AWAKE Medicinal Plant collection
AWAKE Plant Medicine Collection
A spagyric plant medicine package curated for daytime functioning. Three essential plant medicines used for thousands of years and scientifically verified to support daytime functioning physical activities.
Schisandra chinensis
Magnolia Berries
Waking you up - Timing the Natural Internal Clock
Regular use keeps the internal clocks calibrated to the natural environmental clock. The Magnolia Berries act as adaptogens exerting normalizing functions on the endocrine system, regulating the production of serotonin. This effectually wakes you up when you’re supposed to get up, and then takes it away when you’re supposed to go down.
Stress-reliever
“Quiet the Mind and Calm the Heart”
Magnolia berries (also known as the five-flavored berry) are known in TCM to “Quiet the mind and calm the heart”. It has shown scientifically to help modulate a wide array of stress responses in the body and provides a multitude of compounds promoting wakefulness, anti-fatigue and that alleviate chronic tiredness (3). This helps preserve vital energies and sustains our physical and mental health. It’s energy boosting and stress eliminating properties allow us to use this extra energy and focus on the truly important matters at hand, like achieving sovereignty over life.
Serotonin, Schisandra, and Neuroendocrinology
The Berries also stimulate siddhis (Siddhi - Wikipedia) reducing your need for food and water by suppressing emotional appetites, they further provide greater sensitivity to light, most notably at night, it enhances physical and mental stamina throughout the day, among a long list of unique medicinal/therapeutic effects.
I choose it as the key ingredient in AWAKE plant medicine collection because of its powerful ability to help regulate your natural internal timekeeping system, which is in fact the endocrine system, with the pineal as the master gland in the center of the brain. The pineal is a key producer of serotonin in the body and it is regulation is stimulated by the time-of-day.
The pineal is a “photo-neuro-endocrine organ” (2). It transmutes light waves from the environment, sun and moon, into serotonin and melatonin in the correct ratios at the correct times during the day and night. Animal studies (1) suggest that the key active compounds in S. Chinensis, schisandrin and schisandrin B are related to the serotonin pathways and likewise modulate other important neurotransmitters like noradrenaline and dopamine, hence the berries light sensitivity enhancing and top-down immuno-regulatory effects. This also provides a slight anti-depression effect which is certainly useful.
Source and Extraction
These berries were wild harvested in Russia and extracted in America. Sourced from Russia because reports indicated most beneficial compounds were found in aqueous extract sourced from Russia (3). Berries were spagyrically extracted from a cold 65% ethanol-based maceration which was shaken vigorously every day for 21 days in dark conditions using a 1:5 oz herb to solvent ratio.
Withania somnifera
Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha Origins
‘Ashwa’, meaning horse in Ayurveda, because it invigorates with the power of a horse, has been used for over 6,000 years in Indian alchemy as a Rasāyana.
Rasāyana is an ancient tool used for the journey on the Path of Essence, the path which leads from mortal human to immortal god-man who has realized his atman as Brahman (4).
A powerful Rasāyana was chosen as the second medicinal plant in the AWAKE collection for its highly energizing and physically supporting therapeutic properties.
Science has provided evidence for its historical usage as a potent rejuvenating, longevity-enhancing, revitalizing adaptogen, tonic, and exceptional nervine.
Ashwagandha is a nightshade making it a member of the wide branching and well known Solanaceae family. Its genetically similar relatives are familiar every day foods like tomato's, potatoes, peppers and other common grocery store bought foods. But it is also classified with advanced medicinal and shamanic plants like Atropa belladonna, Datura stramonium, Hyoscyames niger, and even Scopolia carniolica.
So, where does Ashwagandha fall upon this plant medicine spectrum? Its definitely somewhere around the middle, making it an all-around plant medicine necessity. (3)
Current Usage
The root of the plant is the most popularly used medicinal component. It carries a diverse array of alkaloids, steroidal lactones, and saponins which have all been identified for their therapeutic values. Many of its active principles are anti-stress and immunomodulatory agents. The science regards the root as a tonic, aphrodisiac, narcotic, diuretic, anthelmintic, astringent, thermogenic and stimulant. It is commonly used as an adjunct with chemotherapy or radiotherapy displaying strong anti-cancer effects and it also reduces the side effects of anti-cancer agents. It has also stirred interest for its extremely effective treatment of tumor like disease and its ability to improve white blood cell count and function, which are commonly depleted in cancer patients. (2)
Adaptogen
It is widely trusted for a spectrum of health promoting effects outside of cancer treatments. Most notably for its adaptogenic, cardioprotective, cardiotropic effects. It supports muscle strengthening, neuronal systems, and is used to inspire youthful vigor and heightened endurance (4).
Anti-anxiety
Ashwagandha has shown to be comparable to the affects of the pharmaceutical Lorazepam in eliminating anxiety and increasing social ability in multiple double-blind placebo controlled studies. Significant pain relief in animal trials was also observed that lend to its narcotic like effects. This plant similarly contains nicotine.
Notable Uses
Ashwagandha was projected as one of the six essential medicinal herbs in a recent medicinal plant seminar (Singh, 2005). Ashwagandha has shown diverse therapeutic actions ranging from the promotion of neurogenesis along the nervous system and there are even documented cases of lung cancer patients refusing modern therapy and achieving a complete clinical and radiological recovery with an Ashwagandha therapy.
GABA Mimetic - Neurogenesis
Its immunomodulatory and cognitive enhancing effects are the product of the metabolization of withanoside IV to a biofavorable form of sominone. Sominone promotes 'synaptogenesis', or the outgrowth of new dendrites neurites, axonal and synaptic networks that continued to expand up to seven days after administering. This makes it a powerful player in the AWAKE collection.
Extraction Methods
Two ounces of organic ashwagandha was purchased form Marquette MI CO-OP and soxhlet extracted with 60% organic grape spirits under vacuum. Medicine was spagyrically activated under the governance of mercury.
Codonopsis pilulosa
Danshen
Danshen is an incredibly popular and widely applied ayurvedic herb. It’s loaded with anti-oxidants, cardio-supportive functions, and even novel saponins that promote the microbial intestinal ecology. Over 200 compounds have been secluded rom Danshen that have been identified with medicinal value (1).
Gets the Blood Flowing
Danshen literally gets the blood flowing. An herb commonly used in exchange of ginseng, it has shown scientific evidence for its synergy with schisandra that “tonifies” the blood nourishing the heart. It supports blood flow Its memory enhancing, anti-fatigue and immunomodulatory activities suggest it can be a critical component in increasing quality of life. (1)
Danshen has been known since time-immemorial to strengthen the spleen, purifying, nourishing, and engendering the blood. Within ayurveda it is known to enhance the qi. Codonopsis is one of the 16 qi-tonifying Chinese medicines in Chinese Medicated Diet Dictionary (Wang, 1992) and is one of the top 10 raw materials of qi-tonifying or blood-replenishing Chinese medicines used for food therapy in Zhong Yi Shi Liao Fang Quan Lu (Xiang, 1997). This greatly reduces daily fatigue and weakness (3).
Microbiological Support
Danshen was specifically selected for this AWAKE plant medicine collection due not only for its complimentary functioning with the other herbs in this collection, but especially for its microbial support. The science has shown the human body to be roughly a 1:1.3 ratio of human cells to microbial cells. The truth is when we look at our own health, we need to pay equal, if not more attention towards the microbial community living on and within us. (2)
Many critical chemical constituents for homeostasis and optimal biological functioning are produced within the ‘enteric nervous system’. This is known as the ‘gut-brain’ where many syntrophic microbial friends are producing essential components of biological functioning. Compounds like serotonin, dopamine, melatonin, GABA, noradrenaline, and other important neurotransmitters are all produced and consumed within the gut microbial ecology. Supporting its function and stability is massively important for an optimally functioning human being. (2)
Toxicity and warnings
Essentially zero toxic compounds have been found. In fact, its particularly sweet tasting as well. (3)
Extraction: Spagyrically evolved using 60% ABV
Sources Magnolia Berry Sources Ashwagandha
(1) From Seed to Seed - free films now online! - Organic Growers Alliance
(2) Singh N, Bhalla M, de Jager P, Gilca M. An overview on ashwagandha: a Rasayana (rejuvenator) of Ayurveda. Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med. 2011;8(5 Suppl):208-213. doi:10.4314/ajtcam.v8i5S.9
(3) Wang, J., Zhang, H., Kaul, A., Li, K., Priyandoko, D., Kaul, S. C., & Wadhwa, R. (2021). Effect of Ashwagandha Withanolides on Muscle Cell Differentiation. Biomolecules, 11(10), 1454. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11101454
Sources Magnolia Berry
- Wai-Wei Chen, Rong-Rong He, Yi-Fang Li, Shan-Bing Li, Bun Tsoi, Hiroshi Kurihara, Pharmacological studies on the anxiolytic effect of standardized Schisandra lignans extract on restraint-stressed mice, Phytomedicine, Volume 18, Issue 13, 2011, Pages 1144-1147,ISSN 0944-7113,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2011.06.004
- Antifatigue Activity of Glycoprotein from Schisandra chinensis Functions by Reducing Oxidative Stress Shuai Shao, Ming-xing Wang, Hong-yin Zhang, Lin Fan, ong-xin Han Ying-xin Shen Ming-ming Yan and Da-qing Zhao
Changchun University of Chinese Medicine
- Zijian Li, Xin He, Fei Liu, Jue Wang, Juan Feng,
- A review of polysaccharides from Schisandra chinensis and Schisandra sphenanthera: Properties, functions and applications,Carbohydrate Polymers,Volume 184,2018Pages 178-190,ISSN 0144-8617,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2017.12.058.
- Bharti, V. K., Malik, J. K., & Gupta, R. C. (2016). Ashwagandha. Nutraceuticals, 717–733. doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-802147-7.00052-8 url to share this paper:
sci-hub.st/10.1016/b978-0-12-802147-7.00052-8
Sources DANSHEN
(1) Fu, Y.-P.; Feng, B.; Zhu, Z.-K.; Feng, X.; Chen, S.-F.; Li, L.-X.; Yin, Z.-Q.; Huang, C.; Chen, X.-F.; Zhang, B.-Z.; Jia, R.-Y.; Song, X.; Lv, C.; Yue, G.-Z.; Ye, G.; Liang, X.-X.; He, C.-L.; Yin, L.-Z.; Zou, Y.-F. The Polysaccharides from Codonopsis pilosula Modulates the Immunity and Intestinal Microbiota of Cyclophosphamide-Treated Immunosuppressed Mice. Molecules 2018, 23, 1801. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules23071801
(2) Philip Strandwitz, Neurotransmitter modulation by the gut microbiota, Brain Research, Volume 1693, Part B, 2018, Pages 128-133, ISSN 0006-8993, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainres.2018.03.015.
(3) Shi-Man Gao, Jiu-Shi Liu, Min Wang, Ting-Ting Cao, Yao-Dong Qi, Ben-Gang Zhang, Xiao-Bo Sun, Hai-Tao Liu, Pei-Gen Xiao, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology of Codonopsis: A review, Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Volume 219, 2018, Pages 50-70, ISSN 0378-8741, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2018.02.039.
