Mucuna – In Sense Botanicals

Adaptogens, Nature’s Ancient Answer to Modern Stress

Heather Hawkins — Mon, 11 Apr 2022 12:12:22 +0000

Adaptogens, Nature’s Ancient Answer to Modern Stress

I first discovered adaptogens in 2017-2018 and began taking Mucuna pruriens as well as Ashwagandha to help with the stress of being newly sober.

I had no clue how to operate in the world without self medicating, so adaptogens offered me a new chance at life. And some adaptogens are truly life changing – like Mucuna pruriens.

MUCUNA PRURIENS – MY FAVORITE ADAPTOGEN

Adaptogens are rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Adaptogens regulate cortisol levels which in turn calms anxiety and boosts your mood and energy levels – naturally.

One adaptogen in particular, called Mucuna Pruriens, contains L-dopa, a naturally occurring amino acid which is a precursor to dopamine, that feel good chemical in your brain.

Higher levels of dopamine are “linked to enhanced brain function, elevated mood and energy levels, and a more balanced nervous system,” writes Hallie Gould.

Modern life, with all of its conveniences, has a dark side: in our efforts to create ease and comfort we have created an artificial environment filled with stressors that assault us physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. We are exposed every day to a sea of toxic chemicals in our air, food, and water; this is coupled with intense time pressures and information overload at home and at work.

Excessive use of alcohol, nicotine, and recreational drugs, combined with the grow-ing use of prescription medications, adds to this load, further taxing our bodies to their limits.

On a daily basis our bodies are presented with a heavy burden of foreign substances to metabolize and eliminate. Not surprisingly, fatigue, minor illnesses, and chronic emo-tional stress are epidemic in our country, and can all be traced back to chronic stress. Meanwhile, beneath the surface, deeper and more serious problems can arise.

There’s no question that we have benefited from science and technology. But in the process we have lost our connection to Earth, to her natural rhythms, and most importantly to the ancient wisdom that for thousands of years has guided human beings in living in health and harmony with our internal and external environments,” Donald Yance writes in his book ADAPTOGENS IN MEDICAL HERBALISM.

SHOP ASHWAGANDHA

The word adaptogen refers to the nonspecific, endocrine- regulating, immune-modulating effects of certain plants that increase a person’s ability to maintain optimal balance in the face of physical or emotional stress. These botanical agents provide the perfect antidote for the life robbing deficiencies in vitality created by the demands of modern life.

Meet Mucuna, the Mood Boosting Bean that’s Better than Coffee

Heather Hawkins — Thu, 10 Mar 2022 02:09:14 +0000

Brain health is rarely discussed in terms of diet. Usually we eat what we think will be healthy in terms of keeping a trim waist, amirite?

But if we want to fuel our brains for a tough day when we really need to be at the top of our game, we have to feed our brains, too!

Mucuna pruriens is an excellent tool for supporting your healthy lifestyle and brain health!

Mucuna pruriens is a prevalent Ayurvedic herbal adaptogen also known as velvet bean.

It is also well identified for its wide range of unifying, strengthening and all around constructive properties such as increasing brain power, calming the nerves and uplifting the mood. Perhaps it is best known as a potent herbal aphrodisiac.

“It is also considered as of the most beneficial herbs for normalizing the Vata dosha. In other words, it is a great herb for calming the nervous system and deeply nourishes tissues and fluids of the body. It is one of the rare Ayurvedic herbs that balances all three doshas or body types Vata, Pitta and Kapha,” says Dr. Krishna Maddikera.

The tropical climbing legume Mucuna pruriens is an ancient healing ally known for its wide range of tonifying, strengthening, and long lasting mood and health balancing gifts. The seed of Mucuna, commonly known in the west as velvet beans or cowhage, is an important herb in the ancient Indian Ayurvedic system of medicine and Unani Tibb (Greco-Arabic) medicine, and has been worked with medicinally for at least 2000 years.

Both traditional use and modern research and applications share of its multi-diversified functions in the management of Parkinson’s disease, increasing dopamine levels in the body naturally, aiding in addiction issues, promoting fertility in both men and women, increasing strength, endurance and energy, and as a nootropic (an herb that gives broad cognitive benefits to the human brain. )

Some direct applications for Mucuna are to help protect humans from free radical mediated diseases, atherosclerosis, nervous system disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, depression and much more. Mucuna has been successfully worked with as a companion and cover crop and a nitrogen fixing soil builder across the globe.

It has a long tradition as an amulet herb and of ceremonial and ritual usage in several different indigenous cultures.

There is a modern day resurgence of interest in Mucuna for helping people with chronic disease, dopamine deficiency depression, infertility and addiction issues. It’s important to note that Mucuna is big medicine, containing l-dopa (the precursor to dopamine) and has a potent effect on our entire physiology.

Mucuna pruriens is also an antioxidant and contains serotonin which supports digestive wellness and a sunny mood,” writes The Alchemist’s Kitchen.

Adaptogens, Nature’s Ancient Answer to Modern Stress

Heather Hawkins — Tue, 22 Feb 2022 23:15:11 +0000

Adaptogens

I first discovered adaptogens in 2017-2018 and began taking Mucuna pruriens as well as Ashwagandha to help with the stress of being newly sober. I had no clue how to operate in the world without self medicating, so adaptogens offered me a new chance at life. And some adaptogens are truly life changing – like Mucuna pruriens.