12 replies to this topic

[Coopdog]

I got sent home from my Physical Therapy Tuesday because my BP was sky high when my wife was in ICU. She is on her way home to her Dad's today which is such a relief! She was very near death for 7-8 days there and I was losing my mind. 

 

That happening motivated me to go to the local supplement shop and I asked for a stress relief formula, and they sent me home with a bottle of this stuff with pepper extract to aid absorption. Today is the 4th day I have taken it, and it has a pretty good positive effect. I figured it would make me tired as it is also said to lower blood pressure (Just what I wanted it for) but on the contrary it has given a very lucid and conscious effect that is quite noticeable and a very positive change for sure! I have seen very few supplements really do anything that effects you in a noticeable way, but this stuff most certainly does!

 

My BP was much better Friday, still a little high but I just got the news that my wife was out of critical care and in a regular room right before I walked in the door, so I hadn't really had time for my stress level to adjust. This stuff is really interesting. Nothing in it but Ashwagandha root and black pepper fruit extract. 

 

Just thought I would report in with this info and see if anyone else had tried it? I am quite impressed, and thought it may be a placebo effect at first, or maybe the new Kratom I just got, but it's definitely the effect this stuff has. I hope it keeps on effecting me like that, if not I will use it intermittently. 4th day now and within half an hour I notice a calming/focusing effect. I notice typing this, it even tightens up my typing. 

[YoshiTrainer]

Im glad it appears to be working for you! I have not tried it but thought about growing it on many occasions. Here is how Richters, a nursery in Canada describes it:

"Ashwagandha, also known as “Indian Ginseng” or “winter cherry”, is a gentle, calming adaptogen that has been highly esteemed in Ayurvedic medicine for millenia. It is a shrub with green flowers that eventually transform into orange berries. Its roots provide a powerful nervine tonic that strengthens the bodys response to stress. In Sanskrit, Ashwa means "horse" and gandha "sweat" or "smell of perspiration", implying that the ashwagandha herb builds stallion-like strength. This in turn, increases energy levels, improves sleep as well as cognitive function. It has been found to have anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antioxidant, immunomodulary and hemopoetic properties. New research has shown its ability to protect the brain against damage. Roots can be harvested within the first or second year and prepared by carefully digging up, washing, cutting into small pieces and placing in the sun to dry; typically integrated into the diet as a powder, tincture, tea or capsule. Sow in full sun to partial shade; avoid overwatering. Ashwagandha is native to hot and arid climates, but does well in North American gardens if started early indoors. Prefers neutral to slightly alkaline soils. Grows best between 20-35C. Ht 3 ft."

They sell dried roots and live plants

https://www.richters...cart_id=111.100

[Coopdog]

Wow! I am very glad that lady guided me to this stuff. I feel pretty damn good a couple hour after taking my morning two capsules. This stuff is amazingly effective, and I hope it continues to be. What a great addition to my supplements!

[HrVanker]

I'm not a huge believer in a lot of supplements, though I will try some here if there have been some good studies or the science seems legit. While researching some men's health stuff I also came across Ashawaganda and decided to give it a try. I was a bit doubtful because IIRC there aren't many good studies, but it was cheap in bulk on Amazon. I definitely recall a feeling/high that kind of shocked me, because most mood supplements don't have that pronounced of an effect unless it's weed or something.

I think it's a great pairing w/ mucana pruriens + green tea extract. Another combo that always seems to have a pronounced effect, giving me some extra get-up-and-go. But not like coffee, more like pure motivation to get shit done. Mucana pruriens contains high amounts of L-Dopa which is a precursor to a lot of neuro chemicals like Dopamine, and is used to treat Parkinson's symptoms under the label Levidopa. While green tea extract contains high levels of EGCg which can help things like L-Dopa more easily cross the blood-brain barrier.

As always: YMMV.

[pharmer]

Seems to me if your body needs something, and you give it the something it needs, your body gives you that " positive input" message.

 

As the old saying goes YMMV  

 

I can take or leave the 5 hour energy shots most of the time but once in a while when I'm getting run down one of those will straighten me up pdq - other days I don't notice anything at all.

 

Screw the herbal update, what's with the wife?????

[Coopdog]

Tried to reply to this but the post option disappeared. My wife has been in ICU for most of the last 10 days, downgraded to critical care with covid pneumonia, then today was allowed to go back to her critically ill father's house to be with him when he passes. She has been taking care of him for most of the last year... It's been a nightmare and they thought she was going to die twice, but they got her back. It's been one hell of a rough year here. Hence my high BP at my physical therapy. 

[pharmer]

Good Grief!

 

Hang in Coop, it's got to get better from here.

 

I have a chronic high BP issue. A large dose of fresh dark cherries will drive mine down pdq.

Edited by pharmer, 25 September 2021 - 09:03 PM.

[ethnobotanist420]

I’m sorry to hear about your struggles, man. Stay strong... I’m rooting for you.

[Coopdog]

Pharmer, a good Nitric Oxide supplement will lower your BP right down too. That is what I usually use and it works like a charm, unless of course my whole damn life is circling the drain lol. Tried 4 different kinds of BP meds over a year and a half and it made no difference whatsoever. Mine is not cholesterol or heart disease related, it is strictly anxiety and cortisol driven. Blood pressure meds didn't make a single bit of difference for me. I finally convinced my doc by taking my own BP cuff in and showing him it is just fine 70% of the time. He checked mine against his and finally backed off the meds. Mine usually runs about 140-150 over 75-85, which would have been perfect for my age 5 years ago before they revised the numbers in order to get the whole damn country on meds. Nobody over 50 has bp good enough to fit into their new parameters which is 110/70, and I don't know anyone who is naturally at that level once they get past 15-16 years old. 

Edited by Coopdog, 26 September 2021 - 02:01 AM.

[ethnobotanist420]

Pharmer, a good Nitric Oxide supplement will lower your BP right down too. That is what I usually use and it works like a charm, unless of course my whole damn life is circling the drain lol. Tried 4 different kinds of BP meds over a year and a half and it made no difference whatsoever. Mine is not cholesterol or heart disease related, it is strictly anxiety and cortisol driven. Blood pressure meds didn't make a single bit of difference for me. I finally convinced my doc by taking my own BP cuff in and showing him it is just fine 70% of the time. He checked mine against his and finally backed off the meds. Mine usually runs about 140-150 over 75-85, which would have been perfect for my age 5 years ago before they revised the numbers in order to get the whole damn country on meds. Nobody over 50 has bp good enough to fit into their new parameters which is 110/70, and I don't know anyone who is naturally at that level once they get past 15-16 years old.

I have the same issue with my BP. It’s all related to this bullshit anxiety disorder. Like you said when I take mine at home it’s usually fine but as soon as a doctor tries to take it I work myself up right into full blown hypertension lol

I’ve heard people recommended Ash before but I’ve never tried it.... I might have to give it a go. Have you noticed any side effects?

Also if you want to grow your own hit me up... I think I have a few seeds in my catalog somewhere:)

Hope all is well, brother!

[Coopdog]

Side effects are similar to adderal or a light dose of good speed. Not jittery, not overdone, just good clean energy that promotes a very noticeable focused and lucid effect. It would give you the impression that it would cause hypertension, but everything I have found on it indicates it does the opposite. Just looked up drug interactions, and I didn't recognize any of them but benzos and prednisone, so I don't think I have anything to worry about there. With Benzos it says it may cause a little extra drowsiness, so not sure I would call that an interaction or not. 

 

When I next went to therapy my BP was fine for a guy my age at 142/80. Not perfect but not bad either especially considering all I am dealing with right now I suppose. 

 

The recommended dose is up to 3 capsules a day, and I noticed when I took that third one about 6 pm I had a hard time sleeping that night. I take two in the morning and the effect lasts all day long. I am pretty damn impressed as I do not usually see any noticeable effect from most supplements. Next you will see the FDA going after this one more than likely lol. So far it is not well known though. Since I mentioned it online the smart technology has been feeding me ads for it, and the main ones I see are for women's sex drive??? lol Hell I dunno it said stress formula on the bottle and lady guided me to it! 

[Severian]

 

 

I was a bit doubtful because IIRC there aren't many good studies,

 

 

Not exactly sure where your sources are; but ashwagandha's been plenty researched. It's been a key medicine used in Ayurveda for pretty much forever. Check out Pubmed and Ncib 

 

 

Ashwagandha's effective as yall have stated

 

But herbs really shine when they're part of an overall, personalized protocal based on your 

body's constitution and what you have going on energetically etc - I mean energetically in the sense of what type of patterns of imbalance your body tends to, in the sense that Chinese Medicine identifies Heat, Cold, Damp, Dry etc, and not the 'there's a hole in your aura brother bear'

 

If you've had good success taking herbs as a supplement (which is essentially the transference of the allopathic take X substance for Y problem approach to herbs) You'll be astonished with the effects of an herbal protocal that acutally takes you into account.

 

Which means going to see an actual herbalist who knows what their doing. 

 

Much as we've been led to believe otherwise; high blood pressure in YOUR body is different than high blood pressure in MY body is different than high blood pressure in HIS body..... Perhaps it's just a different way of looking at things, but consider that the traditional view in Chinese Medicine is one that states that it's impossible to consider a disease or state of imbalance in isolation from the person that has it- 

 

 A much more holistic way of looking at things, and IME one that leads to degrees of healing not possible through the conventional western medical mindset. 

 

 

Ah edit: One more thing; another benefit of actually having an herbal protocal designed specifically with what you've got going on; is that many times dosages can be much smaller, as their aimed strategically at what's up, and so side effects can be much less. - And any herbalist worth their salt will be able to look at your current list of meds and know what's contraindicated and what isnt.
 

 

 

Also, coopdog-  I'm curious about the 'black pepper fruit extract' in your bottle- does it say 'piperine'? specifically?  Either way, but especially if that is the case, it's important to realize that piperine/black pepper is a synergist; not just for ashwagandha, but for any drugs or medications your taking- it'll increase the bioavailability as well as the length of time it stays in your system, including helping whatever it is get across the blood brain barrier; something to keep in mind if you're on a list of medications and not wanting any unwanted potentiation. 

Edited by Severian, 28 September 2021 - 06:35 PM.

[Coopdog]

Yes it says exactly that. Black pepper fruit extract.