Alchemica
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Posts posted by Alchemica
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As some may know, I'm a polyphenol fiend. I've been looking at good ways to keep those polyphenols at high levels. Everything from frequent cacao/blueberries, a bit of Lotus root as a veggie, to a bit of true cinnamon to grape seed. I find the variety keeps things good and keeps up with my need for novelty. Haven't tried pine bark yet
Lately, I've been trying to live off the land a bit, gather my own food rather than buy it.Some of my largely living off the land (via community garden and ethical means) harvests:
That said, finding solid polyphenol doses isn't always easy, sometimes a cheap supplement is useful.Over the other polyphenols, not neglecting my daily anthocyanins, proanthocyanidin rich sources from food more might be promising. Trying to incorporate a diverse range of polyphenols into my diet. Things like dietary diversity score correlate strongly with depression.
Proanthocyanidin rich sources have been described as possessing central nervous system effects and have traditionally been used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat disorders of the mind
Foods with the highest proanthocyanidin content are cinnamon (8,000mg/100 g of fresh weight (FW)) grape seeds (Vitis vinifera) are another rich source, with a content of about 3,500 mg/100 g dry weight. Proanthocyanidins accumulate to levels of approximately 10% total dry weight of cacao seeds. Consumption of grape seed extract, a potent antioxidant and free radical scavenger, enhances the plasticity of hippocampus in middle-aged mice. It modulates the CNS function and has beneficial effects on the direct and indirect striato-thalamo-cortical pathways
Along with Pine Bark, Lotus root, the edible rhizome of Nelumbo nucifera, contains high levels of polyphenolic compounds. (+)-catechin, gallocatechin or epigallocatechin, quercetin glycoside, quercetin glucuronide, procyanidin dimers, proanthocyanidin dimer gallate, prodelphinidin dimers, procyanidin trimers, etc. Lotus root effectively attenuated cognitive damage and improved parameters related to brain aging in senescent mice. It was able to stimulate antioxidant enzyme activity and improve cholinergic deficits.
One small randomised trial in ADHD suggests, despite various limitations, therapeutic benefit from herbal, polyphenol-rich extracts, particularly proanthocyanidins. Attention and concentration (as measured by tests before and after the experiment) improved just as much with a daily regimen of pine bark-derived OPCs as with traditional ADHD stimulant medications. Additionally, the subjects reported experiencing better sleep and improved mood while taking the OPC supplement, corroborating centuries’ worth of accumulated evidence from traditional systems of medicine that OPCs positively affect brain function. Pycnogenol, improved focus, decreased emotional volatility, and elevated mood. A study tested Pycnogenol on the cognitive abilities and emotional status of 53 healthy students aged 18–27. The students were tested before and after a regimen of Pycnogenol (100 mg/day) on measures of attention, memory, alertness, executive functioning, and mood, and showed significant improvements across-the-board after eight weeks of Pycnogenol supplementation. That said, while they're better options than psychostimulants, current evidence to support their use clinically is limited.
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All gone, in the mail tomorrow
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While I've done lots of polyphenols, nutritional basics even essential oils etc the next thing I want to spruce my diet with is isothiocyanates (ITCs) such as sulforaphane and erucin, I don't use them much, supplementation seemed expensive.
Sulforaphane is the one that primarily sparked my interest due to the body of research, much preclinical but promising, on it with regard to brain health, from autism to schizophrenia to neurodegenerative conditions like AD/PD but there's some evidence ITCs in Rocket might work well.
Broccoli itself is seemingly good for health maintenance but you often need something more medicinally active, sometimes the sprouts are a better sulforaphane source from what I hear. Anyone germinate these and use them medicinally?
I want to do it cheap with what's in the garden available or growable...A neuroprotective strategy proposes natural antioxidant molecules as an alternative form of treatment, or for the prevention of neurological pathologies. The beneficial effects of Brassica vegetables on human health have been linked to phytochemicals that prevent oxidative stress, induce enzymes of detoxification, stimulate the immune system, decrease the risk of cancer and reduce the proliferation of cancer cells, as well
ITCs such as erucin (4-(methylthio)-butyl-ITC) and sulforaphane (4-(methylsulfinyl)-butyl-ITC) are both present in rocket species and appear to have anticarcinogenic activity. Erucin showed an interesting profile of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects similar to those observed with sulforaphane.
In a solid dose of Community Garden Rocket goes into tonight's spruced healing salad...
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The Medicine of My Latest Veggie Patch
This is the Medicine of my Beetroot, Broccoli and Kale patch. It's just one of my raised beds, started a few new healing beds with a variety of herbs, spices etc.
Broccoli:
A high consumption of vegetables belonging to the Brassicaceae family has been related to a lower incidence of chronic diseases including different kinds of cancer. These beneficial effects of, e.g., broccoli, cabbage or rocket (arugula) intake have been mainly dedicated to the sulfur-containing glucosinolates-secondary plant compounds nearly exclusively present in Brassicaceae-and in particular to their bioactive breakdown products including isothiocyanates. These target the inflammasome. They are useful for ameliorating a severe inflammatory phenotype. The activation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) exerts potent antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects and is a potential new way of treating chronic inflammatory pain, autism, schizophrenia, neurodegenerative disorders and more
Sulforaphane can ameliorate neurobehavioral deficits and reduce the Aβ burden in Alzheimer's disease model mice, and the mechanism underlying these effects may be associated with up-regulation of neurotrophin receptor mediated processes, apparently at least in part, via reducing the expression of histone deacetylases
A small clinical trial that sulforaphane (SF) from broccoli sprouts could significantly reduce the behavioral symptoms of ASD. Case studies show similar results
Kale:
Not just quality nutrition, a rich source of carotenoids.
Supplementation with the these carotenoids significantly reduces stress, cortisol, and symptoms of sub-optimal emotional and physical health. Low blood serum or plasma concentrations of the xanthophyll carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin have been implicated in poorer cognitive health in older adults. They may assist with cognitive control. They have anti‑inflammatory and antioxidative effects and putative neurotrophic effects. The dietary intake of carotenoids should be promoted as this may have a substantial positive effect on cognition, memory and things like stroke prevention and stroke mortality reduction. Supplementation appears to benefit neurocognitive function by enhancing cerebral perfusion, even if consumed for a discrete period of time in late life. Higher intakes may result in the ability to respond to cognitive tasks more efficiently, maintaining high performance while displaying neural indices indicative of lower cognitive load.
Beetroot:
A NO generator like beetroot has the potential to improve cerebrovascular blood flow and challenge detriments in cognitive function. A high nitrate diet stimulated a substantial and preferential increase in frontal cortex perfusion, a region of the brain responsible for essential cognitive processes such as executive function, working memory and task-switching. Single doses of dietary nitrate can modulate the CBF response to task performance and potentially improve cognitive performance/ 250 mL of beetroot juice (nitrate: 7.5 mmol) for 14 days resulted in a significant improvement in simple reaction time compared to a control group
Beetroot is a rich source of phytochemical compounds, that includes ascorbic acid, carotenoids, phenolic acids and flavonoids. Beetroot is also one of the few vegetables that contain a group of highly bioactive pigments known as betalains. Beetroot is as an exceptionally rich source of antioxidant compounds. Betalains are completely safe to consume, and contribute to health. There is compelling evidence that beetroot ingestion offers beneficial physiological effects that may translate to improved clinical outcomes for several pathologies, such as; hypertension, atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes and dementia. Betalain-rich concentrate supplementation improves exercise performance and recovery. It is rich in phytonutrients and may provide a useful means of increasing plasma NOx bioavailability.While only one component, current literature indicates positive effects of dietary NO₃- supplementation in older adults on physiological performance, with some evidence indicating benefits on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health. Improvements in cognitive impairment were noted.
As a source of nitrate, beetroot ingestion provides a natural means of increasing in vivo nitric oxide (NO) availability and has emerged as a potential strategy to prevent and manage pathologies associated with diminished NO bioavailability, notably hypertension and endothelial function. Beetroot is also being considered as a promising therapeutic treatment in a range of clinical pathologies associated with oxidative stress and inflammation. Its constituents, most notably the betalain pigments, display potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and chemo-preventive activity in vitro and in vivo. Betalains and beetroot extracts have emerged as potent anti-inflammatory agents.
While there have been concerns about bioavailabilty, beetroot is considered a bioavailable source of bioactive compounds in humans.
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Anyone explored themselves high(er) doses of this?
Basil serum levels were dropping so a quick venture to the community garden to get parsley'd for the evening. Brewed up a strong dose to enjoy after a productive day. It's set seed... perfect for high resonance phenylpropanoid essential oil and good doses of flavonoids. I grow a bit at home but there is masses at the community garden.
Initial verdict: been sipping away, seems more sedative than I get with chamomile teas, even lots of tea bags... and taste isn't at all bad. Quite pleasant, I'll likely use this more.
I have to find some references for % flavonoids in different aerial parts, can't spot anything at the moment.
Summarised from: Parsley: a review of ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry and biological activities https://doi.org/10.1016/S0254-6272(14)60018-2
Parsley's medicine:
- Antioxidant activity
- Antidiabetic activity
- Analgesic and spasmolytic activity
- Immunomodulating activity
- Antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity
- CNS: neuroprotective and sedativePhenolic compounds and flavonoids particularly apigenin, apiin and 6″-Acetylapiin; essential oil mainly myristicin and apiol; and also coumarins are the active compounds identified in Petroselinum crispum. Wide range of pharmacological activity including antioxidant, hepatoprotective, brain protective, anti-diabetic, analgesic, spasmolytic, immunosuppressant, anti-platelet, gastroprotective, cytoprotective, laxative, estrogenic, diuretic, hypotensive, antibacterial and antifungal activities have been exhibited for this plant in modern medicine.
Petroselinum crispum seeds have been claimed to be antimicrobial, antiseptic, astringent, gastrotonic, antidote, antispasmodic, carminative, digestive and sedative and is used for gastrointestinal disorder, inflammation, halitosis, kidney stone, and amenorrhoea
Flavonoids apigenin, cosmosiin, oxypeucedanin hydrate and apiin were detected from aqueous extract of Petroselinum crispum. 6"-Acetylapiin, a flavone glycoside, and petroside, its monoterpene glucoside, were isolated for the first time from methanol extract of Petroselinum crispum aerial part. It's said to be rich in luteolin. Myristicin, apiol, cnidilin, isoimperatorin, diosmetin, 7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside and kaempferol 3-O-β- D-glucopyranoside were found
Miscellaneous compounds
Carotenoids including β-carotene, lutein, violaxanthin and neoxanthin were detected in Petroselinum crispum leaf and stem. Moreover, ascorbic acid is identified in Petroselinum crispum. So too, coumarins: Oxypeucedanin is the major furocoumarin of Petroselinum crispum and is responsible for contact photodermatitis induced by this plant. Psoralen, isopimpinellin, 8-methoxypsoralen, 5-methoxypsoralen and imperatorin are other furocoumarins isolated from its leaf and root.Toxicity and tolerability
In ethnomedicine, it has been claimed that parsley is abortificient. Acute toxicity of was evaluated in rat and no toxicological effect was observed.-
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If you get interested and I have success getting the seeds up, you're welcome to some seedlings @waterboy 2.0
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So many basils, so little time... each seems to be quite unique, not just in taste but potentially healing potential?
What makes Holy Basil 'Holy' and other basils not as Holy? Likewise other plants? Regardless of whether or not you believe in a literal “spiritual” aspect to plants, some sacred plants are holy because a particular tradition has worked with it for millenia, and developed that kind of understanding of it. Some are considered holy because they can induce altered states of consciousness. Others, like corn, are considered holy because they help sustain human life.
I find medicinally high dosing on O. basilicum and varieties quite nicely uplifting in a spiritual way. Really like my Thai Basil (pictured) taste wise, want to medicinally dose up on that one at a higher dose, it has an interesting profile of constituents.
Only tried a small dose of Lemon Basil, that one contains an oil rich in nerol (23.0%) and citral (20.7%). It seems to have flavonoids like nevadensin/salvigenin. That said there seems to be chemotypes, within each type of basil...
Methyl chavicol (81.82 %), β-(E)-ocimene (2.93 %) and α-(E)-bergamotene (2.45 %) were found to be the dominant constituents in Thai Basil (O. basilicum var. thyrsiflora) oil in one assay (another found O. basilicum var. thyrsiflora oil had 68.0% linalool) while O. basilicum contained predominantly linalool (43.78 %), eugenol (13.66 %) and 1,8-cineole (10.18 %). O. basilicum var. thyrsiflora contained cinnamic acid, gallic acid, methylgallate, ellagic acid, methyl ellagic acid, apigenin, luteolin, vitexin, isovitexin, and 3″-O-acetylvitexin, along with catechin, caffeic acid, coumaric acid and sinapic acid
Thai Basil
O. tenuiflorum (Holy Basil) has variety of phenolic acids such as caffeic acid, rosmarinic acid, flavonoids, and essential oils. Methyl chavicol (estragole), linalool, eugenol, 1, 8-cineole, and methyl cinnamate are the main compounds responsible for the typical aroma. The chemical composition of volatile oil is highly complex and comprises high ratio of phenylpropanoids and terpenes, and some phenolic compound or flavonoids such as orientin and vicenin.
O. gratissimum had the following major phenolics: Rutin, quercitrin, and luteolin (flavonoids); ellagic and chlorogenic acids (phenolic acids). The essential oil of Ocimum gratissimum contains eugenol, other assays finding it rich in thymol.
Also have a Pepper Basil... have to research that one. And a Camphor Basil
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It's white with yellow, a close up of the flower is in the first post
Hope you get the desired one this time! -
Finally got a Holy Basil, here's a pic of it in flower.
Holy basil has been documented to possess neuroprotective, cognition-enhancing and stress relieving effects
Ocimum are rich in tannin, saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids, anthraquinone, and reducing sugars.
O. tenuiflorum is used for treatment against a headache, constipation, kidney infections, cough, cold, and diarrhoea. The medicinal properties in Tulsi are mainly due to the presence of a variety of phenolic acids such as caffeic acid, rosmarinic acid, flavonoids, and essential oils. Chavicol methyl ether (estragol), linalool, eugenol, 1, 8-cineole, and methyl cinnamate are the main compounds responsible for the typical aroma in the basil plant.
Leaf extract enhances specific cognitive parameters in healthy adult volunteers [1]
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Very cool, thanks for sharing and your previous comment @MeanGreen, have a wonderful weekend. Looks like that purple variety could be top notch flavonoidy, I have a mix so I used a few different ones tonight.
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First time making a salad with Coleus. Hard work in the gardens requires a Basil, Brahmi, Spinach, Coleus and Mansoa salad. I ate a few leaves the other day, different taste, no psychoactivity noted, wasn't after that.
Coleus blumei with purple leaves were shown to be significantly higher in the flavonoid content compared to the other species of Lamiaceae.
The flavour is interesting, a bit acquired alone. Coleus plants are not poisonous, and while eating or touching them is unlikely to cause illness, they can in very rare cases cause a reaction in sensitive people so caution is advised. That said, they're a rich interesting flavonoid source and contain rosmarinic acid. Hybrid coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides), also called painted nettle, can rarely cause minor skin irritation. According to sources, it is 'edible'
The amount of flavonoid in dried leaves ranged from 0.18 - 15.21 mg QE (quercetin equivalents) g−1 dried samples. The highest amounts of flavonoid was in Coleus blumei – purple leaves followed by Coleus blumei – red leaves
It has been recommended that Coleus Blumei leaves be used as ingredients in medicines, including for helping to prevent cancer, cardiovascular diseases and inflammation or for improving the immune system. The beneficial effects likely extend to the CNS.
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I've written some stuff on Magnolia, Aptenia and Coleus.
Please do not use these plants medicinally unless you are skilled and aware of potential risks.
Vinca
Garden was overrun by Vinca minor, Had to do some removal so I did a full spectrum root and leaf ethanol extract and came up with a black tar last year. I have had interesting effects from bits of the root. It has potential nootropic activity through alkaloids like vincamine. Vincamine is a plant alkaloid used clinically as a peripheral vasodilator that increases cerebral blood flow and oxygen and glucose utilisation by neural tissue to combat the effect of aging.
To make a cup of Periwinkle tea, you will need a teaspoon of dried periwinkle leaves. Pour the leaves into a cup full of boiling water and let it steep for 5-10 minutes. Once steeping is done, strain to remove the herbs. After staining your cup of the healthy periwinkle, tea is done. Most people find the tea too bitter. You can sweeten it by adding honey or fruit juice or even Stevia.
Did 1g of the root with some leaves, bitter as anything but drinkable. Supposedly a mild euphoriant, hypnotic tranquiliser, anxiolytic It's got quite a bit of symbolism, the Virgin Mary, love and death.
"V. minor contains monomeric eburnamine-type indole alkaloids including vincamine which has modulatory effects on brain circulation and neuronal homeostasis as well as antihypoxic and neuroprotective potencies. Vincamine is used for the prevention and treatment of cerebrovascular insufficiencies and disorders. A large body of clinical evidence indicates a favorable effect of vincamine in a number of brain disorders of elderly patients, such as memory disturbances, vertigo, transient ischemic deficits, and headache. It increases cerebral blood flow, oxygen consumption and glucose utilisation. In general, Vinca minor is known to be a valuable medicinal plant.
Different parameters including climate and soil requirements, agricultural measures such as propagation, planting, fertilisation and harvest date vastly influence the quality of plant material and alkaloid concentration. It has been shown that nitrogenous fertilizers significantly increase the content of alkaloids. Besides, the content of alkaloids reaches its maximum at the flowering stage
Five indole alkaloids including vincaminorine, vincaminoreine, minovine, minovincine, and vincamine were isolated from the aerial parts of V. minor. Vincamine was found to be the dominant alkaloid in this plant with the content of 0.057% of the dried plant mass." [1]
Catharanthus roseus - Medicinal Potted Colour
While this plant may be merely making itself around as potted colour to some, I frankly get annoyed at those who get locked in at aesthetics in their gardens - it's a welcome addition to my garden, going well with my Vinca minor which is rich in brain nutrition.
In Ayurveda (Indian traditional medicine) the extracts of its roots and shoots, though poisonous, are used against several diseases. In traditional Chinese medicine, extracts from it have been used against numerous diseases, including diabetes, malaria, and Hodgkin's lymphoma. Many of the vinca alkaloids were first isolated from Catharanthus roseus, including vinblastine and vincristine used in the treatment of leukemia and Hodgkin's lymphoma. It is rich in monoterpene indole alkaloids - Catharanthus roseus is noted for its array of dozens of alkaloids, including alstonine, reserpine, vinblastine, vincristine, yohimbine,and others of yohimbinoid and strychnoidbases
It decreases blood pressure and reduces excitement (containing reserpine). It has anti-diabetic activity
Strelitzia reginae "Bird of Paradise"
You can please everyone aesthetically and use it medicinally.
It's not just a pretty ornamental. You get a mixture of healing anthocyanins from the flowers and other polyphenols in the whole plant. There are some very debatable speculative rumors on psychoactivity but I can't find any references.
The abakwaMthethwa clan in KwaZulu-Natal use the strained decoctions from the inflorence to treat inflammation and venereal diseases. Delphinidin-3-rutinoside has been isolated from the petals and proanthocyanidin polymers, flavonoids (antioxidants and on the whole beneficial healing substances) from the leaves. Leaves of this genus are listed as ‘possibly toxic' to animals so caution is needed. The seeds are supposedly more toxic and will cause vomiting if ingested.
The rhizome contains phenalenones, these lack understanding of their therapeutic potential.
Rose
I had a beautiful experience of being drawn to, physically, olfactorily, emotionally, spiritually connecting to a white rose on a long walk. Merging with it's spirit. Learning the medicine of an open heart and how I need to embody that more in my life. Before, I would have never called a rose a medicine.
"Rose petals and their medicine help to move and open a heart which has tightened emotionally and spiritually. In both Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and the Unani (Greek-Arabic medicine) traditions, the heart is believed to be a physical organ and the seat of consciousness. TCM uses the term shen, while Unani medicine talks about pneuma. Both schools teach that rose has a powerful affect on the spiritual state of one’s heart. Unani medicine has a category of heart herbs termed as “exhilarants”, which help the spiritual heart feel joy. Rose is considered both a shen tonic in TCM and an exhilarant in Unani medicine.
A wonderful nervine, great for uplifting the mood and alleviating depression, rose also has antispasmodic, aphrodisiac and sedative qualities, as well as being anti-inflammatory. Rose helps regulate menstruation as well as stimulate the digestion. Rosehips, which come along after the bloom has faded, are a wonderful source of vitamins C, B2 and E."
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I've been in Lamiaceae land quite a bit lately, find they're really good healing plants. I'm actually happy if my potted colours are not blatantly psychoactive but instead provide the healing components I seek, flavonoids/rosmarinic acid etc.
There's one overgrowing awaiting relationship, it's probably one of the fastest growing ones I've got. If I can use it for a good flavonoid/rosmarinic acid + source, even if it's not particularly psychonautic active, I'm happy. There are very mixed reports from people looking for mind-bending effect. I'm looking in another direction, it being medicinally beneficial...
Anyone used it as a health tonic?Coleus blumei is an edible of flowering perennial plant in the family of Lamiaceae used for healing and shamanically.
For centuries, the Mazatec Indians of southwestern Mexico have known and used El Ahijado in their religious healing ceremonies. In traditional Mazatec communities, Coleus blumei is considered ‘the male’ (El Ahijado)
Sterol and triterpenoid compounds, including abietane type diterpenes, are found in the leaves of Coleus blumei Benth. Flavonoid compounds were also detected in high levels, along with rosmarinic acid. Another analysis found Coleus leaves consisted of flavonoid, steroid, tannin and saponin.
Traditional healers use it for diarrhoea as an oral infusion. Coleus blumei has been used to treat many common ailments. Most commonly, the Mazatec used this magical herb to treat stomach pains, digestive problems, dysentery, and even elephantiasis. In other parts of the world the plant is used to treat headaches and ulcers and as a contraceptive to prevent pregnancy (Voogelbreinder 2009, 135)
I just like high healing flavonoid etc plants, Coleus grows well and I have an abundance.
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I have quite a bit of free Heteropterys angustifolia (Mariposa; Red Wing), if you get interested. Can do a few people. I planted a rooted plant today. If anyone has more info on uses and chemistry etc, keen to hear
While this plant is poorly characterised from what I can work out, CNS (anxiolytic, antidepressant, improving learning and memory) and antioxidant effects and the protective activities of reproductive male organs are the most important biological activities reported for species of Heteropterys. Flavonoids are the chemicals most conspicuous, following by potentially toxic aliphatic nitro compounds (also potentially antibacterial and anti-viral etc) and hydroxycinnamic acids identified in Heteropterys [1]
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H. angustifolia was found to contain hiptagin (1, 2, 4, 6-tetra-3-nitropropanoyl-β-D-glucopyranoside). The fresh roots gave a very strong positive test for nitro compounds while the fresh aerial parts showed a weakly positive. In contrast, the heat-dried samples exhibited a weak or negative test to these potentially toxic constituents
They may have potential as a source of new adaptogenic substances. Another similar plant, Heteropterys aphrodisiaca, endemic to the Brazilian scrubland regions, is traditionally used in folk medicine as an aphrodisiac, a stimulant and in the treatment of nervous weakness.
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Three Aboriginal students from Coolgardie in Western Australia’s Goldfield region have made it to the finals of a national Science and Engineering Award.High school students from Coolgardie in Western Australia’s Goldfield region made it to the finals of a national Science and Engineering Award by using bush medicine found in their community.
David Simeolo, Jeremias Rene Wade and Nyheemah Cox all attend the Christian Aboriginal Parent Directed School, or C.A.P.S, in regional Western Australia.
Their competition project was based on an idea from Nyulnyul teenager, Nyheemah.
“I wanted to do this project because back in my community, I always see my elders make use of local plants for medicine,” she told NITV News.
Ms Cox’s family is from Beagle Bay, in the Kimberley. She said watching her parents, grandparents and other family members use the native plants for medical reasons and it always made her curious to discover more.
David is a Year 8 student and is the youngest in the group, and Jeremias is Year 9. Both boys come from a non- Aboriginal family but do have Indigenous roots of their own.
Jeremias, whose family are Spanish, told NITV News Ms Cox would tell both the boys stories of her own family using plants and it was inspiring.
The Year Nine student said he feels the project can have a major benefit for his community, which is located 558 kilometres east of Perth.
“A lot of people are spending money (on medicine) because people get sick. Bush medicine is naturally grown around Australia and is as effective as modern medicine,” he told NITV News.
He hopes their school project will be able to provide crucial information to others in the community so people won’t be spending so much money at the shops.
Mr Simeolo, whose family is Papua New Guinean said he heard about Aboriginal people using plants for medicine but was surprised when he furthered his research.
He said he joined the project so that they can help people.
The group worked together on their science project, titled “Phyto Chemical Screening and Time Microbial Activity of Maroon Bush, Crimson Turkey Bush and Sweet Potato Leaves” for a few weeks.
Maroon bush, crimson turkey bush and sweet potato leaves have been used by Aboriginal peoples as medicine for a variety of illness.
Their science teacher, Allan Alipio told NITV News he always wanted to get students involved in science competitions.
Like the two male students, Mr Alipio said this project opened his eyes to the benefits of native flora.
“I’ve always known about the benefits of eating sweet potato leaves. Growing up in the Philippines, we grew a lot of sweet potatoes in our backyard.
“Maroon Bush and crimson turkey bush are both foreign to me, and I only read and find out its benefits when my students used it for their research,” he said.
Established in 1981, C.A.P.S is a small school east of Perth.
The school opened under the initiative of the local Aboriginal community and parents, despite Aboriginal students being prohibited from studying beyond Year 10 at that time.
CAPS Coolgardie had a successful science program last year which saw most of their students win in the 2017 Science Talent Search.
CAPS was awarded the 2017 Science Talent Search (STS) Secondary School of the Year, an award never won by a regional school before.
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I'll grab a picture next time I walk past it, not as spectacular when it's not in flower
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There hasn't been rapid interest so I'm going to try and germinate some of these for people, keen to have them growing.
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Yeah CBD is another good antidepressant/anxiolytic option, it is however a potent inhibitor of human CYP3A enzymes, this is relevant for example in a clinical trial that found that 25mg of orally administered CBD significantly blocked the metabolism of an anti-epileptic drug. That shouldn't be relevant to sertraline use IMO but *consult a professional for more questions on safety*
I'd suggest things like Gardenia jasminoides to grow, that has rapid acting antidepressant activity and is a beautiful plant with TCM applications.
Edit: Sceletium or even Aptenia (mild but it grows quickly) is worth growing as an antidepressant succulent. Kanna is apparently sometimes used cautiously to augment SSRIs in Africa. It's not something I suggest though.-
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Hi @Xperiment
I've written a few posts on things that have helped me. Some I explored on antidepressants before I stopped using them. The thing is you need to be careful of not just excess serotonergic stimulation but other interactions, for example if your pharmaceutical is by chance a CYP2A6 inhibitor (sertraline inhibits this, whether to clinical relevance I'm not sure), you might not want to use, or be extra cautious with oregano oil (quite an effective antidepressant IMO). We don't know a lot about drug-plant interactions...
I'd personally maybe try a low dose augmentation with saffron. This has been studied as an augmentation strategy for SSRI induced sexual dysfunction and seems safe and effective.
But for me, diet shifts were more powerful, getting back to cacao and spirulina for breakfast etc...blueberries, high polyphenol intake of wide variety but my situation was complicated.
Best wishes.-
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If you can stay on the edge of sanity, life's much better! Not sure about longer term use, the individual alkaloid alstonine seems to be effective used longer term in animal models, the plant mix I'm not so sure. The leaves have anti-inflammatory monoterpenoid indole alkaloids, scholarisines [1] , so they're useful, too. if I see anything, I'll let you know @Crop
If you're ever finding excess root material by chance, let me know, like to experience a serve one day, sort out a trade or something.-
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I really cherish my Alstonia. I want to propagate it, it's smallish still but oneday, knowing I can't grow it big.
It contains alstonine which is a potential innovative antipsychotic, and that a comprehensive understanding of its neurochemical basis may open new avenues to developing newer antipsychotic medications.It is used traditionally as a plant medicine named ‘uhuma obi-nwok’, in Igbo ‘the heart of man’. The plant is used to treat different types of ‘madness’, epilepsy, and is in general considered to be a sedative. To treat severe ‘madness’ the ground root is boiled in water (a piece of root about 10 cm long and 5 cm in diameter is prepared in 250 ml of water) until the liquid turns into a reddish-brown in color; the initial loading dose for an adult is one cup.
Alstonine not only increases social interaction in normal mice, but also averts social deficits attributable to negative symptoms of schizophrenia. This study reinforces and complements the antipsychotic-like profile of alstonine, and emphasizes its potential as a drug useful for the management of negative symptoms in schizophrenia.
The behavioural profile of alstonine appears to be closer to that of newer rather than older antipsychotics, it nevertheless differs from clozapine in its ability to reverse MK801-induced hyperlocomotion and social deficit, and by lacking epileptogenic properties. An unusual mechanism of action for alstonine is also here suggested by its effects on levels of DA in frontal cortex and striatum. Lack of changes in HVA levels suggests unchanged DA metabolism at the synaptic level, whereas increases in DOPAC levels suggests augmented intraneuronal catabolism. Alstonine induced increases in 5HT levels in frontal cortex, and of 5HIAA in frontal cortex and striatum. The suggestion is that alstonine acts as a inverse agonist at 5-HT2A/Cs
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heimia salicifolia preparation
in Ethnobotany
Posted · Edited by Alchemica
Today's tea, after a good day in the garden before the heat and some productive planty output, was a little more spiritual and medicinal, keeping some traditional medicine roots.
Prepared some Heimia (Sinicuichi/Sun Opener). Starting with 10g aerial parts as an aqueous decoction, I've used it a bit but never really at a standardised dose. It's subjectively always been a mild tonic, pleasant but not at all overwhelming. It's a really quite a pleasant tasting tea, slight bitterness but on the whole palatable. Medicinally, it has strong evidence based antiinflammatory potential. In traditional medicine this herb is regarded as a healer and tonic with varied applications.
It's not had the full traditional period of sun fermentation but it has been given most of a day, just wanted to work with a dose while I had a spare moment, probably attempt to replicate after a full time in the sun.
This is said to be a powerful Teaching Plant when used in a way that honors the traditional use of this medicine. A shaman stated that Sinicuichi helps to enter the trance state.
"Sinicuichi is said to provide “strength, energy, and joy, awakens the spirit. Objects are very clearly seen in great detail. […] There is nothing unpleasant... Users say it is the remedy to secure happiness.”
To me, it's pleasant relaxation 'spiritual' tea, it's not mind-bending, it's a subtlety of plant medicine that heightens the senses/with improved perceptual awareness, calms and attunes with receptivity to the world around you. In a pleasant place, not intoxication, just greater attunement.
Extracts from H. myrtifolia that contain lythrine and lythridine alkaloids exhibit diuretic activity. Strong anti-inflammatory activity of H. myrtifolia originates from an alkaloidal fraction containing vertine (Cryogenine) [also antispasmodic, and sedative properties] while an acetone extract of H. myrtifolia has a strong cytotoxic effect on human promyelocytic leukemia cells. Sinicuichine is known to act as a muscle relaxant and tranquiliser. The CNS properties of these alkaloids has not been extensively characterised.
Potential inhibition of acetylcholine, enhancement of epinephrine, slight reduction of blood pressure and potentially increased memory function are some notable medicinal aspects.
It is a good source of phenolic compounds: Apigenin-7-O-rutinoside, protocatechuic acid; vanillic acid; apigenin-4'-O-methyl ether 7-O-glucoside (acacetin-7-O-β-glucoside); methyl gallate; gallic acid; apigenin-7-O-β-D-4C1-glucoside; 5,7,4'-trihydroxy-3-methoxyflavanone (dihydrokaempferol-3-O-methyl ether); dehydrotrigallic acid; 3,4,3'-trimethoxyellagic acid; 3,3'-dimethoxyellagic acid; 3-methoxyellagic acid; ellagic acid; apigenin; and kaempferol. 1,6-di-O-dehydrotrigalloyl-β-D-4C1-glucopyranose, was a new natural product isolated from H. salicifolia, 5,7,4'-trihydroxy-3-methoxyflavanone (dihydrokaempferol-3-O-methyl ether), was a rare natural product found.
Its high content of phenolic compounds, which may help in calcium deposition in the bone cells matrix, may lead to the extract playing a role in the prevention of osteoporosis.
Safety:
Rare cases of bradycardia and faintness have been reported at high doses. CNS depressant effects may be noted.
Had an interesting journey to the community garden on Heimia. Normally I'd venture there to dose up on some basil, get some calendula etc and caretake a bit but it was a nicer walk there and back. Just more receptive to the world, appreciative, aligned, attuned. Calming, somewhat anxiolytic. Felt like simply appreciating the calendula blossoms as they were, not needing more. The basil, as an alive entity, not needing more. Instead simply caretake the Hibiscus tray, water the seedlings, nourish the Holy Basil. Giving instead of expecting. Coming a place of satisfied fullness, rather than requiring 'more'