Ilex guayusa is a tree native to South America. Its leaves are consumed as a beverage in rituals. It's also used in traditional medicine.
Ilex guayusa contains caffeine. It also contains chemicals that might have antioxidant and antibacterial effects.
People sometimes use Ilex guayusa for memory and thinking skills, diabetes, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Don't confuse Ilex guayusa with caffeine or other caffeine-containing ingredients, including black tea, green tea, oolong tea, coffee, coffee charcoal, green coffee, cola nut, guarana, or yerba mate. These are not the same.
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