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Alchemica

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Posts posted by Alchemica

  1. Bumping this topic up, I have two small plants available free if someone super keen missed out, let them root up a bit more before sending, they'll die back over cool frosty periods but warmer states or someone with a greenhouse might do well with them this size. Once again, sorry, no WA/Tas. 

     

    While there is history of traditional use [1] and herbalists suggest it may be a nervine, contemporary use of the plant remains very limited.

     

    Lobinaline is devoid of the characteristic actions of lobeline and in mice, lobinaline is less toxic than lobeline (but did lower animals blood pressure) [2]. Toxicology suggests a large quantity ingested is toxic with symptoms reported as being "nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, salivation, exhaustion and weakness, dilation of pupils, convulsions, and coma" but some have used it in smaller quantities as a tea [3].

     

    Lobinaline is an inhibitor of the dopamine transporter (DAT) in vitro and in vivo. It is more potent for inhibiting DAT (IC50 = 11.95 μM) vs lobeline (IC50 = 30-80 μM) [4]. In addition, lobinaline is a weak non-subtype selective partial agonist at nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and a good free radical scavenger. it is likely that the DAT inhibitory actions are "atypical" in not having abuse liability.

     

    Early herbalists noted that a tincture induced the "disposition to sing" and preliminary bioassays by others have noted "...cardinalis is more like nicotine. Seems to give stimulant effects similar to mild nicotine. Seems to have mild aphrodisiac properties. Slight mood lift present it also seems to have anti-depressant properties" [5]

     

    The N-oxide has potentially superior dopaminergic activity [6], that said at 25mg/kg it lacked abuse potential in the conditioned place paradigm model and "at the dose we administered does not seem to have a significant effect in the mesolimbic dopaminergic pathways and may not facilitate a role in treating drug abuse" [7]


    [1] https://www.cargocultcafe.com/cardinal-flower/
    [2] https://doi.org/10.1139/cjr38b-055
    [3] https://eatwild.weebly.com/blog/cardinal-flower
    [4] https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.fitote.2016.04.013
    [5] https://drugs-forum.com/threads/lobelia-cardinalis.213716/
    [6] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34648893/
    [7] https://uknowledge.uky.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1013&context=medsci_etds

     

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    • Like 2
  2. I tend to hear of 6-benzylaminopurine being used for pupping which is quite a distinct compound (synthetic cytokinin with stimulatory effects on cell division) with a different mechanism to IBA
     

    That said, try it and see what happens. IBA has:
     

    - auxin-like effects such as root initiation, stem bending, and leaf epinasty

    - IBA-derived auxin has strong roles in various aspects of root development, including regulation of root apical meristem size, root hair elongation, lateral root development, and formation of adventitious roots. 

    - IBA-derived auxin plays distinct roles in shoot development, with particular roles in cotyledon expansion and apical hook formation.

    Some studies indicate:
    - IBA application promotes elongation of stems in intact pea plants "IBA could act as an important source of auxin to boost stem elongation in intact plants"

    - In carrots it seems to cause longer plants "IBA significantly increased the overall plant length."
     

    • Like 1
  3. Anyone have personal experience with these plants? Curious as I can only find limited info on their use.

     

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    Trichodiadema stellatum (syn. barbatum) This plant has been used as a yeast substitute for brewing beer and is reported to contain the psychoactive alkaloid mesembrine (Watt & Breyer-Brandwijk, 1962). Laidler (1928) also states that this plant known as kareemoer is “one of the beer making roots, a deliriant and intoxicant with an earlier stimulant action”.
     
    HARGREAVES 1998 notes that it is believed to contain an intoxicating alkaloid (“probably mesembrine”)
    Positive general alkaloid tests (ZWICKY) were had for Trichodiadema barbatum
     
    Mesembs reported to contain mesembrine alkaloids
    Trichodiadema barbatum (unconfirmed)
    Trichodiadema bulbosum (unconfirmed)
    Trichodiadema intonsum (unconfirmed)
    - FESTI & SAMORINI 1995

    They have a nice fat root system that could be useful (similarly to D. bosseranum)
     
     

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  4. Can offer free cuttings of Lampranthus spectabilis (Red) if interested.DSC_0001352.thumb.jpg.0948757568852a5a4277b8fc35c2b6f2.jpg
     
    I can't properly explore as my serotonin transporter is heavily occupied but as it's a rampant grower and a different colour for the garden, it might be a useful addition. Have dried research material if needed too. Let me know in this thread if interested and I'll get back to you once the festive craziness has quietened down

    While it is claimed "...it would be almost impossible to achieve any pharmacological response from genera other than Sceletium" [1], recently Lampranthus species have been specifically marketed as "Chinese Kanna", alongside being used as an adulterant, one source stating Lampranthus spectabilis generally contains about 1–1.5% total alkaloids [2].
     
    A high concentration of phenolics has been noted in Lampranthus [3], along with other phytoconstituents [4]
     
    "Of the five Lampranthus species tested, only L. aureus and L. spectabilis yielded mesembrenol, while all the other Lampranthus species investigated appeared to contain mesembrenone, but all at very low levels." Lampranthus aureus appears to contain other indolic alkaloids
     
    Mesembrine: SERT inhibition [other claims of 5-HT releasing activity], PDE-4 inhibition, Anti-inflammatory, Cytoprotective, Upregulates VMAT-2, Mild inhibition of AChE, Mild MAO inhibition, limited reuptake of NE and DA at high concentrations
    Mesembrenone/mesembrenol: SERT inhibition, PDE-4 inhibition
     

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    • Like 4
  5. Just updating this - there seems to be confusion between A. cordifolia (Mesembryanthemum cordifolium) and A. lancifolia and there are common hybrids between the two.

     

    Aptenia cordifolia and A. lancifolia are very popular garden plants around the world, and are particularly useful as attractive ground covers on dry slopes as they rapidly form lush green carpets with decorative reddish purple flowers. A. cordifolia has cordate or heart-shaped leaves, while the leaves of A. lancifolia are lance-shaped, tapering gradually towards their bases. Leaf shape is used as a rather tenuous character in distinguishing A. cordifolia from its nearest relative, A. lancifolia.

     

    Quote

     

    In the  stems of A. cordifolia the predominant alkaloid found was 4’-O-methylsceletenone, followed by hordenine and then 4,5-dihydro-4’-Omethylsceletenone. In A. cordifolia sample 2 ... no alkaloids were found to be present in the fruit and flowers of the plant. Only the non-mesembrane  alkaloid hordenine was observed to be present only in the leaves of the plant in trace amounts, while the predominant alkaloid in both the stems and the roots of the plant was 4’-O-methylsceletenone, followed by 4,5-dihydro-4’-O-methylsceletenone 
     

    In the A. lancifolia samples investigated, all of the plant parts were observed to contain mesembrane alkaloids. In the stems of A. lancifolia, 4’-Omethylsceletenone, 4,5-dihydro-4’-O-methylsceletenone and hordenine were all found to be present in trace amounts. 4,5-dihydro-4’-O-methylsceletenone  was the main alkaloid observed to be present and hordenine was present in trace amounts in A. lancifolia leaves. In A. lancifolia roots, the predominant alkaloid present was 4’-O-methylsceletenone, followed by hordenine, and trace amounts of 4,5-dihydro-4’-O-methylsceletenone. The fruit and flowers of A. lancifolia yielded mainly 4,5-dihydro-4’-O-methylsceletenone followed by 4’-O-methylsceletenone, and the stems of A. lancifolia yielded predominantly 4’-O-methylsceletenone followed by 4,5-dihydro-4’-O-methylsceletenone. 

    Microsoft Word - 1. Cover page.doc (def-sa.com)

     

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    • Thanks 1
  6. 4 hours ago, fyzygy said:

    Mesembryanthemum = Aptenia? I've got this growing at random, my plant ID app tells me it's M. cordifolia. Don't know where it came from, but it's always reminded me of Sceletium spp. Both seem to be unstoppable ground covers. 

    IMG_1719.JPG

     

    Mesembryanthemum cordifolium L.f. (syn. Aptenia cordifolia)

     

    Think there's some variety in colour

     

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  7. One I've heard of and seems to be very otherwise benign is Hibiscus/Rosella

    Rosella appears to be a safe and well-tolerated treatment option, which may have a place in the treatment of mild-to-moderate essential hypertension. Data suggests that it may provide comparable effectiveness to some pharmaceutical antihypertensive medications. [1]

  8. 27 minutes ago, Drak33366 said:

    Have there been any

     

    Is ingestion known to produce long-term neurological change or do the effects only last until the mesembrine is metabolised?

     

    There'd likely be BDNF elevations [seen in animal studies here] and enhanced neurogenesis on chronic dosing (in line with the therapeutic activity seen in depression where case-studies note delayed improvements, eg 1-2 weeks, 10 days etc) from both the serotonergic effects and PDE4 inhibition

     
  9. 30 minutes ago, Ishmael Fleishman said:

    If either of you would be willing to donate a cutting I would love to add it to my collection.

     

    Trying to root up cuttings at the moment, if I have success I'll be in touch

     

    Quote

    however I am surprised how unknown it is and how little attention it gets

     

    It's really annoying as it's a potent therapeutic and it would be good to have it remain therapeutically appreciated, rather than abused. 

     

    It's made the list of the United Nations “plants of concern.” and features in some drug testing/analysis papers so probably be an issue soon [1].

  10. "Based on the venation type, the species is mainly classified as either emarcidum or tortuosum types. In the emarcidum type, the leaf is more flat and the dried leaf venation pattern shows a central main vein with the curved secondary vein which branches off the main vein, reaching the leaf margins.
     
    In plants of the tortuosum type, the dry leaves are more concave and usually show about three to five or sometimes up to seven major parallel veins. The secondary veins run straight up to the apex on both sides of the middle vein."
     
    May be an image of text that says 'S. emarcidum S. tortuosum'
     
     
    While the emarcidum is much easier to grow it seems to be devoid of mesembrine and instead comprised of 4'-O-demethylated mesembrine-type alkaloids [1, 2] which are poorly characterised pharmacologically. S. strictum seems to again have a different alkaloid profile centred on mesembrine and mesembrenone and is proposed to be useful based on that
     


    Pretty sure the first one I have is emarcidum-type and the second tortuosum if that helps you ID.


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    • Thanks 1
  11. 22 hours ago, FancyPants said:

    I might be a medium hard head so I’ve NFI how many threads I had. 

     

    I used to think more was better particularly as there seems to be dose-dependent increases in DA levels but then noticed low doses cumulatively ie a pinch seems better... and likely safer as increased doses seem to come with notable toxicity. Not sure where the cut off for CNS toxicity is but considering the clinically used doses are low and they seem effective, maybe wise to keep to lower doses?

     

    " saffron constituents such as crocin, crocetin and safranal can exert antioxidant or toxic effects depending on their endogenous concentration. " [1]

     

    • Like 1
  12. I made lavender + chocolate once... the taste was intense! (questionably tolerable, I wouldn't want to make an oral spray with it!)
     

    80gm raw cacao butter, 1 tablespoon virgin coconut oil, 3 tablespoons raw agave nectar, 800mg Lavandula angustifolia EO, 55 g Criollo (organic) cacao powder, 4g L-theanine, 2g L-tryptophan. The last three mixed well together until homogenous prior to addition. Melt the cacao butter, coconut oil over a pot of boiling water, stirring all the time, add agave and stir in to combine, add lavender oil and then add cacao powder + L-theanine + L-tryptophan stirring till lovely and smooth and shiny.
     
    Allow to set 20 x  serves. each providing 200mg L-theanine. 40mg L. angustifolia EO* and 100mg L-tryptophan. 1-2 should calm a stressed body
     
    *80mg is as efficacious as paroxetine and lorazepam for generalised anxiety in some studies.

    I'd probably just try lavender first and skip the calamus and add some other calming stuff but up to you!

    I'd just try saffron gummies, the alcohol will evaporate off which is good and I'd guess it could survive 100deg C for a bit. Play around with the mint geranium. I like glycerites as I avoid alcohol, maybe you could mash up some leaves in some glycerine and pour off?
     

     

    • Like 1
  13. You're correct on anions being negatively charged ions, while cations are positively charged ions. 


     

    Quote

     

     most air ionizers on the market work by generating a large voltage difference across some volume of air  – a method that produces ozone in varying degrees

     

    Consumer Reports tested five popular ionizing air purifiers and found them to produce more than 50 ppb (parts per billion) of ozone near the machine.

     

    ...some ionizers on the market do attempt to reduce their ozone output. 

     

     

    Air Purifiers: Ionic and Ionizers, Are They Bad for You? - Molekule Blog

    It seems ozone might have some detrimental effects on plant growth see: CO2 Science

     

    Quote

    ...air purifiers do help plants grow, as they remove air pollutants from the air which can otherwise limit the amount of food a plant can make through the process of photosynthesis. Not all air purifier types help plants grow, some can actually harm them. Ozone generators and other types of air purifiers that release ozone are not helpful for plant growth. On the contrary, they are actually quite bad for plants. This is because of negative ozone properties, which have adverse effects on all living things, plants included.

     

    Do Air Purifiers Help Plants Grow? Can They Be Bad For Plants? (ionizerhub.com)

  14. 4 minutes ago, withdrawl clinic said:

     

     

    i add one more question, about withania. i have seen it cultivated in cold central europe and it grew in the outdoor fields, to a height of 2m. i never seen the roots of those plants.

    i cultivated withania, around byron bay, and at my current location, both times the plant seemed to go into heat dormacy, and my current plants died down over summer and re shooted once it got cold. my qustion to people in vic or tas, 1, how tall does your withania get? 2, does it grow over summer where you live? 3, are there different strains around, which affect height of the withania, or are my plants stunned by the heat?

     

    i only bio assayed the root i grew in around byron, and it was a small, struggling plant, but i boiled the root in water, and had good effects.

    Not sure if Adelaide is what you're after location wise. I haven't personally noted it dying down except if it got sunburnt then it stunts. I tend to get plants like this:

     

    No photo description available.

     

    I keep the leaf as it seems useful (but tastes horrible) - I make a glycerite to cover the taste a bit

     

     
    The leaves possess higher content of active withanolides, Withaferin-A and Withanone, as compared to the roots [1]. Nootropic and CNS therapeutic properties of the leaf have been claimed [2]. 
     
    Withaferin-A is a potent leptin sensitiser with additional antidiabetic actions and resulted in a 20-25% reduction of body weight in overweight mice [3]. It improves insulin sensitivity [4].
     
    Anti-neuroinflammatory properties have been ascribed to the leaf [5] along with neuroprotective properties [6]
     
    Withaferin-A shows anti-neuroinflammatory [7] anti-Aβ properties [8] and dopamine-restoring [9]  properties. Improvement of cognitive dysfunction has been ascribed to Withanone [10] including inhibition of AChE, anti-Aβ, protection against oxidative stress and anti-inflammatory effects.
     
    Many toxicological studies have demonstrated that Ashwagandha, in its reasonable dose, is a non-toxic, safe and edible herb - despite that, there is sometimes movement away from the cytotoxic constituents towards root extracts which may be less effective

     

  15. 1 hour ago, Ishmael Fleishman said:

     

    Stupid question but how do you get water to 130ºc?

     

    So you are suggesting cooking the hops in 100ºc water for 120 minutes to isomerize the alpha acids. - Just like you would when boiling wort to make beer.

     

    No alcohol required?

    What dose do you suggest?

    Do you suggest blending it with valerian?

     

    Either they had it in a sealed vessel under pressure, or were using a different solvent.

     

    I'd personally suggest, if you want to explore, just downing a few high α-acid hop pellets and seeing if it's your thing. I used about 3g dried pellets, not sure the best dose to use but you want to skull them down to avoid tasting them at all personally

     

    I was just giving you my notes, I was interested in the iso-α-acids for a bit for their different CNS profile but they are SO BITTER at the required doses you'd have to be really masochistic. The brew was horridly hard to drink! Maybe if you isomerised them, dried it out and capped it up it would be ok

     

    No photo description available.

  16. 1 hour ago, withdrawl clinic said:

     

    subject: withania root.

    methode: dry root or use fresh wet root? first simmer/or boil in water, than take leftovers and extract in high proof alcohol. than combine extracts?

     

     

    The main actives are normally considered to be withanolides which are steroidal lactones ie more fat soluble so it's likely to primarily be the ethanol that extracts them. 

     

    For a very crude extraction:

     

    Drying and powdering the root first helps. I'd do alcohol first as that's likely to be the best solvent and maybe the only one needed? Sit the dry, powdered root (weigh it first) in sufficient warm ethanol and leave to extract. As for how much, depends how much you have to spare! Pour off the ethanol filtering through something - I use a hop  brew straining bag to filter it, if you fold it over itself a few times you get a good filter for bulk herbs -saving the filtrate and repeat again, extracting the root material, if possible with a second lot of alcohol. Wash the material in the filter with some alcohol too.  Carefully evaporate it and dry to resin/powder. You could repeat using boiling water to extract (boil it in water, filter, evaporate to leave resin, dehydrate to powder)

     

    Filter bag:

    See the source image

     

     

     

    That said, it seems the best solvent is 50:50 alcohol:water as a single extraction solvent: "The maximum extract yield and the total withanolide and phenolic content were obtained from aqueous alcoholic compositions at 50:50 (v/v), 70:30 (v/v), and 100:0 (v/v), respectively" so maybe a single extraction with 50% ethanol is better than doing two separate extractions!

     

    On Ashwagandha, if you're not averse to alcohol, you could also try  an ashwagandharishtha-style preparation [1]. It's a really pleasant way to take the medicine, if you don't mind the interesting flavour.

     

    "Emerging evidence suggests the ability of fermentation to enhance the bioactivity and therapeutic potential of traditional medicines. Indeed, the fermentation was shown to increase the availability of the active molecules and to eliminate the undesired compounds."

     

    Ashwagandharishtha is a liquid polyherbal formulation traditionally prepared by fermentation process using the flowers of Woodfordia fruticosa. It contains roots of Withania somnifera as a major crude drug. Alcohol generated during the fermentation causes the extraction of water insoluble phytoconstituents. Yeasts present on the flowers are responsible for this fermentation.

     

    I simply fermented ashwagandha root etc with added yeast and sugar.

     

    No photo description available.

     

     

    [1] https://doi.org/10.1016/j.imr.2013.04.002

    [2] https://www.ayurmedinfo.com/2011/06/27/ashwagandharishta-uses-ingredients-dose-and-side-effects/

    • Like 1
  17. 32 minutes ago, Ishmael Fleishman said:

     

    Can you explain this - I have access food-grade 70%ABV alcohol.

     

    Can anyone tell me about hops - I used to brew beer so I am familiar with hops in brewing but never used hops otherwise. I have read that it was used to reduce sex drive.

     

    Just a simple extraction using both alcohol and boiling water as two different solvents (ie doing the extraction once with alcohol, then following up repeating with water). Most of the constituents in things like Passiflora and Skullcap seem to be flavonoids so it seems to suit such.

     

    Only do it if you like the effect of the particular herb - try it in unextracted form as a higher dose first - just makes dosing more convenient.

     

    Hops I used to just eat the hop brewing pellets, either as is or boil them for awhile to isomerise it

     

    Here are some of my notes, sorry for the over-detail.

     

    Hops increases GABA levels. The typical use for hops is for sleep disturbances and mood disorders, such as anxiety and restlessness. Data from in vivo studies in rats have shown that a hops extract and its fraction containing alpha-bitter acids (humulones) exert significant sedative and antidepressant effects, whilst hops beta-acids (lupulones) appear to also exhibit antidepressant activity with fewer sedative effects, probably by affecting gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurotransmission activity. Moreover, in vitro binding experiments have shown that hops interact with certain serotonin (5-HT6) and melatonin (ML1) receptor subtypes, which are involved in various CNS functions related to stress activity, relaxation, circadian rhythms and sleep.

     

    Zanoli et al. have investigated the in vivo and in vitro effect of hop beta-acids on central nervous system function and suggested an antidepressant-like activity. Behavioral effects of beta-acids fraction were explained by a modification in the GABAergic activity. That said it contains a highly potent phytoestrogen 8-prenylnaringenin)]. Terpenes likely add to the effect eg myrcenol, which is produced from myrcene during boiling hops

     

    Iso-α-acids

     

    Iso-α-acids prevented hippocampal inflammation and cognitive impairment and seem particularly effective for the suppression of inflammation-induced depression-like behaviour and appear to do this in part via activation of the vagus nerve, which can in turn improve depression-like behaviour, as a safe and novel approach for treating depression
     
    Generally the bitterness induced by effective doses of iso-α-acids precludes their acceptance but they have been shown to a) safely reduce body fat  B) improve cognition in metabolically induced cognitive impairment and c) improve working memory 
     
    I used Galaxy 15.7% α-acids
     
    "The rate of conversion of α-acids to iso-α-acids was highly dependent on temperature. For typical 100°C boiling conditions, 77% of alpha acids were isomerized within 120 min. Temperatures of 130 °C isomerized 100% of alpha acids within 30 min of heating. A 90 min boil at 100 °C corresponded to a final iso-alpha acid concentration equal to 60% of the starting alpha acid concentration" 
     
    The α-acids fraction can be considered as the major responsible constituent for the enhanced GABAergic action and for the antidepressant property
     
    The bitter iso-α-acids:
    - improve health by influencing lipid metabolism, glucose tolerance, and body weight
    - could be effective for improvement of working memory potentially through enhancement of dopamine release
    - consumption prevents inflammation in the hippocampus and ameliorates age-related cognitive decline
    - can suppress hippocampal inflammation and improve hyper neural activity
    - suppress neuronal damage and depression-like behaviour induced by inflammation 
     
    Hop β-bitter acids (lupulones) also show antidepressant-like effects. Lupulones are activators of TRPC6, which mediates antidepressant activity

     

    The fraction containing β-acids needed a dosage approximately 6 times higher than that of α-acids for sedative effects

  18. 57 minutes ago, withdrawl clinic said:

    kava, scullcap, withania are my favorites but, the problem lies that, in herb form the quality varies enormisly, and in a capsule most of the brands are crappy as well.

    the effects of one small withania root, home grown, was not be able to match by pharmacy products.

    many years ago, (but i could sleep much better, than now) i used a incarnata, hops, damiana, and what else product which was quite good, but recent similar products were inferior.

    when it come to kava, most companies by cheap kava and sell it expensive for maximum profit.

     

    i suggest as followes, i know there is very good instant kava legally available, if you know good brands, please post about them here (ther would be old posts regarding this as well)

    as well please post herbal blend brands (a tounge twister), that you were happy with. the kava and withania from chemist warehouse is close to useless, even if you take 5 of them.

     

    Agreed, there's wild variability.

     

    For herbs, I settled on doing very simple alcohol/water extracts on raw herbs as it provided a more reliable effect outcome.  Even simple water/alcohol dual extracts reduced to a resin then oven dried/dehydrator at lowish temps often leave generally effective extracts, often found they reduced to around 7X extracts after filtering all solids out and evaporating. It's easy to get imported extracts that are super questionably even what they say they are

     

    No photo description available.

     

    As far as kava, for the better one I've found at chemists (it's not great but find it better than others) is 'Bioglan' capsules that contain an extract powder that is better than nothing and can add to herbal synergies when better stuff isn't available.

     

    Another one I've explored  in the past but forgot to mention is Californian Poppy root.

     

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    "...rather than disorientating the user, it tends to normalise psychological function"
     
    Both aerial parts and roots contain alkaloids, the latter being MUCH richer (1.6-2.7%)
     
    Traditionally used for several disorders “Reactive, agitated and masked depressions, melancholy, neurasthenia, neuropathy, organ neurosis, vegetative-dystonic disturbances, imbalances, constitutional lability of the nervous system”, as well as a sleep-inducer and sedative tea.
     
    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 receptors
     
     

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  19. I tried to rank some subjectively on potency once recently and came up with this list:

    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. Some I haven't found overly notable despite evidence base eg Galphimia glauca

     

    Things like saffron, lavender, passionflower etc appear to be worthy of consideration for the treatment of depression and anxiety with minimal risk of serious side effects. 

     

    Even years after abstinence from alcohol etc, still find the Passionflower comparatively mild unless the dose is high. The skullcap seems more notably anxiolytic but I still require higher doses than normal.

    As my 'chill' blend I used 300mg kavalactones + Skullcap and Passiflora [both dual alcohol/water extract]

     

    In a study of herbalist preferences for anxiety reduction, the overall the herb of choice was S. lateriflora

     

    It had notable effects in reducing subjective anxiety scores [1] S. lateriflora may be superior to pharmaceutical anxiolytics in its ability to produce mood enhancing effects without side-effects such as a reduction in energy or cognition or causing fatigue [2]

     

    [1] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12652886/

    [2] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23878109/

     

    If it's OCD-like you might consider saffron: Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) has demonstrated antidepressant effects in clinical studies and extensive anxiolytic effects in experimental animal models. It reputedly has acute effects. Saffron is a potential efficacious and tolerable treatment for major depressive disorder with anxious distress. It increased mood, reduced anxiety and managed stress without side effects, offering a natural alternative to standard treatments and likewise has effects comparable to conventional pharmacotherapy for OCD. It has been used to augment and reduce side effects of SSRIs.

     

    Quote

     

    Saffron, derived from the stigma of Crocus sativus flower, is commonly used as a spice and as medicine in the Middle East and in South Asia. In patients with mild to moderate anxiety, extracts of saffron were reported to be effective in relieving symptoms in several RCTs (Akhondzadeh et al., 2005; Mazidi et al., 2016; Talaei, Hassanpour Moghadam, Sajadi Tabassi, & Mohajeri, 2015). Studies also show that the effects are comparable to standard antidepressant drugs such as fluoxetine (Moosavi, Ahmadi, Amini, & Vazirzadeh, 2014; Noorbala, Akhondzadeh, Tahmacebi‐Pour, & Jamshidi, 2005; Shahmansouri et al., 2014) and imipramine (Akhondzadeh, Fallah‐Pour, Afkham, Jamshidi, & Khalighi‐Cigaroudi, 2004).Saffron reduced anxiety and depression scores in women with premenstrual syndrome as well (Agha‐Hosseini et al., 2008).

     

    Kava (Piper methysticum) originated from tropical islands and is used in traditional medicine. Dietary supplements containing kava extracts are promoted as a natural treatment for anxiety and insomnia. WS®1490, a standardized dry root extract, has been employed in several clinical trials (Gastpar & Klimm, 2003; Geier & Konstantinowicz, 2004; Malsch & Kieser, 2001; Volz & Kieser, 1997) and shown to have anxiolytic effects that were superior to placebo. Another extract demonstrated effects similar to those of buspirone and opipramol, prescription drugs used for anxiety and depression (Boerner et al., 2003). Aqueous extracts of kava have also been investigated by Sarris et al. (2009) who reported their anxiolytic activity to be better than placebo with short‐term (3 weeks) use but not as effective as oxazepam when given in acute doses for 1 week (Sarris et al., 2012). In another study, this extract increased sexual drive in female users and reduced anxiety significantly (Sarris, Stough, Teschke, et al., 2013). Kava extract also reduced anxiety and depression scores in both perimenopausal (Cagnacci et al., 2003) and postmenopausal women (De Leo et al., 2000).

     

    Oral supplements from lavender are also available for a wide variety of symptoms. Silexan®, a product derived from steam distillation of lavender flowers, has been tested in several human studies that show its anxiolytic activity to be better than placebo (Kasper et al., 2010; Kasper et al., 2014; Kasper, Anghelescu, & Dienel, 2015) and comparable to prescription drugs such as paroxetine (Kasper et al., 2014) and lorazepam (Woelk & Schlafke, 2010) with fewer adverse effects. Lavender tea may also enhance the effect of the antidepressant citalopram (Nikfarjam, Parvin, Assarzadegan, & Asghari, 2013). Similar benefits were observed when lavender extract drops were taken with imipramine (Akhondzadeh et al., 2003)

     

    Passionflower is derived from the flower of Passiflora incarnata, a plant prevalent in Southeastern parts of the Americas. Native Americans used it as a remedy to improve sleep and to reduce anxiety. One study that employed a traditional tea preparation taken before bedtime found that it can improve sleep quality but had no significant effect on anxiety when compared to a placebo (Ngan & Conduit, 2011). An aqueous extract of passionflower produced a slight but statistically significant improvement in anxiety scores in patients undergoing spinal anesthesia without disrupting psychomotor function or sedation (Aslanargun, Cuvas, Dikmen, Aslan, & Yuksel, 2012). In another trial, a standardized P. incarnata extract was reported to reduce preoperative anxiety in patients undergoing inguinal herniorrhaphy (Movafegh et al., 2008). When used as an adjuvant, passionflower extract improved mental symptoms more effectively than clonidine alone for opioid withdrawal (Akhondzadeh, Kashani, et al., 2001). In patients with anxiety disorder, passionflower extract was no better than oxazepam in reducing symptoms but had fewer adverse effects (Akhondzadeh, Naghavi, et al., 2001). Similar findings were reported in another study that compared passionflower with sertraline (Nojoumi, Ghaeli, Salimi, Sharifi, & Raisi, 2017).

     

    Rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea) is a perennial plant used in traditionalmedicine in Asia and in Eastern Europe to improve physical endurance and mental performance. Results from studies of the root extract involving patients with anxiety (Cropley, Banks, & Boyle, 2015) and depression (Darbinyan et al., 2007) show that it can reduce symptoms when compared with placebo. In adults with stress‐related fatigue, an R. rosea extract was no better than a placebo in reducing depression scores (Olsson, von Scheele, & Panossian, 2009). A root extract was also less effective than the standard antidepressant drug sertraline in patients with mild to moderate depression but was associated with fewer adverse events and was better tolerated (Mao et al., 2015).

     

    Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) is an herb popular for its relaxant effects. In patients with mild to moderate generalized anxiety disorder, a chamomile extract demonstrated modest anxiolytic activity when compared with placebo (Amsterdam et al., 2009). A follow‐up study of chamomile's long‐term effects showed that it continued to be effective after 38 weeks although there was no significant reduction in relapse time (Mao et al., 2016)

    doi: 10.1002/ptr.6033

     

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