Like that alliteration? 
So I've been on a pretty big Chinese herbs kick lately, especially as they relate to what the Chinese call the "Three Treasures", Jing, Qi and Shen. I've written about them before so if anyone wants more details, check out my post in the Regimens forum.
Shen is said to be our "higher mind", our intellect, intuition, love, compassion and spirit. As such Shen tonics are usually stress-releiving (Reishi, Albizzia), mood-brightening (Albizzia, Goji), energizing to the brain and mind (Rhodiola, Schizandra) or in some cases, slightly sedating (Dragon Bone, Pearl). Of course, there are more esoteric aspects attributed to these herbs, which I'll include in their descriptions in case anyone is interested.
I've been using plenty of Jing and Qi tonics for a while with great results, but I've been meaning to improve and go deeper with my meditation, so I decided to pick up a few good Shen tonics - and not a moment too soon, as I've been going through a nasty breakup with my (ex)girlfriend of 5 years. Considering these are supposed to improve something as subtle as the mind and spirit, I wasn't expecting to notice that much, especially anytime soon.
So I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly and how strongly these herbs effected me! For as laid back a dude as I already am, I became much more care-free, much more easy-going, less likely to have my feathers ruffled, less proclivity towards addictive behaviors, and felt much more caring and compassionate. Even for me, a strong believer in these Chinese herbs, I was impressed.
I'd like to first describe which herbs I'm currently using and their purported effects, and then I'll provide some examples of how they've helped me in this past month or so.
The Herbs
Albizia Julibrissin (Flower) - The product I'm using is a liquid extract from Dragon Herbs, purchased from Amazon, and contains the standard Albizzia Flower, as well as "Magnolia coco (Cantonese 'hard' Albizzia)", which is apparently used interchangeably in China. "The bark and flower of this exotic tree are especially famous among the Chinese for use when one is experiencing emotional problems such as a broken heart and the experience of great loss. It is also used to help overcome excessive worry, fright, paranoia and insomnia. The flower is more rare and is more emotionally uplifting. It is believed to be one of the ultimate Shen tonics."
I believe the Albizia, along with the Polygala, are having the strongest effects. If I could describe the Albizia, it would be like an herbal Xanax, but much more natural feeling, and not anywhere near as strong, though still noticeable. It also seems to have mood brightening qualities, and this explains why even today it is prescribed by Chinese physicians for anxiety and depression.
Polygala - I purchased a Plum Flower, 100 gram, 5:1 powdered extract off of Amazon. Polygala apparently used to be known as the "Will Strengthener" in old herbal texts, as it was said to increase one's willpower. What pharmacological properties a plant must have in order to do this, I do not know. It's also purported to increase creative thinking and aid in dreaming.
One of the more esoteric reasons I was interested in Polygala was because it's said to help connect the energy meridian (called the Penetrating Vessel) that leads from the Kidneys to the Heart, which in TCM terms means it connects the sexual energy to the loving, caring energy of the heart. And considering the insane surplus of sexual energy I have from all the Jing herbs I'm still taking, I figured this would probably be a good thing.
Chinese Asparagus root - Another Plum Flower, 100 gram, 5:1 extract. "Use of wild Asparagus root is said to lead to a happy, mild manner, excellent vitality and beautiful skin… Taoists emphasize that wild Asparagus root will strike a balance in the internal functions of the body. It is said that one who consumes wild Asparagus root for a long time will feel so light that they can fly. This is not meant to be taken literally, but refers to the spiritual qualities of this amazing herb and also to the energy and natural buoyancy it provides." It's also said that it helps one to have flying dreams, which I have to admit, my rational mind thought How in the hell would an herb do this? while the rest of me said GIMME! I have had one brief flying dream since using it, which may very well have been because I was expecting to, but it should be noted that I don't usually have them.
Awaken the Shen - A 10:1 product from Jing Herbs, with a very impressive ingredient list - Reishi, Albizia, Asparagus, Polygala, Pearl, and more. I've been using this product for a while because we sell it where I work. I do think it works, but I'm not really taking that much of it every day, maybe a gram, gram and half's worth, the powder is very fluffy. I will probably fall back on this as my standard Shen tonic when money is tight, as it is a good product and I have easy access to it.
I should note that I blend the above ingredients together, two or three times a day. I also add a goji berry extract, shilajit, ginseng and astragalus tinctures and cacao powder, but these are not at all new to my diet, so while there may be some synergy, these herbs are not having the "Shen" effect of the others. The Plum Flower products came with a little spoon to use, and I'd say it's probably 500 mg in size. I use a heaping scoop of this for each of the powders, and the tinctures get a squirt or two, either into the herbal infusion or under the tongue. The resulting mix is actually delicious, and I'll have two or three of these a day.
The Examples
To start, this is my third time writing this post. The first time I was almost finished, and it was much more detailed, when it accidentally got erased. I shrugged my shoulders, took a break and started rewriting it, only to again have the text deleted by accidentally swiping both my fingers to the left on the mousepad, which on a Macbook is the equivalent of hitting the back button. But again, as frustrated as I usually would be from this, I just found it funny. Haha, good one Universe, ya got me, the irony..
I'm going through a nasty break up with a girl I've very much loved for five years. It's nasty because as good a person as she is, she can be very jealous, possessive and controlling, and lets her emotions get the best of her. I am, of course, not perfect either. But my whole attitude during this break up has been, "Well, nothing's permanent. There's no sense beating my head against the same wall I've been beating it against for five years. She's a great gal but our relationship clearly isn't working, so it's time to move on." Of course I'm not happy about this, but it's been amazing how happy and positive thinking I have been considering this is going on, and I've found the prospect of moving on not only acceptable, but actually something I can look forward to.
These Shen herbs have helped my social interactions too. I don't have social anxiety, but I'm definitely not the socially outgoing type by nature, and since I've been in this relationship for so long, my socializing skills have suffered a bit in the sense that I'm just not as sharp and witty as I used to be. My rational, critical mind can get in the way of the "flow", so to speak. When the flow is on, socializing comes naturally, but it usually takes some practice to get that stage, over the course of a few weeks or months. That said, I definitely have noticed that I'm popping into the "flow state" so easily and quickly when I'm going out, and reliably so. This is good, as this flow state is a new interest of mine. For those with social anxiety, I think Albizia and Polygala would be worth checking out - Albizia with its anxiety-squashing effects, and Polygala for its "loving" or empathogenic effects, for lack of a better word.
Also, addictive behaviors have been significantly reduced. Checking my phone and social media, alcohol, caffeine intake, poor food choices, all of them have been noticeably reduced, without my trying and without feeling like I'm missing out on anything. I usually go out 2 or 3 times a week for a few drinks with friends. Last week I went six days without drinking - no Herculean feat there, but considering I wasn't trying to do that and felt great about it either way, I was impressed. And on the nights I don't have to drive and would usually have 5 or 6 drinks over the course of a few hours, I'm lately having 3 and having just as good a time. Pretty impressive and unexpected.
Over all, I just feel happier, more joyful, and like some of that exuberance from childhood has been pumped back into my life.
If anyone is into herbs for stress reduction, mood improvement or looking to improve their social interactions, some of these may of interest.
