Recently I was contacted by fellow writer Giovanni Dannato about trying out a sample of one of his offerings at his herbal store — red ginseng root — and explaining what I thought. Being the curious type, and seeing how whole red ginseng is rare in North America and I had never seen or taken […]
Herbs and Herbal Compounds
Herbs and herbal substances are simply plants and/or their components that do not fill any known nutritional need (unlike nutritional supplements) but may contain certain compounds that can affect the mind and body in favorable and desirable ways. Some of these may be able to treat or prevent certain conditions or diseases (these can be used medicinally), some may be able to alter functions of the body to support health and fitness, and others may have psychoactive properties (affecting the mind and consciousness.)
These herbals can be found in capsules, powder form, extracts, and their whole forms. Each form has its distinct advantages and disadvantages such as absorption by the body, cost and convenience. Vendors and products can vary greatly in quality which is why it is important to be very picky as to where your herbals come from.
Ashwagandha – Stress and anxiety-reducing Ayurvedic herb
Ashwagandha is a name for the plant Withania somnifera and is a highly regarded substance among Ayurvedic herbs. As I always explain here, don’t let the fact that this is a plant fool you: herbs are just as potent, if not more so than nutrients and the only reason we don’t understand them is because […]
How to stop heartburn
Heartburn isn’t a malady I’m chronically afflicted with, but I’ve had to deal a lot with heartburn after eating certain foods, especially as of late. Over the holidays the problem has only been exacerbated due to eating too much and drinking too much alcohol. I’d say the latter is my biggest vice. Since we’re well […]
A primer on tinctures
Supplements, particularly herbal ones, come in a variety of forms. Liquid tinctures, or alcohol extractions of herbs are one form of herbal supplementation, but are seldom recognized outside of the “alternative health” world. Nonetheless, in many cases they can (and should) be considered over capsules or other dubious extractions. What are tinctures and why should […]
How I used Blue Lotus to space out and have weird dreams
This post departs from my usual nutrition and productivity enhancements, but don’t be alarmed as I’ve had more “recreational” substances in my backlog for some time as well. I’m currently working on a book for general male health, so keep an eye out for that in January. Sacred blue lily Today I’m going to talk […]
Increase your stress tolerance
Stress is hormetic. If you don’t have any stress, you’ll die. If you have too much stress, you’ll die. Life is not stress-free, so it’s a good idea to just increase your tolerance to it. Most people call it “reducing stress” but if you’re reducing stress you are probably reducing your livelihood too. Stress is […]
Natural stimulants and energy boosters
Let’s face it: If you’re tired, you aren’t going to get anything done. Even if you’re awake and well-rested, sometimes you still feel tired. There can be many underlying causes for your fatigue, such as gut issues, metabolism and poor sleep, but here we’re just covering the remedies available for fatigue. This post should not […]
Turmeric and curcumin for inflammation, painkilling and more
Turmeric and its yellow colorizer, curcumin, seemed like something that old people take for their joints. However, after some reading I’ve realized it may be good for people of all ages. Turmeric’s active compound curcumin just happens to be a potent anti-inflammatory that benefits the health of several systems throughout the body according to numerous […]
Fenugreek: An unlikely test-booster and creatine enhancer
Fenugreek is hailed in herbal medicine for its maple-like scent and its use as a lactation-promoting agent for women. So why on earth would a man take something that helps pregnant and nursing women produce breast milk? Keep reading, you’ll be surprised. Fenugreek “increases” testosterone Bodybuilders who take 500 mg fenugreek extract daily increase the […]
Ginger – Anti-inflammatory testosterone booster
Ginger is a spicy little root which has been used in cooking and in folk medicine for centuries. Here’s an interesting little tidbit I read about it and its effects on testosterone: For testosterone boosting, a supplement is probably advised. The dosage used in rats, after conversion to humans based on Body Surface Area, equates to […]
