lipids, 2.9–5.5% ash, high in L-DOPA (a natural precursor to dopamine), iron (0.06–0.95 mg/g), calcium (0.76–5.30 mg/g), potassium (0.13–0.19 mg/g), and phosphorus (0.02 mg/g)
Actions: Neuroprotective, a nti-inflammatory, anti-venom, anti-epileptic, antimicrobial, anticancer, antidiabetic, skin protection, antianemia, a ntihypertensive
The powerhouse of Mucuna pruriens lies in its seeds, which are naturally rich in L-dopa, the direct precursor to dopamine - making it a potent botanical nootropic. In addition to its dopamine-supportive effects, mucuna seeds contain a wide array of phytonutrients, including flavonoids with antioxidant properties, tannins for astringency and tone, and saponins that support healthy immune and endocrine function.
The seeds also offer a nourishing macronutrient profile, supplying complete proteins, essential amino acids, and a spectrum of trace minerals that contribute to its deeply restorative and adaptogenic action. This blend of constituents works synergistically to support neurological integrity, reproductive resilience, and systemic vitality.
Safety/Contraindications
- Overuse of Mucuna pruriens can lead to dopamine dysregulation syndrome.
- Mucuna should be fed with caution to the pregnant or nursing mare as it can have adverse effects on fetal development. Always seek veterinary advice.
Mucuna in History & Tradition
Known in Ayurveda as Kapikacchu - or " the monkey that itches " thanks to its famously fuzzy pods - Mucuna pruriens is more than just a botanical curiosity. This tropical legume has been revered for thousands of years as a rejuvenator, adaptogen, and nerve tonic, with deep roots in the traditional pharmacopeias of India, Africa, and the Caribbean.
Its secret lies in its seeds - rich in levodopa (L-dopa), the natural precursor to dopamine, the neurotransmitter responsible for motivation, memory, mood, and movement. For those seeking emotional stability or support during times of exhaustion or low energy, Mucuna offers a grounded yet uplifting presence.
But Mucuna's benefits don’t stop with the mind. It's also considered a powerful reproductive system tonic in both men and women, supporting healthy libido, fertility, and hormonal balance. It tones the reproductive organs, nurtures ojas (vital energy), and helps restore balance where depletion has taken its toll.
This velvet bean is also loved for its muscle-calming and motor coordination benefits, making it a favourite in protocols for neuro-muscular resilience - from graceful movement to subtle nervous system rewiring. Its gentle sweetness and oily nature pacify excess vata , making it deeply nourishing for those feeling depleted, frazzled, or overstimulated.
Modern science is catching up too, with research showing promising effects on male fertility, stress adaptation, dopaminergic pathways, and even sleep quality. Whether supporting cognition, emotional balance, motor skills, or digestive tone, Mucuna brings steady, earthy energy back into the system.