Mucuna Pruriens
Also called velvet bean
What Huberman said
Huberman says mucuna pruriens is about 99% L-DOPA and raises dopamine so potently and acutely that there is a pretty substantial crash afterwards; he says he has tried it but avoids it and does not recommend it. His 2025 newsletter calls it a very potent way to raise dopamine and says to discuss it with your doctor first.
Doses, as he worded them
“The typical dose is 250 or 500 mg, but doses up to 1-5 grams (g) are tolerable for some people.”[1]
2025 newsletter, alongside "This is a VERY potent way to increase dopamine; as such, discuss with your doctor before supplementation" and "find your minimal effective dose". He does not recommend it.
Quoted, not prescribed. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist first if you take medication, are pregnant or have a health condition.
Cautions he mentions
Where he said it
- 1
“This is a VERY potent way to increase dopamine; as such, discuss with your doctor before supplementation.”
Improve Working Memory & Attention
Newsletter · 2025
- 2
“But I don't take it, and I don't recommend it because”
Essentials: Control Your Brain Chemistry for Focus, Motivation & Well-Being
Episode · 00:12:12 · 2026
- 3
“So I avoid it, and I don't generally suggest that anyone take it”
Optimize & Control Your Brain Chemistry to Improve Health & Performance
Episode · 01:10:59 · 2022
- 4
“it tends to so potently and acutely increase dopamine that there's a pretty substantial crash afterwards.”
Optimize & Control Your Brain Chemistry to Improve Health & Performance
Episode · 01:10:59 · 2022
- 5
“I confess, having tried mucunprurines, having examined the scientific literature on mucunprurines”
Leverage Dopamine to Overcome Procrastination & Optimize Effort
Episode · 01:09:38 · 2023
Related
This page reports what Andrew Huberman has said. It isn’t medical advice and NSDR.co isn’t affiliated with Huberman Lab. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist first if you take medication, are pregnant or have a health condition. Safety information