Alchemica
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Posts posted by Alchemica
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1 hour ago, Glaukus said:I know nasturtium flowers are edible, are the leaves also good? I have an abundance of them, they self sow every year.
Depends if you like the pungency - the name does mean nose-twist for a good reason. I like the good bite of peppery goodness, had a big bowl of leaves for breakfast. Nibble a bit and see what you think
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Checked with the foraging professionals, it's a common weed here
Sisymbrium has many uses in folk medicine with high nutritional value
Taste is a pleasant good strength mustard flavour - the plant is rich in glucosinolates/isothiocyanates and polyphenols
I'm just personally cautious not to have too much (or flowering tops) as there have been concerns but the literature says the cardiac glycosides are at too low a level to pose issues
https://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/sisymbrium/
https://www.thewildfoodhuntress.com.au/brassicas
I've eaten Nasturtiums but never really thought of them as plants for mental health. I count them as weeds around here
Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus L.) is "believed to act in the ascension of emotional energy expressed in different forms as manifestations of anguish, frustration, anxiety and depression; and, in recent years, this plant has been popularly used as antidepressant agent". In animal models, it has anxiolytic effects [1]
It is widely used due its anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, anti-hypertensive and anti-depressive properties.
It contains high concentrations of benzylglucosinolate (1000 mg/100 g fresh matter). The hydrolysis products isothiocyanates (ITCs), are potent inducers of phase II detoxifying enzymes and subsequently confer protection against oxidative stress and chronic inflammation
It has outstanding antioxidant activity due to its rich phenolic content and a good source of carotenoids
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Went urban foraging today and was surprised how much seemingly Brassica there was
Am I right assuming this is a weedy (hopefully edible) Brassicaceae? @bardo
Sisymbrium something?
Been finding it a nicely spiritual activity
The art of foraging for food/medicine is a spiritual practice: Connecting with the plants and their medicine is what draws you closer to nature and Spirit itself.
Urban foraging helped people establish connections to place/belonging [1] and foraging embodies spiritual aspects like cultivating stillness and cultivating focus.
It is a meditation, a communing with the plants, a way of seeing and self-education "To touch them, to give an exchange, to commune with them. This is really valuable–and the plants love giving of themselves to those who revere them. And we take that bounty within and it sustains us; it allows us to further build our connection to them. The power and importance of this act of communion cannot be understated." [2]
It is a way of developing a sacred relationship with food/medicine and it brings one closer to the seasons, aligning with the energies of the land and the foods/medicine that grow here
"When you interact on this level, when it becomes part of your pantry, when it’s part of what you eat, now you have a relationship. You’re not an outsider observer. It’s not this ‘other’ thing. It’s part of you and you are part of it."
"Foragers developed individual relationships with specific plants; they described listening to these beings in order to learn how best to receive their gifts. The relational acts of giving, receiving, and interacting between foragers and more-than-human others produced a sense of belonging in place"
We are extensions of nature, so it makes sense that eating seasonally imbues the body with the energy of what nature’s actually doing in its cycle. As the food we eat thrives and grows at this time, so then will we.
[1] https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14649365.2014.908232
Dandelions are "one of the healthiest foods on the planet"
The dandelion greens are nicely medicinal
Dandelion is an entirely edible plant and its leaves, roots, and flowers are incorporated into different food products. The whole plant is recognized as safe and well tolerated by humans, with no reported adverse effects. It is used in herbal medicine to treat various disorders such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, gallbladder disorders, digestive complaints, and rheumatic diseases and exhibits several biological activities, including anti-cancer, hepatoprotective effect, anti-inflammatory effects, anti-obesity, neuroprotective and antidepressant effects. It is of interest in metabolic conditions [1]
Aerial parts and root have been found to be rich sources of polyphenols, including cinnamic acid derivatives, flavonoids, sesquiterpene lactones and triterpenoids [2]
"The most biologically relevant components of dandelion are the sesquiterpene lactones (suggested to exert anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects), the plant also contains several phenylpropanoids (shown to exert inflammation-modulating effects), terpenoids, polysaccharides (shown to play a role in immune regulation and to exert platelet antiaggregation activity, hepatoprotective effects, and antitumoral activity), and inulin (currently under investigation for its immunostimulatory functions).
It contains high amounts of minerals, proteins, fiber, and vitamins and a balanced combination of trace elements and compared to spinach, dandelion has a higher content of dietary fiber and proteins and a greater variety of amino acids and of most vitamins and minerals and one of the richest green-vegetable sources of β-carotene"
Young leaves are habitually consumed fresh as salads, either alone or in combination with other plants such as lettuce, shallot tops, or chives They may also be boiled and drained, sprinkled with pepper and salt, and moistened with soup or butter.
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5553762/
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22946853-
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16 hours ago, bardo said:I would think lactuca serriola, wild lettuce (which is also edible) would be better suited for pain relief and such, it has a latex called lactucarium which contains lactucin and lactucopicrin, the book I mentioned has written that tests showed 1 gram of lactucarius induces calming and painkilling effects and higher doses of 2-3 grams has stimulating effects.
Thanks for the pics of different plants @bardo Unfortunately I just get a little tiny symbol as the picture
Hadn't got around to my Lactucas but glad you mentioned them. Did some Backyard Weed Medicine Crafting with mine
Lactuca virosa and serriola
Virosa & serriola should ideally be harvested for their sap whilst in flower, I'm got them before they take over the backyard because I can't deliberately let the garden go too weedy.
" Both Serriola and Virosa have similar effects and are very edible but are quite bitter, I found Virosa was just easier to milk because it didn't have spines but overall id say they are on par with each other in terms of strength " - Marty64
"...even with those young tender plants I try to limit how much I eat so I dont get too drowsy. Its sedating but not all that distinctly anxiolytic" - Auxin
Wild lettuce was “highly esteemed to quiet coughing and allay nervous irritation, a good safe remedy to produce sleep, to be used when opium and other narcotics are objectionable”
"...wild lettuce and especially the the desiccated lactescent juice obtained from it, lactucarium, were considered to be an intoxicant, and were used as a sedative and an analgesic. The action of the substance was weaker than that of opium but free of the side-effects, and medical practice showed that in some cases lactucarium produced better curative effects than opium." [2]
The natural compound lactucopicrin may be a promising neurotrophin-mediated neuroprotective candidate for neurodegenerative diseases and is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor while lactucin is an adenosine receptor agonist with analgesic and sedative properties [3,4].
That said, toxicity has been reported [5]
https://www.medicinenet.com/wild_lettuce/supplements-vitamins.htm
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16621374
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17153150
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lactucopicrin
[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lactucin
[5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3031874/
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I've tried Purslane and Dandelion before, a bit of Mallow and seen plenty of Tribulus but never got deeper than that on weeds as food or medicine until recently. What ones make it onto your plate?
This weed was one that I've developed a liking for:"...although it is widely considered to be a weed, the potential nutritional and medicinal quality of Sonchus species is much more than any other leafy vegetables"
Their nutritional value was higher than those of cultivated vegetables like spinach and cabbage. Their consumption could help in alleviating the problem of malnutrition at a negligible cost. They are a good source of carotenoids, phenolics and other active constituents [1]First time I boiled a couple of min in water before cooking which does take away the bitterness (and made something similar to this) but I feel that means part of the medicinal goodness so just been cooking it up to keep that medicinal quality... not too bad and you feel good after a meal of it. Just cooked up with some onion, garlic, chili, oil and few diced tomatoes it's not too bad
S. oleraceus has been used as a general tonic in Brazilian folk medicine showing anti-inflammatory [2], pain-relieving [3], antidepressant [4] and anxiolytic [5] effects. It has been used to relieve headaches, general pain, hepatitis, infections and inflammation
Native Americans used it as a cure for opium habits [6]
https://www.ediblewildfood.com/common-sow-thistle.aspx
https://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/sow-thistle/Also Nettles made a nice pesto
Urtica dioica or Stinging nettle has long been known worldwide as a medicinal plant. Nettles are a very nutritious food easier digested and high in minerals (especially iron), vitamin C and pro-vitamin A. Nettle is an adaptogenic herb, it acts in the central nervous system and it is an alternative plant that detoxifies, enhances and stimulates the metabolism.
Nettle has beneficial anti-diabetic and the cardiovascular effects [1]. The leaf of Urtica dioica has been reported to improve glucose homeostasis in vivo, acting via insulin signaling and improve anxiety and depressive like behaviour [2] and may improve memory functions [3].
Traditionally Urtica dioica has been used for cognitive dysfunction. It might prove to be effective for stress mediated neurological disorders [4].
Some words on the energetics
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This is the first human data I've seen for oregano:
In humans "a single dose of this extract induced a state of wakeful relaxation, enhanced vigilance and improved concentration in addition to increased mental capacity but did not affect sleep structure"'
A single dose increases calmness, vigilance, mental information processing capacity, with an increase in processing speed
With the conclusion it "is safe and does not exhibit any adverse side effects at the dosages providing the functional benefits, a result that was also confirmed by behavioural studies"
Coupled with experience with the oil in severe mental illness
Carvacrol also exerts several actions on the neuronal system including acetylcholinesterase inhibition as well as having anxiolytic and antidepressant properties having the ability to likely modulate mood and cognitive processes. It also modulates central neurotransmitter pathways, such as dopaminergic, serotonergic and GABAergic systems, a terpene rich oregano extract acting as a triple reuptake inhibitor [1]. It also improves aspects of Parkinson's in animal models [2] It seems to cause a specific increase of DA levels in PFC and "ingested in low concentrations, it might determine feelings of well-being and could possibly have positive reinforcer effects."
[1] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/49728029_Monoamine_reuptake_inhibition_and_mood-enhancing_potential_of_a_specified_oregano_extract
[2] http://www.scielo.br/pdf/anp/v76n2/0004-282X-anp-76-02-0071.pdf -
Yeah I have done a little bit with aspirin a long time ago. Thanks for the tip
Results are in. Using a foliar and feed solution of 2.5g/L K2SO4 was really seemingly beneficial for getting good growth and yields of Brassica like the purple cauliflower. I didn't have a control for this one but they grew really well, strongly and quickly and nicely anthocyan-y
With the melatonin, there seems to be tight constraints on how much enhances growth, and a point where it instead drastically inhibits it.
Initially, there was a nice improvement on the growth of Kale seedlings, then I kept going with foliar feeding them and it turned into rapid growth suppression. Melatonin's poor water solubility also poses issues.
Most notably, initially there were improvements in promoting initial rapid brightly green new growth... then a fine cut off where application drastically inhibited growth.
control vs melatonin (1 μM) foliar feed initial growth improvements
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Also experimented with dermal administration, sure you smell floral but does it work well?
In depression "aromatherapy massage showed to have more beneficial effects than inhalation aromatherapy." [1] and it is suggested to apply aromatherapy massage treatment once or twice per week.
For aromatherapy massage, 1–5% essential oil is used
"Application of aromatherapy on both hands in addition to the effect of inhalation aromatherapy showed a significant improvement in depressive symptoms which was superior to the improvement observed when using inhalation aromatherapy"
Terpenes possess good transdermal permeation and are readily absorbed due to their liphophilic nature
Application to the skin resulted in a fast increase of plasma levels, with maximal plasma levels in 10 min for things like cineole and pinene
Cutaneous application of lavender essential oil allowed the penetration of the active molecules especially linalool and linalyl acetate by inhalation and transdermally. The lipophilicity of aromatic compounds facilitates the transfer from blood to brain
Pharmacokinetics of linalool in plasma displayed a peak 20 min after lavender essential oil application, this period corresponds to the main behavioural infuence on lavender essential oil
Pharmacokinetics of linalool content in human plasma after the application of 1 g of lavender essential oil (2%) in oil.
The dermal administration mode of 1,8-cineole or linalool has a major influence on CNS activity: There was significant activation after dermal application, whereas after inhalation no such changes were detected in one study.
In an earlier study, dermal 1,8-cineole in comparison to linalool and a placebo enhanced cognitive performance in a sustained attention task as well as physiological arousal, particularly respiration rate, but did not alter affective state. In another study, performance on cognitive tasks was significantly related to concentration of absorbed 1,8-cineole following exposure to rosemary aroma
There was a significant performance enhancing effect of dermal linalool, particularly in males with activation of subcortical limbic brain areas and increased activity of the DMN suggesting a relaxing effect. Linalool enhanced cognitive performance by inducing a more relaxed state.
After dermal 1,8-cineole, significant functional activation of the frontal cortex was noted which has been reported frequently during tasks requiring attention. 1,8-cineole possesses a stimulating effect after dermal application. [1]
[1] http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ffj.3436-
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Aromatherapy vs oral oils
Orally essential oils seem to be reliant on pharmacological effect but aromatherapy seems to be more overlapped with socio-emotional states of consciousness and a way to ingrain some mindfulness: Olfaction is intimately related to social communication and emotions
Scent playlists have been proposed
It's like a very gentle, non-threatening catalyst for stuck and stagnant negative thought patterns and emotions. The longer you sit with the fragrant stream aligning your body-mind-spirit, the more there is a gentle unwinding of rigid patterns, deeper embrace of yourself and a gentle positive merger with the world around you
It gives you:
- a sense of control over your environment - you choose what's diffusing - even when you feel life's out of control. A safe "grounding" base
- a sense of connection: to the moment and to the world around you. Deepens your connection to yourself (and nature) - ingrains simple breathing as a positive mindful experience/makes you more aware of it, attunes you to deeper layers of yourself -particularly emotions - and to a connection in the world beyond you - a spiritual element
- environmental enrichment with ability to tap into socio-emotional-spiritual aspects
- ability to shift the valence of the emotional landscape to more positive experiences along with emotional exploration and reminiscence. Ability to shift thoughts in line with the emotions
- As studies have noted, nocturnal olfactory stimulation leads to better sleep quality and a higher level of vigor in the morning"Odour can colour perceptions about the world both positively or negatively through emotion processes and thus can modulate mood and behaviour"
Effects of inhaled essential oils cannot be explained by pharmacological mechanisms alone. "Olfaction is intimately linked to emotional processes, sharing some same neural bases and thus constitutes a valuable emotion-inducer" [1]. Expectancies play an important role in the subjective effects of inhaled EOs [2].
Odour pleasantness selectively shifts human attention in the surrounding space [3] and modulates the hedonic value of rewards [4]
In monotonous situations it improved mood and other measures [5] Odours that evoke positive autobiographical memories being able to increase positive emotions, decrease negative mood states, disrupt cravings, and reduce physiological indices of stress, including systemic markers of inflammation [6]
Odour may serve as a powerful cue for the recovery of autobiographical memories, inducing subjective reliving and more positive memories after odour exposure [7] producing a number of and more specific memories after odour exposure than without odour [8].
Beneficial effects of same nature to odour and music exposure were observed for autobiographical characteristics (i.e., specificity, emotional experience, and mental time travel) [9]
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27633559
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25183507
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28872341
[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25543090
[5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27633559
[6] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27447673
[7] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31185649
[8] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30890017
[9] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29040475-
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Been getting the aromatherapy into me, rather than ingesting.
I was in the past fixated on oral ingestion being 'the way to go therapeutically' for things like lavender but I've often wondered if it really is... More and more people seem to be using the Silexan oral oils, particularly now they are widespread at Australian chemists, have you had any experience, good or bad with them, particularly compared to lavender as aromatherapy?
Aroma via a diffuser has lately been a important aspect to enrich my environment with day-to-day, without those it becomes too easy to get lost in the void of your own inner world without things like that stimulating you via the environment in isolation as some form of modulating connection to the world around you, in the moment, with a degree of impermanence and day-to-day flux
"Aromatherapy seems to drive autonomic nervous activity toward a balanced state."
In anxiety and stress, sympathetic activity is often increased, together with decreased parasympathetic activity. It has been noted there are higher sympathetic activities for depressed and anxious subjects than for normal subjects:"Positive emotions result in altered autonomic nervous system activity, characterized by increased parasympathetic nervous system activity, whereas negative emotions (e.g., anger) result in parasympathetic withdrawal and sympathetic activity"
It is said there are parasympathetic-stimulating oils like lavender and the sympathetic-stimulating oils like rosemary but a study has noted that short inhalation of essential oils suppresses parasympathetic nervous activation while continuous inhalation suppresses sympathetic nervous activation [1]
Oils that cause parasympathetic stimulation of the autonomic nervous system in turn are associated with decreased anxiety, improved mood, and increased sedation whereas the sympathetic-stimulating oils have been associated with increased arousal, improved cognition and memory, and enhanced performance on cognitive assessment tests [2]
Essential oil inhalation is often effective in reducing the stress index, and that it effectively regulated the activity of the hypothalamus to provide stable and relaxing conditions by creating balance and harmony in the sympathetic nervous system
"A clinical study with depressed patients revealed that it was possible to reduce the needed antidepressants' doses by inhaling a mixture of citrus oils; moreover, inhalation of the oil by itself was antidepressive and normalized neuroendocrine hormone levels" [3]
With regard to agitation and anxiety, in a clinical mental health population, there were significant reductions in needed medications for anxiety or agitation
With regard to depression, significantly more improvement in scores on depression, anxiety, and severity of emotional symptoms, studies finding effects independent of personality traits, psychological status, and psychotherapeutic medication
[1] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/288053919_Effects_of_essential_oils_used_in_aromatherapy_on_the_autonomic_nervous_system_A_study_using_three_different_methods
[2] https://libres.uncg.edu/ir/uncg/f/M_Shattell_HealingScents_2008.pdf
[3] https://www.mitchmedical.us/essential-oils/psychopharmacology-of-essential-oils.htmlLavender is rising through the ranks of anti-anxiety medications
Lavender oil and its active component, linalool, has anxiolytic, mood stabiliser, sedative, analgesic, and anticonvulsive and neuroprotective properties with antidepressant, prosocial and anticonflict effects in animal models
It shows efficacy in anxiety disorders and the treatment of agitated behaviour as a neuropsychiatric symptom [1]
Simple olfactory stimulation in healthy subjects has been shown to induce changes in brain including the frontopolar, orbitofrontal, and temporal cortex. Olfactory processing depends on dopamine metabolism and orbitofrontal cortex functioning and altering cortical olfactory processing has been associated with improved hyperactivity and impulsivity in some conditions [2] and essential oils may rehabilitate brain dopamine function [3]. There is sensory input-dependent regulation of dopamine and GABA [4]The effect on the nervous system is summarised in [5]:
Inhaled it showed anxiolytic properties, increased social interaction, and decreased aggressive behaviour and exposure to lavender effectively improved anticholinergic-induced memory deficits
It has potent anxiolytic effects via VDCCs and while linalool does not act directly on GABAA receptors it appears to activate them via olfactory neurons in the nose in order to produce its relaxing effects [6]. While opioidergic neurotransmission and cholinergic neurotransmers appears to play a role, the essential oil and its main components exert affinity for the glutamate NMDA-receptor in a dose-dependent manner and also bind to the serotonin transporter. After 8 weeks of administering the essential oil, a reduced binding potential at the 5HT1A receptor in the hippocampus and the anterior cingulate cortex has been observed
It affects autonomic neurotransmission and reduces the stress response in the CNS. In one study the concentration of oxytocin in serum, 2-3 days after the treatment was upregulated with effects on improved neurogenesis and dendritic complexity [7]. It also acts on microglial populations with anti-inflammatory actions
"...stress-altered genes involved in synaptic transmission via GABA, dopamine, acetylcholine, and glutamate may potentially
recover to normal levels due to a reduction in stress in response to linalool inhalation".It was capable of reversing stress-induced social aversion in animal models, acting as an antidepressant agent [8].
Application of 10% lavender in humans activated the primary olfactory cortex, entorhinal cortex, hippocampus and parahippocampal cortex, thalamus, hypothalamus, orbitofrontal cortex, and insular cortex and its extension into the inferior lateral frontal region[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11994882
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21178380
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26295793
[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28411275
[5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23573142
[6] https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/10/181023085648.htm
[7] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30825591
[8] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30347669Tried things like Lemon and Rosemary as a stimulating option
Terpenes seem to work as a symphony with seemingly synergistic effects to me when you really inhale a good stream of them. A bit of a linalool oil is good but... it's better with a bit of limonene in there... even better with α-pinene rich oils etc
The polytherapeutic effects of natural compounds are a "are a real alternative for nervous system therapy" [1]
Rosemary essential oil is a "powerful tool in helping to clear the mind and for increasing mental awareness. It has also been shown to possess excellent brain-stimulating properties as well as an aid for memory improvement". It made humans more attentive, more alert, vigorous and cheerful [2] and people "felt fresher, became more active, and less drowsy after exposure to the rosemary oil". It also produces a significant enhancement in memory performance and mood [3. 4].
Inhaling lemon essential oil causes antidepressant and anti-stress effects through modulating monoamines and significantly enhanced attention level, concentration, cognitive performance, mood, and memory during the learning process [5]
The chemistry:
α-Pinene and 1,8-cineole generally dominate the Rosemary essential oil compositions, but camphor, verbenone, camphene, and myrcene may also appear in high concentrations [6]
Pharmacology:
α-pinene [(+)-α-Pinene was the predominant enantiomer] and 1,8-cineole are potent therapeutics.
Performance on cognitive tasks is significantly related to concentration of absorbed 1,8-cineole following exposure to rosemary aroma, with improved performance at higher concentrations [7]
1,8-cineole offers NMDA antagonism, with a weaker AChE inhibitory effect [8] and psychostimulatory effects, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects [9] α-Pinene brings along effects on learning and memory [10] with anti-stress effects, also modulating NGF and dopamine [11]
Monoterpenes such as α-pinene and 1,8-cineole exert neuroprotective effects by regulating gene expression and α-pinene was observed to initiate soothing physiological and behavioural responses with a significant impact on physiological and psychological relaxation [12].
Citrus oils have their pharmacology well sumarised in [5]
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30378477
[2] https://www.mdpi.com/2218-0532/77/2/375
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3700080/
[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12690999
[5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29976894
[6] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5368539/
[7] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23983963
[8] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28088901
[9] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27771935
[10] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29234406
[11] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29273038
[12] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5402865/Spanish sage:
Spanish sage is proposed to be an "excellent essential oil to diffuse when concentrating" and "For soothing anxiety, tension and stress"Salvia lavandulaefolia aroma inhalation produced a significant enhancement effect for memory [1] and orally at 50 µL of the essential oil, improvement in mood and cognition was observed [2]
- therapeutic effect for cognitive disorders attributed to its anti-cholinesterase, estrogenic, and anti-inflammatory properties
- potential natural antioxidant activity to prevent oxidative stress accompanying degenerative diseasesEnjoying a blend of Spanish Sage, Lavender and Lemon (all on the "blends well with..." list on one site) like the Rosemary blends, similarly to which it brings along 1,8-cineole and α-pinene.
I also notice that having scent as an enriching environmental stimulus stops the desire to generally snack on anything and there is a role for scent in modulating blood glucose [3]
[1] http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/aces.2014.43037
[2] https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881110385594
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5820856/-
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Got any science going on in the garden?
Gardens can be many things for people. For me, they're also a healthy science experiment. I've found I need to get experimental on the world around me safely, rather than making myself the continuous experiment...
This year the veggie gardening has become not just an attempt at self-sufficiency (and therapy) but also in part, a science project
I'm growing lots of Brassicaceae but I don't want piss weak produce. I want maximal health benefits and ways to keep the gardening experience novel. This year I'm keeping it simple on the ones for food and going to try using some potassium sulfate (in addition to normal plant nutrition) on the plants [1]
Increasing secondary metabolites by using agricultural sustainable practices an important target for maximising health benefits
Something as simple as potassium sulfate, applied via the nutrient solution or as a foliar spray, stimulated the secondary metabolites, increasing the contents of glucosinolates and phenolic compounds, in mustards, kale and broccoli
Sulfur content is a critical determinant of Brassicaceae plant growth, these plants have higher requirements for this element and aerial and root biomass were maximal after K2SO4 supplementation
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31177025
Another one intrigues me as a pure experiment - melatonin - proposed as a plant master regulator which can interact with the functions of other plant growth regulators or hormones
Alongside my experiments with simple potassium sulfate, I'm going to try some kale plants on melatonin.
Plant melatonin not only acts as an antioxidant, but also induces substantial changes in gene expression in many physiological aspects. Melatonin is a pleiotropic molecule that influences many diverse actions to enhance plant growth and has a positive role in biomass accumulation.
Exogenous melatonin boosted the growth, photosynthetic, and antioxidant activities in plants
Melatonin acts as a biostimulator in situations of abiotic stress, regulating key elements expressed against stressors
It is a regulator in the expression of enzymes and regulatory elements of plant hormones
Melatonin is also involved in inducing secondary metabolites, including polyphenols and carotenoids
Even pre-soaking seeds with 100 μM MEL enhanced per-plant yield by up to 23% and application of 1 μM significantly improved seedling growth in one experiment. I'm more interested in potential for increasing secondary metabolites in plants
What happens when veggie growing meets science
1 kale seedling has 1 μM melatonin foliar fed @ height 40mm
Control is also 40mm and both will get same lighting and fertiliser regime
The race is on...
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Got leftovers of seed if anyone else wants some (No WA/Tas) send me a PM.
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[Done - thanks for interest - will send to the two interested people]
It is said to be "helpful where there is fixed and unyielding mental perspectives, helping the person to make shifts and changes from a calm and centred point, relieved of agitation with space for new thoughts and ideas to emerge."Traditionally used for several disorders “Reactive, agitated and masked depressions, melancholy, neurasthenia, neuropathy, organic neurosis, vegetative-dystonic disturbances, imbalances, constitutional lability of the nervous system”, as well as a sleep-inducer and sedative tea.
A too high dose has been reported to make people feel too sedated, too heavy and cumbersome. Again, the best dose is the amount that the person can palpably feel relaxing them and making them feel more comfortable." [1]
Both aerial parts and roots contain alkaloids, the latter being much richer (1.6-2.7%). Six flavonol 3-O-glycosides were isolated from the aerial parts [2]
Relative safety is evidenced by traditional use of the plant, which can be found in the European market for more than 30 years without any safety concern.
- Affinity for the benzodiazepine receptors and alkaloids increase the binding of GABA to GABA receptors
- Binding to 5-HT1A and 5-HT7 receptorsTypical pharmacy preparations (i.e., 300 mg of dry plant material per capsule, twice daily) theoretically contain insufficient quantities of these alkaloids required to induce desired biological effects. It is evident from HPLC analysis that protopine and a-allocryptopine levels in the aerial parts of this herb are too low to modulate significantly the chloride-ion flow across the GABAA receptors at traditional doses. In order to achieve important medicinal effects (regarding relatively low alkaloid levels determined in aerial parts of this plant), one would need to increase the dried plant dosage above 1 g [3]
The aqueous extract of the plant at 25mg/kg in mice exerted an anxiolytic action, as proved by changes in behavioural parameters; at higher levels, the effect became more sedative. The anxiolytic and sedative effects of E. californica are caused by affinity for GABA receptors, as evidenced by suppression of anxiolytic and sedative effects following pre-treatment with flumazenil.
While it has potential of causing interactions with drugs that are metabolized by cytochrome P450s, the tea seems to be safer [4].
[1] https://www.rjwhelan.co.nz/herbs A-Z/californian_poppy.html
[2] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/314151657_ESCHSCHOLZIA_CALIFORNICA_A_PHYTOCHEMICAL_AND_PHARMACOLOGICAL_-REVIEW
[3] https://www.hindawi.com/journals/bri/2015/617620/[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27054913
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How much are you after?
These are the bits I left when I was making my own root as I didn't know how to get in and clean them totally free of soil well but if you are up for that process you can have them, if you want to experiment with it?
Also got a BIG bag of Californian Poppy if that's by chance of use to you
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There was space at a local community garden that was unused and unloved that was kindly offered. I'd suggest utilising local community garden land if it is at all available, sure keep the plants community friendly but you'd be surprised, often these community gardens are up for something people are enthused about beyond the normal food
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I thought I'd share here a project from last year that gave me hope and healing through a community garden and how such can positively impact mental health
I have to find more ways to do projects like this, it was the first thing in a long time that improved my mental health
Late last year was the first time I've achieved a longer-term personal goal in a very long time. It's hard for people to understand when the goal-oriented, sequential step-by-step organisation for a longer-term outcome part of your brain doesn't work properly just exactly how hard that is.
In doing that, I managed to take the desolate wasteland of illness and imbued some hope, meaning, purpose and contribution. That process is reflected in the garden pictures below.
It's taken me a long time to start re-investing the illness force, allegiance to the pain, back into healthy things. I had invested a lot of my super scattered ill energy at the community garden and got a medicinal garden out of it through trial and error
It helped me develop a special healing relationship with plants while so ill. The medicinal patch became a sacred healing space for me to start caring for my personal ecosystem and stay connected to the community.
I enjoyed the medicinal patch as growing things was intrinsically motivated and there was no rigidity to an outcome - any success was a win and boost to self-esteem, any failure no big deal
It provided some vital aspects
- something to care for beyond the self
- novelty and seeing things burst to life
- Trial and error approaches, without ANY expectation of outcomes other than giving things a go
- Celebrating any small outcome of success, not "meeting quotas"
Like my life... initially barren, empty, dry
Learning to rise from the darkness by growing seeds
First glimmers of light
Growth
Coming to bloom
Returning full circle.
My lessons in attempting a medicinal patch despite being functionally very impaired:It's very different going from pots and home gardening and buying lots of plants to community garden plot planting from seed. Particularly going essentially solo and with severe functional impairments.
1. Start simple and get simple happening in the plot first before you go in anyway complicated. If the world of herbal medicinal plants too over enthuses you, pick just a few functional plants to fill a patch initially. Get a feel for it as you go and up your commitment as you see how things fare
2. You'll need so much time if you're starting from seed vs the rapid growth expected from conventional veggie gardening and faster plants etc. Some are slow projects from seed. White Sage, Dan Shen etc
3. Be patient for the seasons. Jumping in early even with a heat mat and greenhouse can just cause issues.
4. Work out weed control and watering options for warm months. For me, despite thinking I got all the soil 'good enough' prepared, weeds were problematic
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What have I noted about running on low intakes of carbohydrates? I've been running low carbs. To the point most fruit sounded scary and I got very selective with fruits and anything carbs - occasionally a few chickpeas was my limit. I've only just started putting them back in significantly ie some brown rice - I don't have bread, cereal. pasta etc. I was very hesitant to start putting in significant carbs again as they do seem to significantly impact weight aspects for me but I was getting totally dysfunctional
Why the sourpuss? Maybe it's your low carb dietIn direct contrast to what advocates of low-carbohydrate diets promise—an end to mood swings and fatigue, low-carb diets can lead to pronounced feelings of depression and sadness, even rage. "People feel very angry, and their antidepressants don't work well, either"
Low-carb diet may particularly have an adverse effect on those prone to low moods.
“If you’ve cut our carbs and experience anxiety or depressive feelings as a result, you’re actually less likely to exercise, eat well and take care of yourself.
"...the low-carbohydrate diet may have had detrimental effects on mood that, over the term of one year, negated any positive effects of weight loss" [1]Restricting carbohydrates could make it hard for you to fall and stay asleep. [2]
As I mentioned in the sleep bit:
On 08/05/2019 at 6:14 PM, Alchemica said:I've been revisiting this trying to improve sleep by changing macronutrient profiles a bit.
I was finding restricting carbs with higher protein intake was seemingly messing with sleep even more.Dietary intake habits (affecting the state of nutrition) are perceived to be one of the factors predisposing, causing and consolidating sleeping disorders
When it came to one study [1], two thirds of the subjects with sleep difficulties were characterised by an inappropriate state of nutrition. Sleep disorders could have been influenced by the low energy value of the subjects’ diets, as it has been shown that lowering the energy intake significantly decreases melatonin, a low intake of assimilative carbohydrates could have an influence on pinealocytes and the sleep-wake cycle. Similar results were seen in [2] where beans/carbohydrates and dairy were associated with improved sleep quality.
"It was ascertained that, despite the insufficient energy value of the subjects’ diets, too much energy came from proteins
[they] showed insufficient energy value, insufficient intake of assimilative carbohydrates, fibre, K, Ca, vitamin D3 and water with simultaneous excessive intake of Na, P, Fe, Zn, Cu and vitamins: A, B2 , B6, B12, PP, and C"
Inbalanced intake of energy and nutritive value could have affected the proper synthesis of neurotransmitters regulating sleep-wake cycle and melatonin hormone.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29265779
https://www.cureus.com/articles/16904-influence-of-dietary-intake-on-sleeping-patterns-of-medical-studentsAlso, fasting blood glucose results have been persistently somewhat elevated causing concern. Can being low on carb intake paradoxically potentially do that kind of blood glucose dysregulation?
It seems it can... “Why is my fasting blood glucose higher on low carb?” I hadn't heard of “adaptive glucose sparing” [3]
My cognition was crap, probably from the months of sleep deprivation too. Persistent odd states of consciousness, too.
Despite a growing body of clinical evidence suggesting that low-carbohydrate diets can be helpful for people with brain problems, including neurological, psychiatric, and cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, a low-protein, high-carb diet may be an easier alternative to calorie restriction for people looking to preserve brain health and prevent cognitive decline [4]. These findings have been critiqued
"There is a strong consensus that a diet rich in carbohydrates and fiber is crucial for brain health and Alzheimer's prevention." (along with associated fiber deficiencies also harm our guts and subsequently our microbiome, which can also pose negative long-term effects on the brain and incite brain fog, confusion, and even anxiety).
...the low-protein, high-carbohydrate diet appeared to promote hippocampal health and biology in the mice, on some measures to an even greater degree than those on the low-calorie diet
[1] https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091109173614.htm
[2] https://www.livestrong.com/article/482729-i-cant-sleep-on-a-low-carb-diet/[3] https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/fasting-blood-glucose-higher
[4] https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323772.php
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This plant was once of interest at the forums and on and off of interest to me but I've not heard much of people's positive experiences with it. If you have anything to share, feel free.
Radix puerariae is one of the most widely used ancient traditional Chinese medicines and is also consumed as food.
Kudzu is now considered for the treatment of many kinds of addictions, metabolic conditions, pain and for it's CNS therapeutic potential.The most abundant isoflavone of kudzu root is puerarin, but it also contains daidzein, daidzin and other isoflavones
It selectively suppresses ethanol intake and inhibits mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH-2, an enzyme involved in serotonin (5-HT) and dopamine (DA) metabolism and alters monoamine levels. It "specifically targets unique drug related episodic surges in dopamine, a pathophysiologic mechanism that appears to underlie much of drug-seeking behaviour." [1]
" a single dose of kudzu extract (active isoflavone content of 520mg) quickly reduces alcohol consumption in a binge drinking paradigm. These data add to the mounting clinical evidence that kudzu extract may be a safe and effective adjunctive pharmacotherapy for alcohol abuse and dependence. " [study]
It's intriguing as puerarin is also a promising rapid-acting antidepressant compound through AMPAR-mTOR signaling pathway activation and increased BDNF [2], exerts anxiolytic-like effects, which may be "associated with normalisation of 5-HT levels and biosynthesis of allopregnanolone in brain" [3] and alleviated the behavioural deficits induced by chronic stress [4] and may be a "potentially valuable preventative therapeutics for memory-related nervous disorders" [5]. It also possibly acts through opioid system. Available evidence from animal models shows that antioxidant and antiapoptosis activities of puerarin protect neurons against damage in dementia and Parkinson's (partially prevents the chemically-induced DA neurodegeneration in mice and rats, and stimulates striatal GDNF) and puerarin has been shown to decrease the morbidity of ischemic stroke [6]. It is neuroprotective and there are therapeutic application of puerarin-related compounds in neurodegenerative diseases
It has been called a "potentially valuable preventative therapeutic for brain disorders due to their abilities to promote the neuronal cytoarchitecture and the synaptic functionality"
"The antidiabetes activity of puerarin includes reduced body weight gain, improved blood glucose control, and improved glucose tolerance. R. pueraria has been used to treat diabetes for thousands of years, and Puerarin can reduce blood sugar and increase insulin receptor sensitivity in patients with type 2 diabetes".
- Acute administration of puerarin significantly improves glucose tolerance in animal models and is promising in humans:
- Chronic kudzu root supplementation improves glycaemic control, insulin sensitivity in animal models
Kudzu root in the diet in animals is associated with a decrease in fasting glucose and improvements in both glucose tolerance (oral glucose tolerance test) as well as insulin tolerance (indicative of insulin sensitivity)
- Isoflavones act as antidiabetic agents [7] and decreased food intake and body weight gain [8] and Pueraria lobata could interfere with antipsychotic-associated insulin resistance and revert overexpressed IR-related proteins [9]'
-Paradoxically, there is "evidence for the role of phytoestrogenic compounds in improvement of sexual function and testosterone production in male animals" These isoflavones have been linked to "significantly improved androgenic and sexual behaviour parameters. There was also an increase in serum concentration of FSH and improvement in serum testosterone level" [10]
However, like other isoflavones, puerarin, kudzu and its other phytoestrogenic components act in part as selective estrogen receptor modulators displayed preferential affinity for ERβ and altered sperm parameters [11]
There are hints that they may be negative as removing dietary isoflavones in adult male rats causes obesity and diabetes in some models [12] and long-term consumption of a diet rich in soy isoflavones can have marked influences on patterns of aggressive and social behaviour [13]. This is coupled with dysregulation of the HPG-axis and thyroid function
Isoflavones definitely seem like a bad idea developmentally as they "...produced a delay on the onset of puberty and "at high doses of isoflavones ... prevent the stimulation of the secretion of pituitary hormones and the production of T abolishing the onset of puberty" [14]
There is possible for interactions [15]
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26022266
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30284466
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29101599
[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28740098
[5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28734961[6] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30693344
[7] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30958562
[8] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30402623
[9] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30946280
[10] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24489512
[11] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22278629
[12] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27469930
[13] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15053944
[14] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30924551
[15] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24710899 -
Did you have luck germinating this @Glaukus? As one of my first attempts with seeds, I may have been too hasty collecting seed.
QuotePerhaps it needs to be chronic treatment like in that paper to get a reliable effect?
Revisiting this, from the latest study, it seems to be a rather cumulative effect, not so much acute effects.A gradual improvement was observed in GAD - 68.1% of the patients were completely asymptomatic at the end of the administration of the experimental treatment, and 92.0% of patients were considered with therapeutic success.
It managed to progressively improve the activities of patients in daily life, as well as provide palpable improvements regarding their tranquility and their perception of anxiety and depression.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30834253-
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First lots have been sent out and received with a couple of people trying the herb too. If they have any experiences with the plant feel free to let us know.
Sorry to be a pain @Humbolt but I'm not comfortable sending to Tas/WA these days (thought I put that in but must have not)
So @Paradoxical I'll send some seeds for you
More on the plant: In traditional medicine, it has been said the herb "alleviates crazy people and those astonished and frightened by thunder". While a simple tea was claimed not to work, 2g dried and powdered, administered with juice was found effective, or a fresh alcohol tincture (Lazar, 2002 via The Garden of Eden)In other sources " The infusion of one bundle with water makes two to three cups of an aromatic tea, a sufficient dosage to produce profound stimulating and aphrodisiac effects" [1]
It has featured in snuff blends "...the Tagetes herb clears thinking, relieves tension, aids emotional control" and a fermented tea, which is prepared the same way Sinicuichi (Heimia salicifolia) is prepared [2].
May have more seeds too soon -
Sprouts featuring in recent news
Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers say they have further characterized a set of chemical imbalances in the brains of people with schizophrenia-related to the chemical glutamate. And they figured out how to tweak the level using a compound derived from broccoli sprouts.
They say the results advance the hope that supplementing with broccoli sprout extract, which contains high levels of the chemical sulforaphane, may someday provide a way to lower the doses of traditional antipsychotic medicines needed to manage schizophrenia symptoms
It’s possible that future studies could show sulforaphane to be a safe supplement to give people at risk of developing schizophrenia as a way to prevent, delay or blunt the onset of symptoms
Further research is needed to learn whether sulforaphane can safely reduce symptoms of psychosis or hallucinations in people with schizophrenia. They would need to determine an optimal dose and see how long people must take it to observe an effect. ”https://neurosciencenews.com/broccoli-sprout-schizophrenia-13051/
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I've been revisiting this trying to improve sleep by changing macronutrient profiles a bit.
I was finding restricting carbs with higher protein intake was seemingly messing with sleep even more.Dietary intake habits (affecting the state of nutrition) are perceived to be one of the factors predisposing, causing and consolidating sleeping disorders
When it came to one study [1], two thirds of the subjects with sleep difficulties were characterised by an inappropriate state of nutrition. Sleep disorders could have been influenced by the low energy value of the subjects’ diets, as it has been shown that lowering the energy intake significantly decreases melatonin, a low intake of assimilative carbohydrates could have an influence on pinealocytes and the sleep-wake cycle. Similar results were seen in [2] where beans/carbohydrates and dairy were associated with improved sleep quality.
"It was ascertained that, despite the insufficient energy value of the subjects’ diets, too much energy came from proteins
[they] showed insufficient energy value, insufficient intake of assimilative carbohydrates, fibre, K, Ca, vitamin D3 and water with simultaneous excessive intake of Na, P, Fe, Zn, Cu and vitamins: A, B2 , B6, B12, PP, and C"
Inbalanced intake of energy and nutritive value could have affected the proper synthesis of neurotransmitters regulating sleep-wake cycle and melatonin hormone.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29265779
https://www.cureus.com/articles/16904-influence-of-dietary-intake-on-sleeping-patterns-of-medical-students -
Sounds good, hope the terpenes help - keep us updated!
Sorry to hear you're being troubled with more struggles, that's no fair
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Saw this and thought of your post @FancyPants
Protein Kinase C: Targets to Regenerate Brain Injuries?
"Recent reports describe several non-tumorigenic diterpenes isolated from plants of the Euphorbia genus, which specifically modulate the activity of PKC isozymes promoting neurogenesis."There's lots of attempts to use pro-neurogenic plant compounds for example
Ar-turmerone from turmeric essential oilOther molecules include:
Eg TrkB (BDNF)
7,8-Dihydroxyflavone (Present in several plants such as Tridax procumbens L., Godmania aesculifolia (Kunth) Standl. and Primula sp.
Huperzine A (Huperzia serrata (Thunb.)
Deoxygedunin (Azadirachta indica A. Juss)
Hyperforin (Hypericum perforatum L) and other polyphenols etc
See more botanicals hereEg TrkA (NGF)
β-caryophyllene
Lion's mane etc
GDNF
β-Asarone (promotes expression of GDNF, BDNF, and CNTF genes)
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Medicinal Weeds
in Pharmacology, Chemistry & Medicine
Posted
Today an urban forage for my weeds
A recent study highlights the food in urban areas that gets overlooked, and that wealth comes in the form of weeds.
In a study of chickweed, dandelion, dock, mallow and nasturtium each of the wild edibles had more "dietary fibre, protein, vitamin A, sodium, calcium, iron and vitamin K, and provided more energy" than kale and even in heavily populated areas, "tests suggest that rinsed greens of the tested species are safe to eat."
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0202450
Today trying a little bit of Rumex, not my preferred one as I want to keep oxalates low
Foraging for weeds...