Alchemica
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Posts posted by Alchemica
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Can you recommend a supplier of ceremonial grade cacao?
I've used two, one that was sold as 'ceremonial grade cacao' was nothing particularly noteworthy. The other, more expensive, was a bit richer and nicer and available at the local market in whatever quantity one wants https://houseofhealthcollective.com.au/lines/ceremonial-cacao-chunks but it comes with the price-tag
QuoteCacao does not seem to get much traction as a psychoactive drug. Our cultural consumption of hyper processed diluted and sachrine chocolate maybe blinding us to the possible potential of cacao.
I agree, particularly initially I had some quite profound experiences using high dose cacao powder/paste
5 hours ago, Ishmael Fleishman said:@Alchemica what are your thoughts of mixing cacao with harmala?
Haven't tried it but would guess it could be rather potent
More on the β-carbolines in Cacao [1]
QuoteWe have previously reported that several foods and fermented alcoholic beverages contain appreciable amounts of two of those THβCs found in chocolates, THCA and MTCA, reaching up to several mg/kg (Herraiz et al., 1993, Herraiz, 1996-2000). Interestingly, the concentration of THCA and MTCA in chocolate and cocoa is comparable to that of alcoholic beverages such as wine, beer, and liquor, which contain a relatively high amount of those compounds.The origin of these tetrahydro-β-carbolines is a reaction involving L-tryptophan and aldehydes that are present or otherwise released during the processing of foods and beverages. Its chemical formation depends on the amount of precursors, storage time, pH, temperature, and processing conditions (Herraiz and Ough, 1993; Herraiz, 1996).The same reaction is likely to occur in chocolates that suffer a fermentation from cacao beans and heating processes. Then, it is expected that serotonin, L-tryptophan, and tryptamine afford the corresponding THβCs (6OHMTHβC, MTCA, and MTHβC) through a Pictet-Spengler condensation with acetaldehyde
The biological significance of tetrahydro-β-carbolines and β-carbolines is related to their potential pharmacological actions on the nervous system, playing a role as neuromodulators via effects on monoamine oxidase (MAO), biogenic amine (serotonin) uptake/release, and benzodiazepine receptor binding. Then, these compounds exogenously supplied, or hypothetically produced in vivo, might become bioactive, exhibiting behavioral and/or toxicological implications. In this regard, it is very likely that part of the β-carbolines found in the human tissues and fluids have a dietary origin.
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On 22/10/2023 at 7:20 AM, Ishmael Fleishman said:
The ceremonial grade stuff is not easy to get were I am and I have just not been able to justify the cost at this time - however I am keen to try if their is any difference.
If I get the chance, I'll grab you some. I think it's easy enough to get decent effects with the cheap powder but it's not as 'in' as having Peruvian ceremonial grade cacao
I did a lot of experimenting with Cacao. It seems quite a useful medicine particularly for cognitive stuff, and in the shorter term as a mood lift. I was playing around with lots of fermenting and other things trying to boost effects but in the long run, simple seems best. Some popular blends were Sceletium, Saffron and Cacao and a few others
QuoteThe broader cognition-enhancing effects seem dose-dependent, sustained, cumulative and in part, due to cacao flavonols and other constituents that act in a more long-lasting way.Cacao is an interesting nutraceutical tool to protect human cognition and counteract different types of cognitive decline - research investigating the relations between cacao and cognition shows dose-dependent improvements in general cognition, attention, processing speed, and working memory [1]. The CNS effects of cacao have been divided into several components by various authors [2].There is a large amount of scientific evidence that the flavonoids, more in particular cacao flavonols, are involved in the cognition-enhancing effects. Epicatechin, the most abundant flavanol in cacao, displays various beneficial effects on the CNS by stimulating perfusion (via a nitric oxide mediated pathway), angiogenesis, and neurogenesis (BDNF-TrkB). It induces changes in neuron morphology, especially in regions involved in memory and learning. These effects should be cumulative. The metabolites of the larger polyphenols also likely stimulate BDNF mediated processes.At the second level, the methylxanthines caffeine and theobromine have additive and maybe synergistic effects on cognition and alertness, although the role of theobromine remains unclear. That said, it seems the theobromine improves working memory [3] via upregulation of BDNF, also an effect that likely builds over time, rather than being acute.At the third and gradually more specific level, the tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids, more in particular salsolinol, may exert additive or synergistic activities.The β-carbolines are so common in foods as they form in condensation reactions between tryptophan and carbonyl compounds/breakdown products of sugars, which condense in a Pictet-Spengler reaction (often undergoing decarboxylation on roasting). Practically fermenting and roasting many foods will form some (and this seems to be their origin in Cacao), the main ones that seem to be often seen are (nor)harman, which results in measurable MAO-A inhibition from repeated coffee drinking, and tobacco use, which likewise results in significant MAO-A inhibition over long-term use "coffee is the most important exogenous source of these alkaloids in addition to cigarette smoking." [1].
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It's pretty hard to get efficacy matching benzodiazepines IMO, even if the plant-based options retain some efficacy in treating symptoms. Also, if there's GABAergic tolerance through use of pharmaceutical GABAergics or drinking etc in prior history, most of these can seem comparatively mild/insufficient. Also, I wouldn't even consider relying on them for serious medical conditions eg seizure control
I've in the past tried to rank subjective potency (which considering all my brain has been through shouldn't be taken as representative of normal) of some here as anxiolytics (note: not all GABAergic MoA):
Lemon balm < Lower dose Passiflora < Lower dose skullcap < Zizyphus seed < Hops = Valerian < Oral lavender oil 80-160mg = lower dose kava = low dose CBD < Erythrina mulungu < Higher dose 25g+ Passiflora < CBD 600mg + < Higher dose skullcap < High dose kava.
In general the flavonoid GABAergic plants can seemingly have some decent GABAA mediated therapeutic effects but often without the abuse potential seen with BZDs eg baicalinThat said, sometimes maintaining efficacy can be challenging with such and I can't say that the flavonoid GABAergics tend to have the "enjoyable" nature of BZDs
There seems to be distinction between seeking actual symptom reduction eg. anxiolysis vs. desiring inebriation that can make people who enjoy GABAergics dismiss some plant options IMO
Then there's things like tetrahydropalmatine which through non-GABAergic mechanisms seems to have potent muscle relaxing activity
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3 minutes ago, Yeti101 said:
Man, you’ve been keeping busy!
No rest for fiends like me
I've tried to compile lots of my research into a website for anyone who's bored out of their brains/curious.
Alchemica's Research Lair - Phytopharmacology (site123.me)-
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This area has been of interest to me in the past, even though I'm not into bioassaying these days. Here's a literature review and some research
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Tried to briefly explore Tabernaemontana undulata to see if it has potential merit for anti-addictive properties.
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2 hours ago, fyzygy said:
Is Sceletium emarcidum comparable to tortuosum? Haven't come across that one before.
It's said by some including herbalistics to be "valued as highly as S. tortuosum in Southern Africa by different tribes and makes a very good Kougoed product". and I vaguely remember Torsten (but don't quote me) making mention of it not really mattering if you grow emarcidum vs tortuosum. Personally, there's something nicer about tortuosum but my brain isn't a good test subject. Phytochemically, it seems the emarcidum is 4'-O-demethylated mesembrine-type alkaloids (phenolic alkaloids) over the parent mesembrine-type alkaloids. It seems to root up a lot easier from cuttings, grows quickly and grows a lot easier in many climates. That said, some people have fermented up emarcidum and not noted much effect but even tortuosum can be hit and miss with some people.
QuoteI had no luck rooting the lampranthus you sent a while back. But D. bosseranum seed has yielded a cluster of tiny seedlings.
Yeah I have varied success with different cuttings at the best of times but good to hear what's worked for you.
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26 minutes ago, fyzygy said:
What does "true form" mean?
My botanical nomenclature probably sucks but that's just to distinguish it from the common hybrids that often get sold as Aptenia cordifolia (eg red flowered varieties). This is the one (sets seed too)
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I've devoted quite a bit of time to researching succulents so would like to share the love.
Can spare a couple (2) packs [Edit: one left] of free mixed succulents to the first couple of people interested (reply here and I'll get back to you)
1. Sceletium tortuosum cuttings2. Sceletium emarcidum cuttings
3. Delosperma bosseranum mature plants
4. Delosperma echinatum cuttings5. Trichodiadema stellatum cuttings
6. Lampranthus spectabilis (red) cuttings
7. Mesembryanthemum (Aptenia) cordifolium (purple) true form seedlings/cuttings. Can also include others including Aptenia haeckeliana if interested
8. maybe some Lampranthus aureus cutting
No WA/TAS
Something like this:
Some of them can be a challenge to root up but see how you go. Only express interest if you're dedicated and keen please.
I'll include postage.-
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Don't think I have any M. crystallinum seed left from when I grew it and I found it hard to propagate from cuttings as it's so fleshy but it's pretty easy to grow from seed so I'd personally just grab some cheap seeds eg Ice plant seeds | The Seed Collection
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Nice summary, well done.
As another area that's been researched (and patented):
We also see immunological benefits, ultra-potent blockade of proinflammatory markers like TNF-α at pM levels (sub-psychoactive doses) with some 5-HT2AR agonists like ®-DOI which is promising on many levels, it plays a key role in inflammation, its production and signaling contribute to many inflammation related diseases.
TNF-α and TNF-α receptor-mediated inflammatory pathways have been strongly implicated in a number of diseases including atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, type II diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease, and septicemia (e.g., Reimold, 2002; Popa et al., 2007; Williams et al., 2007). Significantly, TNF-α and other cytokine induced inflammatory pathways also have been linked to psychiatric conditions such as depression and bipolar disorder (Dunn et al., 2005; Kim et al., 2007), as well as schizophrenia (Saetre et al., 2007), and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease and stroke (Tweedie et al., 2007).US9642819B2 - Low dosage serotonin 5-HT2A receptor agonist to suppress inflammation - Google Patents
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35 minutes ago, Ishmael Fleishman said:
So are you saying that having to many 5-HT2A receptors can actually make you more depressed/suicidal? Is the quantity of 5-HT2A receptors determined by genetics or environment or both? I come from a family of depressed people however we all lived in a very bad environment - inter-generational political violence and racial suppression - aka apartheid.
I think I would easily have a Bmax value. Can you get easily tested for Bmax value?
Either overexpression of 5-HT2Rs with increased binding density or an altered regional expression of 5-HT2s seems to be common. There are polymorphisms of the 5-HT2A gene that can lead to changes in the density of those receptors but it more likely seems to be a complex interplay of genetics, environment and life-experiences that shape such an outcome [1]. There's likely epigenetic effects where adverse trauma could be transmitted transgenerationally, leading to an impact on, in part, the serotonin system.
QuoteI think I would easily have a Bmax value. Can you get easily tested for Bmax value?
Not easily, it would likely only be if you're part of a special research study such would be possible
QuoteHowever with such a short half-life Sandomigran. Should it not have any attenuation after a few days of Sandomigran abstinence?
Depending how potent an antagonist it is of the 5-HT2A receptor. Often as a "washout" a period of greater than 5 half-lives is used to estimate the practically total elimination of a drug and the cessation of it's pharmacological effects
"Starting from a steady state, 5 half-lives will remove 97% or a drug; whereas 10 half-lives will remove 99.9% of a drug"
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2 hours ago, Ishmael Fleishman said:
In the last year I have started getting migraines.
I was given rizatriptan (Maxalt, Maxalt-MLT) this helps with the acute symptoms. However I have just hesitantly started Sandomigran as a preventative. Since rizatriptan by itself effective I have to use four tabs a day everyday to keep the migraines away.
Now looking at the wiki page Sandomigran got me asking a few questions.
I am not a neuropharmacologist so forgive my silly questions.
Sandomigran is an antiserotonin medication which has been effective in in the treatment of serotonin syndrome or MDMA overdose.
From my limited understanding Mescaline is very similar to MDMA. Does this means that Sandomigran would inhibit the binding of Mescaline to the 5-HT2A receptor? Sandomigran half life is 23 hours.
Secondly could it be used to end a challenging mescaline experience being a antiserotonergic medication? Or to help come down from mescaline experience to help with sleep like some people use benzos.
Thirdly question is Sandomigran acts as an antidepressant, or for the treatment of anxiety or social phobia. The classical model says that depression is caused by a lack of serotonin - we know this to be largely incorrect. How can a Serotonin receptor antagonist in the classical model of depression treat depression if it reduces the binding of serotonin?
Things like ketanserin have been used as 5-HT2AR antagonists to block/attenuate the 'psychotomimetic' effects of psychedelics but interestingly, the combined effects of a 5-HT2AR antagonist and classical hallucinogens seems to retain some of the therapeutically beneficial effects ie antidepressant and some neural effects [1] so it's likely there would be attenuation of the hallucinogenic effects by sandomigran, particularly with a less potent agonist like mescaline (cyproheptadine which is related is OTC and probably would do the same). Similarly, olanzapine with decent affinity to 5-HT2ARs (along with D2Rs) seems to be used by some as an antipsychotic 'trip kill' [2] and is often conventional medicine's go to, to attenuate a bad trip/psychotic reactions. That said other schools of thought suggest the trip should not be aborted with such and instead benzodiazepines used as an anxiolytic to support a less anxiety-provoking reaction and social support be used more.
Mescaline is quite a 'shotgun' pharmacologically, with diverse binding profiles aside from 5-HT2 agonism ie adrenergic affinity etc. The stimulant effects from adrenergic etc activity might be somewhat attenuated by the antihistaminergic activity of sandomigran.
ie Mescaline has strong affinity [3] to 4.00 Alpha2C, 3.97 5ht2b, 3.61 5ht1a, 3.44 Imidazoline1, 3.16 5ht1e, 2.92 Alpha2A receptors much more so than 5-HT2ARs.'
Serotonin antagonists particularly 5-HT2 antagonists seem to be used in depression (think things like mirtazapine, which has that as a partial mechanism of action) as antagonism of the 5-HT2 receptor can have some pro-dopaminergic effects. Similarly, there are some PET studies linking depression and suicidality to overly high densities of 5-HT2 receptors, and it is thought one of the therapeutic effects of 5-HT2A agonists on depression (so too SSRIs) is to downregulate the excessively dense level of 5-HT2Rs, a similar outcome can be achieved through 5-HT2 antagonism.
The density (Bmax) of 5-HT2A receptors was significantly higher (by 39%) in depressed patients than in controls. Suicidal patients had significantly higher Bmax values than controls or non-suicidal patients. [4]
QuoteLastly does anyone have any experience with herbal based Treatments for Migraines?
Not personal experience but I've heard of people using feverfew which has some evidence base for use. You might want to consider such.
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Been trying to find answers to whether Bobinsana bark should be treated as a potential MAOI due to possible β-carbolines or if the modern guides are correct in stating:
Quote"There are some rumors about Bobinsana containing psychoactive alkaloids however these are completely unproven by any lab test and the effects of Bobinsana do not coincide at all with the effects of the rumored alkaloids."
Quote"...it is generally believed species of Calliandra do not produce alkaloids, they are characterised instead by the synthesis of non-protein amino acids which are pipecolic acid and their derivatives"
Here's some very preliminary TLC results and a write-up
Note: The initial UV fluorescent band was only visible with one wavelength light and a more typical UV light failed to show it, contrary to more common β-carbolines which were strongly visible
If anyone has input that would be appreciated.-
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Thanks for the interest. All done for now.
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Can now offer quite a few free larger plants if anyone's interested:
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My white sage has gotten to a decent size.
Let me know if anyone can use free white sage - I tend to bundle it into smudge-thingos but can do loose leaf etc
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28 minutes ago, fyzygy said:
I have, just now. Only, I don't really have any spiritual insights to feed DALL-E2. More like cues for visual cliches.
Thanks for sharing.
QuoteI also tried outputting a botanical illustration, with a given species name, but nothing even remotely plausible came back.
I've found the same for lots of botanicals, oddly if I request something like a Trichocereus flower or plant sometimes something comes back that's passible. Putting in things like 'Sceletium tortuosum' was no good but more broadly 'Mesembryanthemum' sort of worked.
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Wondering if anyone has personally used AI (DALL-E etc) to portray the more 'uplifted'/transcendent levels of consciousness or unfolding of spiritual transformations, personal spiritual insights etc, particularly if you're art inept like me?
Be keen to see what you've generated via such if you have played around with such, it almost gives a creative visual outlet for portraying such to those who are normally verbosely language-tied in their worldviews
Here's some of my attempts
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I've been busy expanding on this research, hopefully it's of interest/inspiration to others:
So far the research extends to:
Citizen TLC Phytochemical Screening of Diverse Mesembryanthemums
https://pdfhost.io/v/gugGrtnCj_
Phytochemistry of Aptenia
https://pdfhost.io/v/dq6SpR9nM_aptenia
Citizen TLC analysis of marketed commercial Sceletium tortuosum products: https://pdfhost.io/v/SVvI3PQwb_TLC_commercial_sceletium_produc
Using TLC to guide discovery of hypothetical new Kanna substitutes
https://pdfhost.io/v/A4u.08qVQ_kanna_substitutes_TLC
Utilising yeasts to encourage the bioconversion of mesembrine-type alkaloidsyeasts to encourage bioconversi | PDF Host
Initial TLC study of an uncharacterised Sceletium ('Little Karoo')
https://pdfhost.io/v/.ASjnTMdo_Initial_TLC_study_of_an_unchara
Sceletium Chemotypes - Characterisation of a 'Superior Quality' Sceletium product
sceletium chemotypes | PDF Host
Reagent analysis of phytochemicals - application to Sceletium spp and Mesembryanthemums.
Reagent analysis of phytochemicals - application to Sceletium spp and Mesembryanthemums. | PDF Host-
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I've been re-exploring this in my research lately. All in all, even I'm now hesitant to explore this one personally due to odd effects longer-term on lowering dopamine and the fact that it has not been widely used/marketed by others suggests there may be need for caution
Exploring the Magnoliaceae.pdf
I came to the conclusion:
QuoteInterestingly, despite relatively potent DAT inhibition, the longer-term net effect of (-)-anonaine on dopamine seems to be decreased dopamine content, potentially via interfering with dopamine biosynthesis via tyrosine hydroxylase [4]. This may be why, contrary to psychostimulant effects, the more traditional use of plants containing (-)-anonaine does not seem to reflect those expected in the case of more typical dopamine transporter inhibition.
Also, caution is required as some studies have noted potential neurotoxicity from Annonaceae extracts [5] with some reports of atypical parkinsonism being noted. That said, while methanol extracts have displayed toxicity, hexane extracts were devoid of such, so it may not be the anonaine and related alkaloids responsible for neurotoxicity, instead it is possible Annonaceous acetogenins may be responsible.
Nonetheless, psychostimulant activity seems to be lacking in anonaine containing plants:
Several species of Annona (Annonaceae) are used in traditional Mexican medicine due to their anti-anxiety, anticonvulsant, and tranquilizing properties-
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I have Scutellaria lateriflora and S. baicalensis seedlings if they are of use to you (can spare one of each), just get them a bit bigger on the heat mat before they'd be good to send. I'll keep you in the loop. They tend to die back, the S. lateriflora in particular down here over winter so getting them a bit bigger on the heat mat will help them along
Otherwise I've ordered from Skullcap seeds (happyvalleyseeds.com.au)
Skullcap Baical seeds (happyvalleyseeds.com.au) -
While the Sceletium has been showing continued promise for modulating mood and other dimensions, I've been experiencing significant and quite debilitating catatonic features for a long time and poor sleep quality but was personally hesitant to initiate the conventional lorazepam benzodiazepine therapy for catatonia due to the addictive nature of BZDs and past issues with addiction.
Decided to try higher dose baicalin extract and akin to the rapid resolution of catatonia seen with a lorazepam-challenge, there was robust rapid acute resolution of the catatonic features, agitation and somewhat improved sleep quality. Just able to feel slightly chill for once. Very early days but it seems to be quite useful and also stabilising for one's mental state.The improvement of catatonic features was noted on second dose etc but as the features have been ingrained quite heavily, there's occasional return of posturing etc
Subjective downsides:
- waking up in the morning is harder, significant cognitive clouding etc (anything even slightly sedative does this to me)
- reduced CNS arousal negatively impacts mental state
The baicalin also shows diverse additional features over lorazepam that intrigue me and are relevant to my situation.
Found about 1/2 tsp of 85% baicalin was sufficient
S. baicalensis and it's primary active constituent baicalin has diverse pharmacological properties. In particular, baicalin seems to have promising CNS activity [1].
Antidepressant- and anxiolytic-like properties (the latter mediated through the activation of benzodiazepine binding site of GABAA receptors)Inhibits prolyl oligopeptidase dose-dependently, having potential benefits for schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder, and related neuropsychiatric diseases [2].
Can potentially be used to treat dopaminergic dysfunction-associated CNS diseases (incl. neurodegenerative and ADHD). It's able to protect dopaminergic neurons and modulate brain dopamine levels, thus serving as a potentially effective novel treatment for ADHD [3].
In schizophrenia, addition of baicalin (1.5g/day) to atypical antipsychotics led to greater improvements in both primary and secondary negative symptoms than those treated with antipsychotics alone - seems to have efficacy for predominant negative symptoms and in improving cognitive function [4].
Able to facilitate remyelination in various models of CNS disorders and suppress neuroinflammation [5]
Baicalin can:
- pass through the blood–brain barrier
- stimulate neurogenesis
- promote neural differentiation and inhibit neuronal apoptosis
- inhibit neuroinflammation and oxidative stress
- promote CNS myelin repair
Shown to be relatively nontoxic when given orally
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Currently I'm finding I still have to not expect the kanna to do all the heavy lifting mood wise, it's really a tool that opens a potentiality for better states but without following through with behavioural activation/valued action you rapidly can sink back into the abyss.
With a disability, I find the whole movement/dance/loosing your sh*t aspect nicely therapeutic to couple with the kanna as it's cognitively non-demanding and easily achievable behavioural activation at home that is not dependent on others. It's a sense of aliveness to life.
Other areas I'm focusing on are:
- Connection. Improving some social engagements
- Independence. Gaining small steps of growth in self-care and independence doing very simple tasks myself
- Meaningful Pursuits
- Growth - for me, currently just trying to be content, happy
"Dance is a pleasurable and captivating activity that involves motor, cognitive, visuospatial, social, and emotional engagement. Although practiced for thousands of years in rituals and as a leisure activity, the long-term effects of systematic dance on cognition, and brain structure and function are not well understood."Currently, there is increasing interest in dance as a therapeutic intervention for various clinical groups, ranging from developmental disorders, to neurological disorders such as schizophrenia (Martin et al., 2016) and mood disorder, neuromotor disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, to dementia prevention and management.
The efficacy of dance lies in its cognitive-affective-sensorimotor power to effect change’ and includes all aspects of the body-heartmind-spirit continuum. This continuum includes, transcends and bridges movement between the self, humanity, the world and divinity
While for some it seem effortless, for some people it actually takes as much (or even more) courage and effort to choose an attitude of happiness, pleasure and gratitude as it does to let go of difficult emotions. It often requires an active choice, which needs to be renewed and renewed, instead of unconsciously and habitually emphasising struggle, suffering and hardship.
It offers qualities such as:
- being wholly present in the moment
- an absence of thoughts
- a sense of expansion or dissolving into the cosmos
- distortion of time and space; experiences of non-duality
- and a lost sense of self or egoIf one can keep dancing through fear, the unknown, anxiety, avoidance and resistance, and eventually come out ‘on the other side’. Life seemingly becomes easier, and therefore they are willing to ‘invest’ in that reward. ‘Surviving’ these challenges often eventually results in increased self-confidence through knowing from experience that one is able to handle more than one initially thought. This is comparable to a ‘spiritual emergence’. Through the embodied experience of this cycle of descent, crisis and emergence, spirituality becomes a lived and living experience, rather than an abstract, external, metaphysical and transcendent concept
Both the ‘feel-good feelings’ and the reward of emerging from a ‘dark night of the soul’ seem to stimulate happiness and well-being in general. One can consciously make an effort to increase and spread this zest for life.
Quote"The art of living is based on rhythm — on give and take, ebb and flow, light and dark, life and death. By acceptance of all aspects of life, good and bad, right and wrong, yours and mine, the static, defensive life, which is what most people are cursed with, is converted into a dance, ‘the dance of life,’ metamorphosis. One can dance to sorrow or to joy; one can even dance abstractly. … But the point is that, by the mere act of dancing, the elements which compose it are transformed; the dance is an end in itself, just like life. The acceptance of the situation, any situation, brings about a flow, a rhythmic impulse towards self-expression. To relax is, of course, the first thing a dancer has to learn. It is also the first thing a patient has to learn. It is the first thing any one has to learn in order to live. It is extremely difficult, because it means surrender, full surrender.Life, as we all know, is conflict, and man, being part of life, is himself an expression of conflict. If he recognizes the fact and accepts it, he is apt, despite the conflict, to know peace and to enjoy it. But to arrive at this end, which is only a beginning (for we haven’t begun to live yet!), a man has got to learn the doctrine of acceptance, that is, of unconditional surrender, which is love."- Henry MillerThe psychological "holdings" in the body as the result of traumas, poor posture, or stress can be released, lulling the person into a "hookup" [peaceful, meditative state]:- given the choice between old painful "holdings" and new, freer movements, the unconscious will automatically choose the latter
By moving the body, restrictive patterns can be changed, promoting relaxation and mental clarity.
Also exploring therapeutic Drumming:Normally I'm an extreme stereotypic stimmer (flapping), which is one thing that kind of has no 'end result of health' associated with it, you can get worked up/modulate arousal levels but it doesn't have any personal sense of peace, connection, healing etc associated with it.The next level lately has been to embrace super unco 'drumming', which I've tried to get into a long time ago but I couldn't even manage to sense rhythm back then where my head was. Lately, I've been trying it again, learning to crank some techno and kill the rhythm fast as I can (starting just simply, tapping a table). I can attest, it does something quite nice to your mental-emotional-spiritual state, particularly at high bpm. Found it therapeutic enough that I want to ingrain it as a new habit over flapping, so whipped up a $0 drum from an old indoor planter and made it more interesting (second pic)."Drumming produces an altered state of consciousness and an experience of a rush of energy from the vibrations, with physical stimulation producing emotional release"My $0 drum
It's able to calm one down and help a person deal with stress in their lives. “Drumming helps them to experience a kind of peacefulness and provides a spiritual learning context [potential to access a “higher power” and reestablish connections with their “natural selves.”].Learning to 'drum' leads to positive changes in brain function and behaviour among those with mental illness [1] autistic people [2] and in addiction [3].Improvements in:- hedonia (natural pleasurable experiences)- agency- accomplishment- engagement (focus and flow)- defining the self/self-awareness- produces the sense of connectedness- improved synchronicity between brain regions responsible for inhibitory control, which prevents impulsivity.- improvements to social skills and social well-being- reduces hyperactivity and attentional difficulties- enhances hypnotic susceptibility, increases relaxation, and induces shamanic experiences- release of emotional trauma- addresses self-centeredness, isolation, and alienation- enhanced sensorimotor coordination and integration
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2 x free mixed succulent packs
in Seed & Plant Swaps
Posted
These I find tend to get quite battered before they look slightly better as cuttings but they seem quite hardy. I think the lot of emarcidum I sent maybe wasn't in the best of health for cutting as it was flowering etc. I can maybe send more if you need it, or try to root some up for you