Shankhapushpi (Dwarf Morning Glory, aloe weed, Convolvulus pluricaulis, Clitoria ternatea, Evolvulus alstinoides, Codonopsis pilosula, Canscora decussate)

Well, dingbat here, was digging through my refrigerator bin with powders and herbs and found my bag of powdered Shankapushpi (or Shankhapushpi). I have a tendency to get interested in something, buy it and USE it...but this is one I remember getting during a really stressful time, I tried it for a bit, and I put it in the fridge for "later". It slid to the bottom of the bin and my mind. 

The plus side to coming across it this morning is that I get to be excited about trying it again so it's a two-fer??? Not exactly excited but I'm off doing some re-research to re-learn why I bought it. If I remember correctly it didn't do much for my sleep but it could be that it needs to build.

It sounds really good but I've gotten a bit jaded when it comes to all the things out there that are said to do wonderful things, especially when they have such a long list of benefits. Not doubting they work but none of them are miracle workers and what works for one person may not for another. It could be that this will help me personally in one area but not another. Getting ready to start again and find out!

It has many reported benefits for the brain AND to a lesser degree for sleep, two big areas of interest for me. In reading about it the memory enhancement and cognitive benefits top the list as to reasons people use it. The list of what it purportedly does/helps with includes:

• Memory enhancement (long-term), improved concentration & mental fatigue, & focus
• Alzhiemer's disease & other dementias (here's an interesting bit about two of the different types of Shankhapushpi: https://www.jpionline.org/index.php/ijpi/article/view/827)
  
• Epilepsy
  
• Depression
• Ulcers
  
• 
  Stress & anxiety
• Sleep
• Headache prevention
• Skin health
• Digestion 
• Cardio health
  
• Learning disabilities, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism
  
• Liver disease
• Nausea & vomiting
• Bronchitis & asthma
• Graying hair, hair loss
• Diabetes
  

A few tidbits:

• There are four (4) plants known as Shankhapushpi: Convolvulus pluricaulis, Clitoria ternatea, Evolvulus alstinoides (found it called Vishnukarandhi, Vishnukrantha, Vishnu-kranta, Vishukarandi, and Sankaholi), and Codonopsis pilosula. Update: just came across a site that says the four are Convolvulus pluricaulis, Evolvulus alsinoides, Clitoria ternatea, and Canscora decussate with the first being the "true" Dwarf Morning Glory. Yikes, now we're up to five plants and who knows how many names... Sigh. Ya'll are on your own...I'd need a doctorate to figure out which one is true at this point. I have Evolvulus alstinoides...which a number of sites said was "the best". Who knows? They generally all said they did the same thing in reading.
  
• You can use the oil, capsules, syrup, powder, juice or make a decoction.
• It's a perennial Indian plant (also found in Burma)
  
• 
  Check with your doctor if you're taking medications to lower your blood pressure or have any other health issues. I didn't see any big warning signs about taking it but it's always advisable to go slow with anything new you're adding.
  
• At extremely high doses it can slow down your respiratory system so make sure you stick to the recommended doses. I always cycle things like this just to be on the safe side. I also cycle things to make sure my body doesn't adjust to whatever I'm taking --- sometimes your body adjusts and quits making its own cancer fighters, sugar regulators, etc. All we're trying to do with supplementation is enhance, not kill or suppress, what our body can do for us if treated well.
  
• There is some debate as to whether the shankpushpi from Clitoria ternatea or Convolvulus pluricaulis is the best...seems that the Clitoria ternatea wins out for purists but it seems the Convolvulus is more common. I plan to do a bit more reading on this one...came across it late in my research. Not sure which one I have either so going to grab my bag to see. Update: I have Banyan Botanicals, Evolvulus alstinoides (saw it called Vishnukranthi on one site) also known as Dwarf Morning Glory herb per the label on the bag --- which means yours truly has more research to do! I am going to look it up using the common title, see if I can find out what the difference is between the three I have now come across. Traveling an interesting investigative trail. :-)
  
• The blooms closely resemble those of the Morning Glory so you'll see that mentioned frequently if you're out reading. It's not morning glory so don't go getting high on those morning glory seeds :-).
  
• Throughout history it has been a major part of Ayurvedic medicine practice
• It has a bitter taste so you may want to mix it with something sweet if you're not taking capsules

Dosage

The dosage suggestions vary widely and depend sometimes on what you're trying to achieve. I'm going to start with a half teaspoon twice a day, once in the morning and another at night. For brain and memory I saw doses as high as two teaspoons three times a day with the last being taken before bed to enhance sleep (which definitely helps the brain). I plan to start slow. I'm more into prevention of memory issues at this point so doubt I'll go to the higher doses.

More reading if you're interested. Much more depth than I provided above:

Effect of Evolvulus alsinoides Linn. on learning behavior and memory enhancement activity in rodents: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19610035/

https://supplementsinreview.com/nootropic/convolvulus-pluricalis-nootropic/ 

https://learn.1balance.com/post/benefits-of-shankhpushpi/

Comparative nootropic effect of evolvulus alsinoides and convolvulus pluricaulis: https://ijpbs.net/abstract.php?article=NTk2 

https://www.netmeds.com/health-library/post/shankhpushpi-benefits-uses-dosage-formulations-and-side-effects

https://lifeseasons.com/shankhpushpi

https://rootbabes.com/shankhpushpi-benefits/

https://harmonyveda.com/2020/01/09/know-shankhpushpi-benefits/

https://www.gyanunlimited.com/health/top-10-wonder-benefits-of-shankhpushpi-convolvulus-pluricaulis/11551/

GERD, Acid Reflux, Heartburn, Oh My! Oh No!

Many years back I started having heartburn after almost every meal. I chewed antacids, had bottles scattered around the house, in the car and never packed a suitcase without some. I talked with my doctor and she sent me to a specialist.

They knocked me out, looked down my throat, esophagus and checked everything out. I was given a prescription for Prilosec and told that I would be on it the rest of my life. If I left my acid reflux unchecked it could lead to cancer. When I asked about alternatives I was told that I could have an operation to fix the weak valve that wasn't keeping all the acid where it belonged.

That was it. And yes, that's a very over-simplified version of the diagnosis and treatment.

I took the prescription-strength Prilosec. Then my insurance stopped covering it and switched me to another type of proton pump inhibitors...which didn't work. Then they switched me to another. Then Prilosec became their drug of choice and I was back on it again... All of them basically stopped my stomach from producing acid. Therefore, none could travel upwards as it didn't exist.

I was so happy not to be staring at cancer and to be able to eat and sleep without heartburn, a sore throat, and other related agonies that I didn't delve into how the drugs worked and what the long-term impact to my health could be. That was not like yours truly!

At some point, the "what are you doing to yourself taking this drug?" part of my brain woke up! I started doing some research. Around that same time, I was losing weight. I wasn't obese, but I was moving on up and had passed the line between feel good about yourself and hide what you can with baggy clothes.

I didn't intend to lose weight...the loss happened when I changed my way of eating...which will be another blog or two or ten another day.

Common sense says that your digestive is designed perfectly and that the acid in your stomach has a purpose. As I learned how drugs like Prilosec and other proton pump inhibitors worked I figured out that, like many drugs on the market, it worked in one area but really screwed up other areas. It was more of a pick your poison. Or maybe more of a feel good now, pay later drug.

I'll link to side effects and how they work at the end of this post. Most of you probably already know!

I started looking into how to get off the drugs. I tried. I really tried. I downed apple cider vinegar, picked up some DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice root extract), ate small meals, cut out foods that triggered heartburn in anyone on the planet, raised the head of my bed and tried all the things listed out in Google-Land.

The problem with trying to get off acid reducers is that there is a rebound effect. You produce WAY more acid...you over-produce. It is painful, potential cancer looms in your mind, so back on the drugs you go... I did that yo-yo twice before breaking down and going to the doctor.

He said, after looking at my chart, noting my great weight-loss and hearing about my dietary changes that "if anyone can get off the medication you can". Wow, what a great bit of encouragement. He didn't give me any great ideas on HOW to do it...mentioned some of the easy ones anyone can find on the Internet.

I tried again. And finally succeeded. It wasn't easy.

I have been off the drugs for years now.

I continued to sleep with the head of my bed raised as a prevention method --- and subsequently learned that it's also good for your sleep and your brain!

Recently, after all these years, I started having some minor issues again.

I think it's due to a number of factors, the main one being stress. I've had a lot of angst lately. And even though I usually roll easily it still impacts me. Family issues, the passing of a family member I love dearly, my Dad having surgery, the kids moving, my Mom going off the only known treatment to work for slowing her dementia, and on and on. Lots of little and big hits.

Plus, I have moved to a timed window of eating --- which is good for my brain and not a bad thing --- but I stopped eating a number of small meals and have a tendency to eat two large meals. Not good if one has digestive issues. I am changing that one. I didn't even think of it in relation to my acid reflux until I started having issues again. When I stood back and looked at everything I realized the large meals, in combination with stress, could easily be part of the reason.

So I'm cutting my meals in half. I'm drinking two tablespoons of Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar in a little water about 20 minutes before a meal. Sometimes I do it afterward. I am taking Betaine HCI + Pepsin prior to eating any meal that I think might be heartburn inducing. I am drinking aloe juice. I already add ginger root into my smoothies so I'm good on that one.

Yes, I am being aggressive.

All of those things seem to be working. We'll see. I'll keep you posted.

Have you ever dealt with acid reflux? Tried getting off proton pump inhibitors? Have any great heartburn fighters? Love to get your thoughts!

https://kresserinstitute.com/dangers-proton-pump-inhibitors/
https://www.drugwatch.com/proton-pump-inhibitors/side-effects/
https://www.medicinenet.com/proton-pump_inhibitors/article.htm
https://www.drugjustice.com/ppi-side-effects/

Veteran-led Peer Support Combats Suicide

/PRNewswire/ -- Last month in Washington, Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki made a staggering announcement: more veterans have committed suicide since 2001 than have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Coming within weeks of the release of the US Army's suicide prevention guidebook, the VA Secretary's statement underscores the commitment to teaching service members and veterans the methods for overcoming combat stress.

While for many the manual will be an important tool, veteran-to-veteran peer support is often the best way to stay mentally healthy during and after wartime service.

For more than a decade, Survivor Corps has helped thousands of military and civilian survivors of war to recover and move beyond their combat trauma. Now, thanks to a committed group of American veterans, the organization is implementing their international expertise here at home.

In 2006, US Army Captain (Ret.) Scott Quilty lost his right arm and right leg to an improvised explosive device (IED) explosion in Iraq. Today, he is the US Program Manager for Survivor Corps.

"I quickly learned at Walter Reed that isolation will kill me," says Quilty. "After months of rehabilitation I started to sleep more and interact less. The only thing that motivated me to get out of bed for the first time in days was the news that my friend just arrived and lost both his feet."

Survivor Corps partners with the Massachusetts Statewide Advocacy for Veterans Empowerment (SAVE) to implement a pioneering veteran peer support program.

Earlier this year, outreach workers from SAVE attended Survivor Corps' peer support training program, where they learned advanced techniques to identify mental health issues and reduce rates of suicide. Since the training, SAVE has reached over 7,000 veterans and service members.

Cameron Macauley, Survivor Corps' Health Education Specialist, conducted the peer support training in Massachusetts. "From our experience in post conflict countries around the world, it is clear that peer support is key to combating the social isolation felt by survivors. When we adapted our program to help veterans here in the United States we provided special training to our outreach workers in order to properly recognize the signs most commonly associated with suicide, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI)."

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Chickens of the World, Unite!!!

You have to wonder how much money they spent on the study referred to below... and who paid for it! The members of United Egg Producers must be really concerned about free range hens. The popularity of free range eggs has ta be cuttin' into their profits somehow or they wouldn't have commissioned a study or felt it worth a press release.

I'm one who buys free range eggs. I just like the idea that the hens are doing what's natural. I want them to peck on dirt, to chip at rocks, have beaks, run around outside or do whatever it is that chickens do when they're in the wild.

I read sometime ago that "free range" doesn't mean what it seems to mean. According to the info I read, technically the label can be used even if the chickens are only let out to roam for an hour or two or some set time. The rest of the time they can be in cages. I hope that's not true.

I know "they" (there's that elusive, pervasive, always-to-be-blamed "they" again) remove the beaks from the birds when they're crammed into small spaces. I don't know if all companies do that or if it's just done under certain circumstances. It's been a long time since I did any reading on chickens and egg laying. Somehow I always seem to have other tasks that crowd that one out...

Not sure if they get to keep their beaks if they're free range. Can you tell I'm not sure about much of anything when it comes to chickens... I hate the idea of torturing any animal. I'm not totally adverse to eating their by-products (eggs, milk, cheese).

When it comes to eggs, my main concern is the hormones and antibiotics that are prevalent in meats, poultry and pork. And probably many other foods we eat. That's a subject that deserves more attention than a single paragraph or even a single blog. Maybe someday I'll tackle it.

While reading the press release, I kept getting a giggle from the title "United Egg Producers." Somehow I don't think the chickens have united! Although, a poultry union sounds like it would be loads of fun... Chickens of the world unite, save your beaks, free worms for all!

Here's the article that sparked this ramble:

United Egg Producers: Are Free Range Birds Happier? Maybe Not!

ATLANTA, Dec. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Animal rights activists have long alleged that hens in modern cages live a horribly stressed life, but new research appears to debunk those claims. Researchers have discovered that free range hens experience just as much or more stress than hens raised in modern, conventional cages.

A recent study conducted by Dr. Jeff Downing at University of Sydney measured corticosterone, a hormone produced in response to stress or fear, in eggs from free range and modern caged hens. The study showed that the levels of the hormone were similar in both types of eggs.
Free range hens deal with pressures that hens in modern cages do not, researchers explained. For instance, hens in modern cages are protected from outside predators, while free range hens are not. "They are constantly in fear of attack by predators," said Downing. "A shadow (a bird flying overhead) comes over and they are completely startled."

Hens in modern cages also are protected from many of the manure-borne diseases and parasites that affect free range hens. And hens in modern cages are protected from extreme weather which adds stress to free range hens which are not protected. Modern cages also help prevent infection and spread of the avian influenza virus which can affect wild birds and outdoor flocks of hens. Free range eggs can cost up to three times as much as conventional eggs.

"This study confirms what America's egg farmers already knew," said Gene Gregory, president of the United Egg Producers, the nation's leading trade association for U.S. family egg farmers. "That well-run, clean modern cage housing systems have many benefits for hens as well as consumers." Separate research studies also show that hens raised in conventional cages tend to have fewer diseases and live longer, Gregory added.

Modern egg production under the UEP Certified animal welfare program provides hens with nutritious food, clean water, fresh air and sufficient space to allow hens to stand, turn around, lie down, stretch and preen. Farms are inspected annually to ensure compliance. Consumers should look for the UEP Certified logo on cartons from participating farmers. For more information visit, http://www.uepcertified.com/.

UEP developed the UEP Certified program for modern egg production from scientific guidelines established by an independent advisory committee of top animal welfare experts in the U.S.
Source: United Egg Producers