The Velvet Bean (Mucuna pruriens ) has been popular in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. It's common English name comes from the seed pods which look life furry caterpillars.  It is a relative of kudzu and soy bean.   It is used for treating pain, cholera, diabetes, menstrual disorders, and infertility.  It is useful for snakebites and toothaches.  It helps increase testosterone levels.  It calms nerves and lowers blood sugar.  German herbalists use it to treat diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, gas, muscle aches, and joint pain.  In Brazil, it is used as an aphrodisiac, nerve tonic and diuretic.  In India, it is used for cancer, coughs, gout, kidney stones, snakebite and scorpion stings, worms, dysentery, Parkinson's Disease and many other ailments.  It is an effective aphrodisiac.  It has become popular in recent years as an aid in having and remembering lucid dreams.  In some countries it is used to make a substitute for coffee.