Botanical Magic – ReWind

ReWind

“Citrus Essence midday boost for stamina, cognition and confidence”

Color and Taste: Pleasant orange juice color and flavor without the high sugar and carbohydrates

Mood Change: A wonderful sports drink which increases energy and focus, and increases metabolic rate. At the same time the synergist ingredients scavange free radicals and repair cell membranes damaged by oxidation, some of the degenerative effects of exercise. We’ve noticed a nice benefit in the the confidence and clarity required for public speaking.

Ingredients and Science:

Quercetin is a plant-derived flavonoid which is effective in increasing energy by increasing microchondrial biogenesis. Lance Armstrong fans may recognize this as one of the key ingredients in his company’s energy and endurance products and indeed both price and ingredients are very similar although I prefer the lighter taste of ReWind. Quercetin is an anti-inflamatory and reduces histamines. Some citations indicate it is an anti-tumor mass cell inhibitor and has been useful in cases of prostatitis and cystitis. It is a powerful anti-oxidant and anti-carcinogen which may be valuable in the prevention of heart disease, cataracts, allergies, respiratory problems such as bronchitis and asthma, and pancreatic cancer.

Bitter Orange is used in herbal medicine as a stimulant and appetite surpressant. It is derived from a citrus extract and contains synephrine which has properties similar to the banned popular weight loss herb ephedra. It contributes to fat loss by increasing the metabolic rate and improving fat metabolism.

Ginseng is included in the formula as an anti-inflammatory synergist. It is one of the valuable botanicals classified as an adaptogen. The term adaptogen is used by herbalists to refer to a natural herb product that increases the body’s resistance to stress, trauma, anxiety and fatigue. Ginseng is useful for type II diabetes and is said to increase “quality of life”.

Green Tea extract is an adundant source of polyphenols, especially catechins, which reduce cardiovascular disease and cancer, benefits bone density, cognition, dental cavaties, kidney stones and arthritis.

Summary –  We loved the taste, mental focus and non-jittery energy recharge without caffeine. We have testimonials of improved performance in a wide variety of sports and games including tennis, bicycling and even poker!  The health benefits are profound!

Botanical Magic – WindUp

WindUp

“Matcha Green Tea morning energy enhancer for lift, energy and clarity”

I’m an herbal tea lover so I wasn’t too excited about WindUp at first glance at the ingredients: Green Tea powder (matcha), Green Tea Extract, Ginkgo Extract, Bacopa Extract. The cynic in me said ‘why not drink real tea?’, but the scientist in me said why did Dr. Macallan blend these ingredients and what does it do for “mood infusion?”

Color and Taste: Grass Green so I expected a bitter wheat grass taste but instead found it extremely sweet.

Mood Change: Absolutely wipes out any anxiety and enhances focus; a great way to tackle work in the morning and get everything done before 9am so you can enjoy the rest of the day.

Ingredients and Science:

Bacopa (water hyssop) is an important herb in Ayrurvedic medicine. One of the herbs known as “brahmi” (Sanskrit for creation), Bacopa is considered a brain tonic which enhances memory, learning and concentration. Bacopa functions as an anti-carcinogen, anti-oxidant and anti-depressive. Its neurochemical effects include: increase of SOD (superoxide dismutase), CAT (catalese), and GPX (glutathione peroxidase) all of which contribute to cleaning house and protecting the body. Bacopa maintains the structural and functional integrity of the mitochondrial membrane (cellular boundaries) by inhibiting lipid peroxidation (a key metabolic marker in your PrivaTest!), improves ATP (energy) and ionic equilibrium. Gee, no wonder you can think straight with this! Also inhibits parasites. Clinical studies against the antidepressive drug Lorazepam showed better anti-anxiety relief without side effects.

Ginkgo leaf extract contains flavanoid glycosides and terpenoids used pharmaceutically for Alzheimers and dementia, though the clinical studies have been inconclusive. Its has been used with excellent results for tinnitus, vertigo, memory and focus.

Green Tea leaves and extract, produced from fresh camelia leaves are an adundant source of polyphenols, especially catechins, which reduce cardiovascular disease and cancer, benefits bone density, cognition, dental cavaties, kidney stones and arthritis.

Summary – Both Thumbs UP! We loved the taste and mental focus. The health benefits are a bonus. Love coffee but this is a no-brainer…or an ALL-brainer!

Tested on Friends: Lita drank 2 cups of WindUp after dinner as she planned to drive from SF to LA that night…instead she stayed over and read half of “Biology of Belief”, woke up early and remarked on the diuretic effects, e.g., no puffy eyes, no water retention. Let me know how this works for you!

Botanical Magic – QuickStik Evaluation

QuikStik is a “healthy energy drink” product line developed by Dr. Macallan for the Trump Network (formerly Ideal Health). Marketed as Mood Infusion Beverages, there are now four different types of QuikStik, all with remarkably different mental, energetic and physical effects. The purpose of this series of articles is to explore the science behind the ingredients and their remarkable effectiveness.

Made with pure extracts of herbs traditionally used in Ayurveda and botanical medicine, they work quickly and effectively on body, energy and mind (in yoga, the first three koshas or layers of wellbeing). Sweetened with both nutritional prebiotics and a hint of sucralose to mask and balance the natural bitterness of herbs, they’re packaged in pocket/purse sized ‘pixie sticks’ each containing a unique blend of 6.5 grams which you add to a liter of drinking water and shake.

- WindUp is a morning energy enhancer for life, energy and clarity.

- ReWind is a midday boost for stamina, cognition and confidence

- UnWind is an evening stress eraser for soothing, calmness and relaxation

- Synergist is new, for weight and appetite control, fat metabolism and energy

We took out the big guns, our favorite reference text books, to take a look at how these herbs work and why. We also researched on-line studies. References include:

“The Chopra Center Herbal Handbook”, by Dr. Deepak Chopra and Dr. David Simon

“Rational Phytotherapy – A Physicians’ Guide to Herbal Medicine” by B. Schulz, R. Hansel, V.E. Tyler

“Botanical Medicine – Efficacy, Quality Assurance, and Regulation” Joint Symposium,  NIH Office of Alternative Medicine and the FDA.