Misc Gotu Kola is pretty cool

[BourbonMac]

Has a noticeable uppity effect on me. Saw it at my hippie vitamin/herb shop that has everything you could think of and saw this, googled it, saw good results and was sold. I didn't think it would have this type of effect though. I thought it would just be like any other herb I take at bedtime like passionflower, skullcap, chamomile, lemon balm, and just got valerian after not taking it for awhile. I could take no drugs and this combo would still chill out my body or have an anti-anxiety effect, but not an uppity mood lift like this Gotu Kola stuff. I don't really understand the whole extract aspect of it though, if that means it's stronger and such. The valerian was extract 250mg, I'd take regular at 500mg and it suggested 2 capsules on the bottle, this suggests only one. So does the Gotu but I'd taken a 2nd one since I read it's safe. This stuff is packed with vitamin C and pretty sweet to be honest. Out of any of the little herbal charms I take before bed this one seems to be the most noticeable since it has a real mental feeling and not just sedation/relaxation. But it's relaxing at the same time.

Anyone else taken this?

 

[AutoTripper]

Has a noticeable uppity effect on me. Saw it at my hippie vitamin/herb shop that has everything you could think of and saw this, googled it, saw good results and was sold. I didn't think it would have this type of effect though. I thought it would just be like any other herb I take at bedtime like passionflower, skullcap, chamomile, lemon balm, and just got valerian after not taking it for awhile. I could take no drugs and this combo would still chill out my body or have an anti-anxiety effect, but not an uppity mood lift like this Gotu Kola stuff. I don't really understand the whole extract aspect of it though, if that means it's stronger and such. The valerian was extract 250mg, I'd take regular at 500mg and it suggested 2 capsules on the bottle, this suggests only one. So does the Gotu but I'd taken a 2nd one since I read it's safe. This stuff is packed with vitamin C and pretty sweet to be honest. Out of any of the little herbal charms I take before bed this one seems to be the most noticeable since it has a real mental feeling and not just sedation/relaxation. But it's relaxing at the same time.

Anyone else taken this?

I have never mate, I would too! But surely won't because odds not being so unpleasantly reactive/allergic to it are too near to nill to be worth it without a mystic by my side.


But sounds interesting.

Remember me mentioning Shilajit to you? Amazing remedy that really does up the effects of kava many notches not just the usual one.

 

[brokedownpalace10]

Wow, dood. You're trying a lot of the "legal highs" available in the 70's. Many were pretty mild. Many were fine and dandy and/or had their place. (Kava comes to mind). It's kinda cool to hear your takes.

Try Guarana for zippy. It has other Xanthines besides Caffeine and can get you going. You need the powdered because you mix it with water and drink powder and all. (I think the alkaloids are not all water soluble or sumpin') It's worth a try.

Damiana is really mild, but pleasant. A cup of tea and a smoke of it wasn't bad after smoking pot all day, though. You know, that stage where you're getting kinda burnt and you'll just take a hit or two of reefer. Gives things a different flavor.
YMMV on this one, it is mild, worth a try if you get some cheap, maybe.

Betel is a tobacco substitute. Similar in effect and as addicting.

 

[AutoTripper]

Kanna is decent.

Never tried mulungu.

Or skullcap, sounds to carry unenjoyable sides.

Never rule out nature though.

 

[G_Chem]

Kanna is decent.

Never tried mulungu.

Or skullcap, sounds to carry unenjoyable sides.

Never rule out nature though.

Nature has given us some amazing ones. THC, cocaine, morphine, DMT. I find the unusual complexity of what nature provides extra alluring. Like who in their right mind could come up with Cocaine? It’s such a unique drug pharmacologically it just blows my mind.

-GC

 

[AutoTripper]

Nature has given us some amazing ones. THC, cocaine, morphine, DMT. I find the unusual complexity of what nature provides extra alluring. Like who in their right mind could come up with Cocaine? It’s such a unique drug pharmacologically it just blows my mind.

-GC

Yes. Except, unfortunately has still at least recent decade's cocaine not been largely produced under jungle cover from copters, using 4 of about the most toxic chemicals known.

Bleach, kerosene, sulfuric acid and I think other was paraffin.

Coca leaves, other hand, open store near me,

I'm a happy chewer!

And the mad irony too for myself since ever, how LSD isn't naturally occurring, outside passive ergot fungus stuff if that was a thing uses chemicals.

IS a Chemical. But molecularly near carbon copy of nature.


I sat once in a Sunday church, just visited evening to have banter with old friend Tony.


As we sat, he said two things to me. Unprovoked.

"The thing about you Alexis, is you're real."

He was bang on there re it's true deeper meaning.


But funny was...

(As he turned his head to me said decisively..) "God didn't make LSD."


Without thinking I replied "yes, but he did make Magic Mushrooms"



Tony laughed as he said in some joy.. "you're right, he DID make Magic Mushrooms"


That concluded that argument lol.

 

[Deleted member 585202]

I've been messing around with an extract of Gotu Kola. It's surpingly a nice little psychoactive effect. Sedative/anxiolytic/mild mood boost. Far from placebo. The effect reminds me of kava, but more noticeable and cleaner (the GABAergic effects are more noticeable for me). The downside is it has quite a short duration... 60-90 min or so, and being the main psychoactives are triterpenes, the body breaks it down quickly and tolerance seems to be an issue if I dose too frequently.

The recommended dosage of this stuff is 120mg 3x per day. I've been taking about 500mg x2 per day for best effect. I may try upping the dose.

This stuff is a little difficult to figure out, sometimes the doses hit hard, sometimes I don't feel much.

 

[General alcazar]

I used to grow gout kola in a few aquariums. It’s a type of pennywort and grows like a weed in water. I think there is an issue avbout it being grown in polluted waters in India (heavy metals and such..). Never did get much out of it, but this thread makes me want to give it another whirl.
Mulungu is a reasonable sleep aid, and it tastes okay as a tea. The best anxiolytic I’ve tried is magnolia bark, best sleep aids are valerian and passionflower, though the latter makes it hard to wake up.

 

[Deleted member 585202]

Mulungu is a reasonable sleep aid

Mulungu is a better comparison over kava for the effects of this stuff. Gotu Kola feels like a much better version of mulungu IMO. Gotu provides actual mood lift which mulungu doesn't (for me at least), and the sedation/axiolytic properties are more prominent compared to mulungu.

The best anxiolytic I’ve tried is magnolia bark

I should try this next. Which is best, an extract or fresh plant material?

best sleep aids are valerian and passionflower, though the latter makes it hard to wake up.

I never got much out of either, and passion flower jacks my blood pressure up like crazy for some reason.

 

[General alcazar]

I se magnolia bark extract. Mostly anxiolytic, but not sedating. Try making valerian root tea with good quality roots. It works way better. I use a generous amount - 2 tablespoons.

 

[SeekingOblivion]

I se magnolia bark extract. Mostly anxiolytic, but not sedating. Try making valerian root tea with good quality roots. It works way better. I use a generous amount - 2 tablespoons.

Magnolia bark for the win!

 

[PILLarDollar]

Ginseng is a great stimulant as well. Available at whole foods and most organic grocery stores. I usually buy capsules.

 

[Deleted member 585202]

Oh just an update, I had to stop taking gotu kola. I started developing an itchy rash all over my body. I believe I may be allergic, and/or this is a known rare side effect. Not worth the itch.

 

[Allylbenzene]

Oh just an update, I had to stop taking gotu kola. I started developing an itchy rash all over my body. I believe I may be allergic, and/or this is a known rare side effect. Not worth the itch.

It's likely that this effect is due to Gotu kola not being suitable for your current "constitution" aka condition. It is understood in traditional Chinese medicine that certain herbs are not suitable for everyone all the time since the body's constitution changes. Without that understanding it'd be easy to conclude that a "bad reaction" to a botanical was an allergic rxn, side-effect or "something unknown".

All herbs in traditional Chinese medicine have contraindications which mean "don't use it for someone with this kind of body constitution". Gotu Kola is contraindicated in those with 'deficiency-cold'. So wtf is that?

'Cold' as a body pattern in Chinese Medicine

Summary: A 'Cold' pattern can refer to an attack of external Cold but also to the body's innate metabolism.

Low metabolism accompanied by symptoms of Coldness, pale complexion, lethargy, weak digestion, low immunity and hypo-conditions (eg hypo-thyroidism) represents Cold and is a part of Yin.

Cold can be caused either by an Excess of Cold and Yin or a Deficiency of Heat, or Yang.

Gotu kola has a "cold" nature so is contraindicated for people with deficiency-cold. For contrast, chilli and black pepper have a "hot" nature.

As for the traditional Chinese medicine understanding of Gotu kola, you could say it operates on a different paradigm to common western thinking!

 

[Pirrracetamol]

Is magnolia bark like a light benzo?