FROM DARKNESS INTO LIGHT

How ancient Asian medical wisdom led to the development of perhaps the world's most effective mental acuity supplement.

By Richard T. Waggoner

Preface For most of us it's a gradual process until the lights are finally turned off. It's almost like our brains are equipped with a dimmer switch that age insidiously pushes down. At first you may not notice that you've begun your journey into darkness. A forgotten name, a missed appointment, an almost imperceptible slowing down of your thought processes, all of which you might attribute to fatigue, stress, or whatever. But something is happening and that something is the breakdown of mental acuity.

Mental acuity is defined as sharpness of mind. Things considered in determining your mental acuity are memory, focus, concentration, and understanding. It is believed that as you age mental acuity will inevitably decline. The true story that follows will leave little doubt that this belief is wrong.

Ageless Dr. Lee

Ageless Dr. LeeI was not surprised in the least when I found out that my 103 year old friend Dr. Lee won the 2021 Chinese Sudoku Championship. Sudoku is a logic-based, combinatorial number-placement puzzle. The objective is to fill a 9 X 9 grid with digits so that each column, each row, and each of the nine 3 X 3 sub-grids that compose the grid contain all of the digits from 1 to 9. The puzzle setter provides a partially completed grid, which for a well-posed puzzle has a single solution. Sudoku puzzle solutions at the level of national championships are extremely difficult and require mental acuity powers even the best sudoku players do not possess. But as I said, I was not surprised Dr. Lee won.

I met the extraordinary Dr. Lee 5 years ago in Shanghai. I travelled there to secure his help in formulating what I hoped would become the world's most effective mental acuity supplement. I dream big.

Dr. Lee was then and still is the owner and head formulator for one of China's oldest and most respected manufactures of TCM remedies. The effectiveness of the mental acuity formulation he ultimately helped develop for me was beyond anything I could have imagined.

Demand for mental acuity supplements is skyrocketing. Aging baby boomers are driving this demand. They desperately want to avoid the one condition they fear most, cognition decline. The never trust anyone over 30 generation are well into their seventies and clearly want to keep the lights on as long as possible. Thus a whole slew of natural products continue to appear that claim to deliver vastly improved mental acuity.

They don't deliver. Many do contain so called nootropic brain hacking (I hate that meaningless term) ingredients but in reality the effects people feel mostly comes from the caffeine that all mental acuity products contain in abundance. More people are suffering from dementia than ever before, despite the best efforts of supplement manufactures in general and western medicine in particular. There had to be better solutions. I looked to the east.

Dr. Lee picked me up at the Shanghai international airport. He said he would be holding a sign with my name on it. Look for a tall old man with grey hair, he wrote in his email. On departing customs I spotted a sign with my name on it being held by a very tall impeccably dressed man in a tan suit. He had partially grey hair and appeared to be in his mid sixties, but certainly not old. I was struck by his lively piercing brown eyes. He stared intensely at me as I introduced myself. However, rather than being off putting, his stare exuded warmth and kindness

Shanghai sky scrapers Dr. Lee spoke perfect english without a trace of accent. Shanghai international airport is located in Pudong the modern area of Shanghai, an enormous city with a population of 26.3 million people. To put that in perspective, New York City has a population of 8.3 million. I had never seen so many sky scrapers, literally hundreds surrounded us as Dr. Lee drove incredibly fast, weaving through light traffic, sometimes coming dangerously close to slower cars, all the while, chatting, laughing, drawing my attention to the many points of interest along the way.

His detailed descriptions surpassed even the best professional tour guides. I was amazed by the shear amount of knowledge he imparted on our 45 minute drive to my hotel that Dr. Lee said was located in the Bund. However, nothing could have prepared me for what I would soon learn.

Bund Shanghai Upon arriving at my hotel Dr. Lee explained that the Bund was the most famous area in Shanghai. It had once been the western center of culture and finance for Asia rivaling both New York and London, hence the early 20th century European architecture. Then he said, “I'll never forget the day, August 15, 1937. I was standing right here in front of this same hotel when I suddenly heard bombs exploding, the day Japanese General Iwane Matsui invaded Shanghai. On that day I decided to join the Chinese army led by General Chiang Kai-shek. It was my 18th birthday.”

I was dumbfounded. I did the quick math in my head. Dr. Lee was not in his mid sixties as I had thought. He was 98 years old! Dr. Lee looked at my shocked expression, smiled and said, “I told you I was an old man.”

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)The next morning Dr. Lee drove us to his company which was located on the outskirts of Shanghai. I found the contrast in scenery striking, ultra modern city, 30 minutes later rural China. There nestled in rolling farmland sat Dr. Lee's TCM manufacturing facility.

TCM is different in several fundamental ways from western medicine, but it's also based on the same principal, empiricism, the belief that objective observation is the most accurate way to determine facts. On that score Chinese doctors have been objectively observing by trial and error the healing effects of natural remedies for at least 50 centuries!

TCM views your body as an energy field consisting of ying and yang (male and female) expressions of a vital energy they call Qi, pronounced Chee. Health problems are an indication that ying and yang are either out of balance or blocked. It's the job of a TCM practitioner to restore free flowing balanced QI. They do so by administering acupuncture, acupressure, and herbal remedies.

Western medicine views your body as a multiplicity of individual parts organized into a series of systems: immune system, endocrine system, nervous system, etc. When a health problem emerges it is treated with drugs, natural substances, or interventions.

Both approaches have their advantages and disadvantages. My idea was to combine the best of both approaches to try and find a solution for the breakdown of mental acuity. After initially experiencing the 98 year old Dr. Lee in person I knew I was on the right track.

I've been casually interested in TCM for years, but became far more so recently with my budding mental acuity obsession. I was given Dr. Lee's contact information from a friend of mine, a prominent medical doctor, who was aware of my interest in TCM. My friend took a course from Dr. Lee several years ago when Dr. Lee was a visiting professor at Stanford. The course was entitled, TCM modalities for the prevention of neurodegeneration. Bingo!

I've been in the nutritional supplement manufacturing and marketing business for almost 40 years, both as an owner and CEO of several supplement companies. Currently I'm the CEO of IMMUNOCORP® which I founded in 1998. I am very familiar with good manufacturing practices (GMP) and everything related to producing quality nutritional supplements. Dr. Lee's company takes quality manufacturing to a level I've never seen.

rows of neatly stacked burlap bags He gave me an impressive and thorough tour to say the least. First Dr. Lee showed me an enormous warehouse filled with rows of neatly stacked burlap bags containing every known raw herb used in TCM remedies, from common to extremely rare, and all, Dr Lee said, were organically grown.

extraction facility Then we moved to his extraction facility that housed several large extractors that Dr. Lee said used a patented high pressure purified water system, no chemicals, to produce his extremely concentrated herbal extracts. Finally we moved to his ultra modern research, testing, and certification laboratory, so well appointed it could have just as easily ultra modern research, testing, and certification laboratorybeen the center piece of a modern pharmaceutical company. I felt completely confident that every product coming from Dr. Lee's TCM manufacturing company would equal or exceed the quality and safety protocols for western Pharmaceutical companies. It certainly surpassed most supplement manufactures.

Dr. Lee's beautifully decorated office We finished the tour in Dr. Lee's beautifully decorated office, a fusion of east and west, and immediately got down to the business at hand, mental acuity. The first question I had, of course, was what TCM formulations did Dr. Lee take personally? He was not a normal 98 year old man, by any stretch of the imagination. His answer surprised me.

Reverence

“I do take an herbal formulation my father entrusted to me years ago. It's been in my family for a long time and maybe that's why we all live so long,” he laughed. Dr. Lee comes from a family of TCM practitioners famous in Asia for centuries. “I definitely believe my father's formula that I take everyday helps me stay sharp, but I also get something else everyday that helps me stay sharp, and I believe it's every bit as important as my father's formula,” He paused, and said, “reverence.”

Reverence “You see in Asia we revere old age not youth. Everyday you age you automatically gain status. Old people are respected, valued, sought after. A wrinkled face denotes wisdom. Old age is not something we try to slow down it's something we desire. Rather than thinking old people are less competent we believe as you age you become more intelligent, more capable.

“We don't trust youth and we certainly don't idolize youth. Youth is to grow out of not to prolong. We take old people's advise not young people's. Old people are not a burden to their families they are a blessing, a gift.

“We believe life starts in darkness, ignorance, and moves towards the light, wisdom. As the Buddha taught, enlightenment is the journey we are all on. It's the reason we are here. Maybe it will happen in this lifetime. We only need to pay attention.

“I can promise you this Mr. Waggoner, my herbal formulation will absolutely help your brain function better, perhaps much better. It will improve what you call mental acuity, and this new experience may make you see yourself and the world from a new positive perspective.

“Hopefully my formulation will help your older customers realize how capable they really are, as their memory, focus and comprehension improves. Maybe it will help them worry less. Maybe it will help them realize that old age is something to cherish not dread. Maybe my formula will help your customers become an example of why everyone should revere old age. I sincerely hope so.”

And thus began a close collaboration that culminated with what I'm sure is the world's most effective mental acuity supplement, the perfected blending of TCM and western science. The subject of the final chapter.

ACUITOL®

ACUITOL®I brought a large sample of Dr. Lee's ancient “sharpness” formula back to IMMUNOCORP® along with his recommendations of “western” natural ingredients that he thought might improve his formula, knowing my goal was to combine the best of both TCM and western science. In that respect, Dr. Lee was well qualified to be of assistance. Not only was he a master TCM practitioner, Dr. Lee held Ph.D's in both organic chemistry and neuroscience.

IMMUNOCORP® has an amazing research team that over the years has developed multiple world class health products, ARCTIC RUBY® OIL and IMMUTOL®, to name a couple. My team was primed and ready to begin the combining process. However, before we began the daunting task of trying to prove poet Rudyard Kipling's famous line wrong, East is East and West is West, and never the twain shall meet, we would first try Dr. Lee's formula on ourselves to get a baseline understanding. The effects literally blew our collective minds!

I'm 75. If I am honest with myself I'd have to admit my interest in developing the world's best mental acuity product was not exclusively driven by the exploding demand for said product. I wanted, like everyone else I knew over 50, to keep the lights burning bright. So far, I thought mine were. After taking Dr. Lee's formula, 4 capsules daily, I discovered that my brain's dimmer switch had been pushed down far more than I realized.

Sure, I occasionally forgot a name, but overall my memory seemed to be functioning fine. A few days on Dr. Lee's formula and both my short term and long term memory were different. I had no problem accessing experiences long forgotten. I took a series of short term memory tests, and aced them. Within a week my mind felt transformed. Hard to explain. Focus and concentration had improved, but something else was happening. It was like I could understand things better. Creative thinking, abstract concepts came more easily. I saw subtle connections in the world at large that I had never noticed. The act of perception itself seemed to have meaning.

My experience was in no way unique. Virtually every one of the scientists on my research team, 7 in total all distinguished, reported dramatically improved mental acuity. My lead Scientist, Dr Jan Raa, was so stunned by the effects he suspected Dr. Lee had included pharmaceutical drugs to his formula.

Dr. Raa ran a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis, the gold standard of lab equipment we use to identify individual ingredients. The analysis came back drug negative and only identified the purified herbs contained in Dr. Lee's ancient formula.

I emailed Dr. Lee a report of our initial experiences with his formula. Dr. Lee's reply was brief: Now you're starting to understand the power of balancing Ying and Yang. Add the the other western ingredients I recommended and get back to me.

And that's exactly what we did plus several more natural substances my team chose that were backed by double blind clinical studies which clearly demonstrated their ability to improve mental acuity. However, the task of blending east and west proved extremely difficult. On our first go around the new western ingredients did not help Dr. Lee's formula. If anything, they diminished its effectiveness.

We continued to experiment to no avail. At my wits end after more than 2 years of fruitless efforts I emailed Dr. Lee and asked him if he had any suggestions? He asked me a single simple question. Had I tried the formula with just the extra western ingredients he originally recommended? I had not. My team always added more of what they and I thought would help.

We tried again using only his recommended western ingredients in the precise amounts specified. The results were, as I mentioned at the beginning, beyond anything I could have imagined. When I told Dr. Lee he was not surprised. His only comment was “well done Mr Waggoner.” East and West had indeed met, even if the credit went entirely to Dr. Lee. It didn't matter, my team and I couldn't have been happier. I named our new formula ACUITOL®. Here are a few reviews:

 
Stanley M.

ACUITOL® turned around my life

I'm 71. The last 10 years have been all down hill for me. Things went south when I started to forget names and faces. It wasn't that bad at first, but it got worse. Then my friends would tell me that I was repeating myself. That made me really self conscious which made it harder for me to hold a conversation because I was so worried that I'd stumble or repeat myself. One thing led to another. Eventually I felt like I was annoying people so I avoided being around them. Luckily my neighbor gave me a copy of From Darkness Into Light. I ordered ACUITOL® immediately. It turned around my life! The most important thing ACUITOL® did was give me back my confidence. Yes my memory got much better, so did my focus and understanding. But take it from me, once your start to see any improvement your confidence skyrockets. I realized that my worst enemy was myself. I just stoped listening to the negative voice in my head and started living again.

Stanley M.
Cedar Rapids, IA

Reed S.

I can run circles around the hot shots!

I have zero issues with mental acuity. I'm 42 and my recall, focus and concentration are great. I ordered ACUITOL® because I thought it might give me an edge. It did in spades. I am a coder and now no one in my office can keep up with me. No one and that includes the young hot shots. I can run circles around them! The coolest part is ACUITOL® doesn't feel like and energy shot or any other super caffeinated drink. It's different. The best word I can think of to describe its effects is clarity, massive clarity.

Reed S.
Los Angeles, CA

Sally B.

I got my mom back!

My mother is 84 years old and lives with me. She's definitely all there but for the last few years she's slowed down. Hardly talks at all. The one thing my mom liked to do the most was play canasta. That stopped 2 years ago. My mom and I have been loyal customers of IMMUNOCORP® for twenty years so when I received your new book I ordered ACUITOL®. I figured if it worked as well as your other products I should try it on mom. For the first week I didn't notice much, maybe she was a little more talkative but not much. The next week the miracle happened. One night she suddenly asked me to play canasta. I was shocked. Not only did we play, she beat the living day lights out of me. Now we play almost every night. ACUITOL® gave me my mom back. The only down side, she never stops talking. lol. BTW I take ACUITOL® now. I need all the help I can get to beat mom.

Sally B.
Salt Lake City, UT

So there you have it. If you'd like greater light in your life, If you'd like to experience the centuries of wisdom contained in every capsule then order what I believe is the world's most effective mental acuity supplement. Order ACUITOL® now. You won't be disappointed.

Richard T. Waggoner
Founder, IMMUNOCORP®

How To Order ACUITOL®

1 bottle of ACUITOL® (80 capsules) costs $89.95 plus $8.95 for shipping and handling.

Special Offer

As a one time introductory offer IMMUNOCORP® will discount the price by 50% per bottle to $44.97, when you use savings code TAKEFIFTY at checkout. This one time price is limited to 9 bottles. Order 2 bottles or more and get free shipping ($8.95 value).

Buy Now

100% GUARANTEED!

All IMMUNOCORP® orders come with a 100% money back guarantee. No questions asked. If you are unsatisfied with any of the products you purchased from IMMUNOCORP®, please return the unused portion for a full refund. Returns

DR. Lee's TCM Proprietary Formula Ingredients

Polygala tenuifolia

Polygala tenuifolia (Yuan Zhi): is an herb used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for its calming effects and cognitive benefits. The triterpenoid saponin in Polygala improves hippocampus-dependent learning and memory, possibly through improvement of synaptic transmission, activation of the MAP kinase cascade and enhancement of levels of brain derived nerve growth factor (BDNF) (Xue, 2009). Human subjects using Polygala had increases in immediate memory recall and recognition ability (Lee, 2009). Some users have found it mentally stimulating while being calming.

Acorus gramineus

Acorus gramineus: is used in TCM for improving “intelligence”. It has neuroprotective and cognitive benefits according to scientific research. This is based on mostly on its content of alpha asarone content. Acorus gramineus has been shown in studies to improve central nervous system disorders. α-asarone dose-dependently inhibits acetylcholinesterase activity and improves acetylcholine levels (Qiu, 2016). These effects reduce hyperactivity, a problem which is often found in ADHD. Yet from the β-asarone, the herb has antidepressant effects which may help to stimulate brain activity in a beneficial manner (Sun, 2015). In the modern world one is constantly exposed to toxins in food and the environment that can increase brain inflammation resulting in brain fog, mental fatigue, and difficulty in concentrating. α-asarone reduces microglia- mediated neuroinflammation, an effect which improves brain function (Kim, 2015).

Notoginseng (Panax Notoginseng)

Notoginseng (Panax Notoginseng): Besides supporting blood vessel health and healthy blood flow, panax notoginseng root also shields the brain from damage made by oxidative stress in neurological illnesses. Overall, panax notoginseng is shown to have a function of anti-brain aging as the main ingredients help prevent cell senescence-associated diseases.6 As more studies are being completed, it is becoming increasingly apparent that ginsenosides yield neuroprotective effects by reducing free radical production and improving brain function.

Clubmoss (she zu shi shan)

Clubmoss (she zu shi shan): contains an alkaloid known as huperzine A that has brain health and memory benefits. Huperzine A has impressive bioactivity from several pathways related to brain cell function and health. It works by increasing the levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the brain by inhibiting the enzyme acetylcholinesterase that normally breaks it down. It also increases the levels of norepinephrine and dopamine to the same extent (Du, 2017; Zhu, 1995). A large number of human clinical studies have shown that huperzine A can significantly improve the memory, cognitive skills, and daily life abilities in people with Alzhiemer’s disease without severe side effects.

Huperzine A

Huperzine A: is also used in treating memory impairment in vascular dementia patients, schizophrenia, and insomnia. It has beneficial effects in brain mitochondrial dysfunction caused by decreased oxygen and blood levels and antagonizes NMDA receptors for neuroprotection. In addition, huperzine A enhances the expression and secretion of nerve growth factor, has an anti-inflammatory effect, and reduces production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) while increasing enzymes in the cell respiratory chain and the Krebs cycle (Zhang, 2012). Huperzine A has the ability to protect cells against hydrogen peroxide cell damage, beta-amyloid protein (or peptide), glutamate, ischemia, cytotoxicity and apoptosis.

Ginkgo biloba

Ginkgo biloba: has long been considered a memory herb. In mild cognitive impairment, a stage between normal aging and dementia, Ginkgo extract given for 6-months and 12-months of treatment to 58 patients with this diagnosis had improvement of their mental quotient by 50% compared to the control group who improved by only 27.27%. This included recognition, regeneration, understanding, and recitation tests (Yu, 2014). Ginkgo biloba extract has anti- inflammation and antioxidant effects and appears to have a neuroprotective effect against neurodegenerative diseases. Another study of Ginkgo biloba, related to improving episodic memory of mild cognitive impairment in patients 60 to 85 years old, found that 55.17% of the subjects had improved picture recognition, compared to only 32.73% in the control group. Logical memory improved in 58.62% of the Ginkgo group compared to 38.18% in the controls (Zhao, 2012).

Red Sage (Salvia miltiorrhiza)

Red Sage (Salvia miltiorrhiza): Red Sage root has multiple neuroprotective effects such as anti-beta amyloid, antioxidant, anti- apoptosis, acetylcholinesterase inhibition, and anti-inflammation. It promotes neurogenesis of neural progenitor cells/stem cells in vitro and in vivo (Zhang, 2016). A study compared it to huperzine A as a positive control and found it to improve long-term memory of rats through a potent inhibition of acetylcholinesterase in the frontal cortex (Ozarowski, 2017). Total tanshinones, tanshinone I and dihydrotanshinone I have a remarkable inhibitory effect on acetylcholinesterase thereby increasing acetylcholine activity (Zhou, 2011). Salvia also improves microcirculation to enhance delivery of oxygen and nutrients throughout the brain.

Pueraria

Pueraria: promotes a significant increase in the numbers and maturation of dendritic connections in brain cells, potentiates synaptic transmission, enhances NMDA receptor-mediated postsynaptic currents involved in new memory formation, and induces synaptic plasticity in learning (Bhuiyan, 2017). Puerarin plays a morphological and functional role in the maturation of brain neurons and helps with memory-related issues (Wang, 2018).

Lovage (Ligusticum chuanxiong)

Lovage (Ligusticum chuanxiong): helps improve microcirculation throughout the body, including the brain to optimize its function. Tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) originally isolated from lovage promotes the migration of neural progenitor/precursor cells (NPCs) in the brain (Kong, 2016). In addition, TMP actually promotes stem cell proliferation and differentiation into new neurons (Tian, 2010). Stem cells and neurogenesis help to rejuvenate the brain to help it functions better.

Rhodiola rosea

Rhodiola rosea: Rhodiola species acts as a psychostimulant that increases mental work capacity during stress, and facilitates learning based on emotionally positive reinforcement. Overall, in small and medium doses, R. rosea stimulates norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT), and has nicotinergic-cholinergic effects in the central nervous system (CNS). It enhances the effects of these neurotransmitters on the brain by increasing the permeability of the blood brain barrier to precursors of dopamine and serotonin. Rhodiola may prevent or ameliorate some types of age-related dysfunction in neurons. Rhodiola crenulata extract, a related species of rhodiola, was shown to promote neurogenesis in the hippocampus of depressive rats by its main ingredient salidroside, which scavenged intracellular reactive oxygen species (Qu, 2012).

Rosemary

Rosemary: has long been reputed in Europe to be good for memory since medieval times when it was used for this purpose. An extract given to 68 students was found to significantly improve prospective and retrospective memory performance, depression, anxiety and sleep quality (Nematolahi, 2017). Rosemary extract containing carnosic acid and rosmarinic acid improved memory acquisition and retention in mice undergoing the T-maze foot shock, object recognition and lever press tests. A marker of free radicals from lipid peroxides, 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE), was reduced in the brain cortex and protein carbonyls were reduced in the hippocampus as well (Farr, 2016). The extract inhibited the acetylcholinesterase activity in parts of the rat brain to improve long-term memory in rats (Ozarowksi, 2013). Twenty-eight older adults (mean age, 75 years) were tested for speed of memory at 500 mg and 750 mg doses and had a statistically significant beneficial effect compared with the placebo (Pengelly, 2012).

Lion's Mane Mushroom (Hericium erinaceus)

Lion's Mane Mushroom (Hericium erinaceus): has recent studies demonstrating its role in supporting memory associated with mild cognitive decline in elderly subjects, and has been used for promoting healthy mood and relaxation in menopausal subjects. Prior research has shown that diterpene compounds in Lion’s Mane known as hericenones and erinacines have the ability to stimulate the synthesis of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), which as its name suggests promote nerve or brain cell outgrowth which may facilitate improved cognitive function and memory.

Fo Ti (Polygonum multiflorum)

Fo Ti (Polygonum multiflorum): In TCM, He Shou Wu, is a long-revered antiaging tonic herb in China that contains abundant levels of a stilbene compound TSG (tetrahydroxystilbene glycoside), chemically similar in composition and bioactivity to resveratrol, yet has profoundly different regenerative and antiaging effects. TSG has several brain health properties including powerful neuroprotective effects by stimulating the formation of new brain cells through hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), improving nerve cell signaling pathways, and reducing depressive-like symptoms (Wang, 2017). TSG has strong bioactive effects for the brain including anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and promoting cell survival. Chronic administration of TSG promotes improved hippocampal memory in normal mice, suggesting that supplementation of TSG might enhance memory also in humans (Chen, 2016). TSG induces astroglia-derived neurotrophic growth factors release (Lin, 2016). TSG also facilitates the high-frequency stimulation of hippocampus long-term potentiation (LTP) and enhances learning and memory in animal models (Wang, 2011).

Schisandra (Schisandra chinensis)

Schisandra (Schisandra chinensis): Schisandra has antioxidant effects and is an adaptogen, nervine tonic, and mild antidepressant useful for improving mental and physical performance, endurance, and adaptation to stress. (Bone, 2003:405; Braun & Cohen, 2005:327). Gomisin A is a component of the fruits of Schisandra chinensis that significantly reverses scopolamine-induced cognitive impairments and inhibits acetylcholinesterase activity in a dose-dependent manner (Kim, 2012). The compound Schizandrin found in Schisandra reverses scopolamine-induced memory impairment, in part, by enhancing cholinergic function, an effect theoretically useful for treating memory deficits (Egashira, 2007)

Rehmannia glutinosa (Shu Di Huang)

Rehmannia glutinosa (Shu Di Huang): Prepared (or cooked) Rehmannia glutinosa, also known as Shu Di Huang, is an important liver-kidney tonic that not only nourishes blood and yin, but also reinforces essence and marrow. In TCM, the essence and blood are the most fundamental material basis of the body. Rehmannia, as a traditional herb, has a long history in age-related disease therapy. Catalpol, an iridoid glycoside isolated from the fresh rehmannia roots has positive effects on the behavior and brain energy metabolism of senescent mice by improving cognitive deficits and reversing the biochemical markers in energy metabolism failure in aging model mice (Wang, 2008). Catalpol ameliorates beta amyloid-induced degeneration of cholinergic neurons by elevating brain-derived neurotrophic factors (Wang, 2009). Catalpol as the main active ingredient increases presynaptic proteins and up-regulates signaling molecules in the hippocampus of aged rats (Liu, 2006).

Green Tea

Green Tea: Green Tea was tested in a study and found to produce increases in theta brain waves between 30 minutes and 1 hour post-consumption which is an indication of its influence on cognitive function, specifically alertness and attention. (Okello, 2016). Another study used functional magnetic resonance imaging while 12 healthy volunteers performed a working memory task following administration of 250 or 500 ml of a milk whey based green tea containing soft drink or milk whey based soft drink without green tea as control. Green tea extract increased activation in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, a key area that mediates working memory processing in the human brain. This neural effect was related to the green tea dosage (Borgwardt, 2012).

Sichuan Pepper (Zanthoxylum spp)

Sichuan Pepper (Zanthoxylum spp): Sichuan Pepper Oil is derived from the plant species Zanthoxylum spp. of the Citrus family and its bark, seeds and fruits have a long history as sources of medicinal treatments. This is particularly prevalent in Chinese, Nepalese and Ayurvedic medical systems with indications including treatment for depression, gastro-intestinal and digestive disorders and as a topical treatments for toothache and skin irritation/wounds. Zanthoxylum genus generically known as Sichuan (or Szechuan pepper) is a traditional Chinese and Nepalese culinary spice comprising the fruit pericarp which is typically added to wok and dumpling dishes to provide a characteristic grapefruit-like taste and flavor and a tingling numbness in the mouth. Zanthoxylum spp is rich in monoterpenes such as hydroxy-sanshool. Mechanistic interactions with the monoamine, cholinergic and cannabinoid neurotransmission systems, as well as transient receptor potential (TRP) and potassium ion channels, may predispose ZA to modulate human brain function. A single dose and 56-days supplementation with a lipid extract of ZA was tested on cognitive function, mood and cerebral blood-flow (CBF) parameters in the pre-frontal cortex during cognitive task performance. In a double-blind, randomized, parallel groups study with N = 82 healthy males and females between the ages of 30 and 55 years, 80 mg of the oil was given for 56 days. A single dose of ZA on day 1 resulted in acute improvements on a ‘Speed of Attention’ factor and the Rapid Visual Information Processing (RVIP) task, in comparison to placebo. After 56 days of ZA consumption (Day 56), speed was enhanced on a global ‘Speed of Performance’ measure, comprising data from all of the timed tasks in the computerized battery. Participants also completed more correct Serial 3s Subtractions at the 3 h assessment and were less mentally fatigued throughout (Kennedy, 2019).

Celastrus seed (Celastrus paniculata)

Celastrus seed (Celastrus paniculata): Celastrus paniculata oil has a longstanding historic background for human medicinal use in India. It grows throughout India, and has therapeutic value for the treatment of cognitive dysfunction, epilepsy, insomnia, rheumatism, gout, dyspepsia.[14] Oil from the seeds (called as Jyothismati oil), which contains the alkaloids celastrine and paniculatin in varying amounts. Externally, the seed oil is used for massage with great benefit, especially in vata diseases like sciatica, lumbago, paralysis, arthritis and facial palsy. This has been in use in indigenous medicinal systems for centuries with known brain stimulating and antioxidant effects. An aqueous extract of Celastrus paniculatus seed has dose-dependent cholinergic activity, thereby improving memory performance. The mechanism by which Celastrus paniculatus enhances cognition may be due to increased acetylcholine level in rat brain (Lehka, 2010).

Celastrus paniculatus seed oil produced significant antidepressant-like effect in mice possibly through interaction with dopamine D2, serotonergic, and GABAB receptors; as well as inhibition of MAO-A activity and decrease in plasma corticosterone levels. Stressed rats showed enhanced anxiety-like behavior in EPM (P < 0.001) and impaired performance in RAM (P < 0.001) and T-maze tasks (P < 0.001) compared to normal animals. In contrast, CP oil treatment to these rats improved their performance in both RAM (P < 0.001) and T-maze (P < 0.001). In addition, CP oil significantly reduced stress-induced anxiety behavior (P < 0.001).

Chronic treatment with CP oil is to improve cognitive abilities in chronically stressed rats. A study provides a novel perspective on beneficial effect of herbal therapy on stress-induced cognitive dysfunctions. C. paniculatus is a rich source of several secondary metabolites, such as β-Dihydroagarofuranoids sesquiterpenes, alkaloids (Celastrine, Celapanin, Celapagin, and paniculatin), flavonoids, terpenoid (β-amyrin, Lupeol, Pristimerin), sterols (β-sitosterol, campesterol, stigmasterol, α-tocopherol, γ-Tocopherol), fatty acid (palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, linolenic acids) and non-fatty acids (Benzoic acid, Cinnamic acid). Various studies show that the extracts and active constituent of this plant possess potent nootropic activity. Besides nootropic activity, it has also been reported for anti-Alzheimer, anticonvulsant, antidepressant, antioxidant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory (Aleem, 2021).

Celastrus seed oil extract's efficacy was tested against immobilization stress in albino mice. The animals were kept in a restrainer for short and long durations, grouped separately and fed with the drug. Animals were sacrificed and the samples were analyzed. The antioxidant enzyme levels of the animals regained and markedly increased in the acute and chronic immobilized groups, respectively. The results suggested that the extract of C. paniculatus seed was highly efficacious in reducing the stress induced by least mobility for hours (Lekha, 2010). The Celastrus oil, extracted from seeds of Celastrus paniculatus tested at 2 dose levels (1 and 1.5 g/kg), exhibited significant anxiolytic activity and did not produce tolerance. The non-sedative nature and reversal of buspirone induced behaviour (in open field exploration) point to the serotonergic mechanism underlying the anxiolysis, inspiring further research (Rajkumar, 2007). CP, when administered chronically, selectively reversed the impairment in spatial memory produced by acute central muscarinic receptor blockade, supporting the possibility that one or more constituents of the oil may offer cognitive enhancing properties.

Western Synergistic Ingredients

Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) : is a highly unique naturally occurring quinone compound first identified in 1979 and having a unique almost vitamin-like essential role in plants, animals, human milk, and bacteria. Free PQQ is detected in food samples in the range of concentrations of 3.7-61 ng/g (Kumazawa, 1995). It has been reported that PQQ functions as an essential nutrient in cell culture experiments and in animal models of human diseases. In human trials as a dietary supplement PQQ has been shown to improve cognitive function, cardiovascular markers of inflammation, and skin health, and has been found to have a vital action in growth and development by activating cell signaling pathways directly involved in cellular energy metabolism, development, and function. For immune function and other health parameters, oral supplementation of PQQ in nanomolar amounts increases the responsiveness of B- and T-cells to mitogens and improves neurologic function and reproductive outcome in rodents (Stites, 2000). In animals, PQQ is involved in a wide range of biological functions including improved growth of newborns and reproductive performance. PQQ supplementation may provide protection from cardiac and neurological problems such as stroke or insufficient blood flow to the brain.

Mitochondria health and energy production

Quinone compounds have redox or electron transfer effects in chemical reactions which play an important role in the body’s production of energy and quenching of free radicals. PQQ protects mitochondria from oxidative stress in liver cells and promotes the spontaneous generation of new mitochondria within aging cells. It has an influence on cell signaling pathways, related to the formation of mitochondria in experimental animal models. (Rucker, 2009). PQQ is an effective antioxidant protecting mitochondria against oxidative stress-induced lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyl formation and inactivation of the mitochondrial respiratory chain (He, 2003). It has neuroprotective effects in rotenone-induced Parkinson's disease (PD) models by decreasing neuronal loss, increasing the ROS-scavenging ability, regulating intracellular expressions of mitochondrial complex and improving mitochondrial integrity and dopamine functions (Qin, 2015).

Cognitive function and neuro-protection

PQQ given as supplements in animals improved learning ability and a similar effect has been found in humans. PQQ disodium salt was tested on cognitive functions in 41 elderly healthy subjects. Subjects given 20 mg of PQQ per day or placebo, for 12 weeks had improvements in visual-spatial cognitive function tests and increased cerebral blood flow in the prefrontal cortex. Results of the study revealed that PQQ can prevent reduction of attention and working memory in aged persons (Itoh, 2016).

PQQ protects neurons against glutamate-induced damage both in vitro and in vivo and prevents neurotoxic effects of rotenone. The mechanism of action was determined to be through preventing cell death, restoring the mitochondrial membrane potential, inhibiting intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, suppressing tyrosine residues nitration, and dopamine redistribution. PQQ also exerted protective effects in an in vivo PD model, which was created by rotenone injection in the medial forebrain bundle of rats. Results show that PQQ provides neuroprotection through complex mechanisms involving oxidative stress, mitochondrial integrity, and dopamine function (Qin, 2015).

Vitamin B6 (pyridoxal-5 phosphate), B12 (methylcobalamin)/Citicholine/Folic acid (methylfolate): are important B vitamins for the synthesis of brain neurotransmitters. They are required for methylation reactions to form SAMe or S-adenosyl methionine which is involved in the synthesis of dopamine and norepinephrine, increasing the levels by as much as 15-fold and 50% in some experiment, and supports serotonin and acetycholine levels (Schalinske, 2015; Wu, 2014) . A lack of proper methylation factors can result in a buildup of homocysteine, the toxic byproduct of amino acid metabolism. Excessive homocysteine leads to depression, memory problems and increases the risk of stroke and heart attack. In addition to citicholine being a methyl donor compound, it is also the precursor to the memory neurotransmitter, acetylcholine. Improved SAMe synthesis and availability by its cofactors and precursors improves spatial capacity through the upregulation of acetylcholine and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) rather than alteration of DNA methylation levels (Wu, 2014).

Pyridoxal-5-phosphate (P5P): is the physiologically active form in the body of vitamin B-6 that many people have difficulty synthesizing from its inactive precursor vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine) found in most multivitamins. Aging, the use of OTC pain relievers, and alcohol intake can reduce the conversion of pyridoxine to its active form which is why the coenzyme form, pyridoxal-5-phosphate, is used instead in this formula. Multifactorial neurological pathologies, such as autism, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and epilepsy have also been correlated to inadequate intracellular levels of P5P (Di Salvo, 2012). Pyridoxal-5-phosphate dependent enzymes were inhibited by pyridoxine. Neuropathy observed after taking a relatively high dose of vitamin B6 supplements is due to pyridoxine. The inactive form pyridoxine in most B-6 vitamin supplements competitively inhibits the active pyridoxal-5'- phosphate. Consequently, symptoms of vitamin B6 supplementation are similar to those of vitamin B6 deficiency (Vrolijk, 2017). Patients who were taking COX2 inhibitors had lower circulating pyridoxal-5'-phosphate, especially those taking NSAIDs >6 mo. Long-term celecoxib and naproxen use reduced hepatic pyridoxal-5'-phosphate in mice. Nonselective cyclooxygenase inhibitor naproxen significantly decreased vitamin B-6 vitamin isomers in the kidney (Chang, 2013). Vitamin B1 (benfotiamine) and B2 (Riboflavin phosphate) in the active, coenzyme forms help in the production of energy in brain cells.

Scientific References

  • Aleem M. Phytochemistry and pharmacology of Celastrus paniculatus Wild.: a nootropic drug. J Complement Integr Med. 2021 Sep 15. doi: 10.1515/jcim-2021-0251. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34529902.Bhatia P, Singh N. Homocysteine excess: delineating the possible mechanism of neurotoxicity and depression. Fundam Clin Pharmacol. 2015 Dec;29(6):522-8.
  • Chen W, Cheng X, Chen J, Yi X, Nie D, Sun X, Qin J, Tian M, Jin G, Zhang X. Lycium barbarum polysaccharides prevent memory and neurogenesis impairments in scopolamine-treated rats. PLoS One. 2014 Feb 5;9(2):e88076. Bhuiyan MMH, Haque MN, Mohibbullah M, Kim YK, Moon IS. Radix Puerariae modulates glutamatergic synaptic architecture and potentiates functional synaptic plasticity in primary hippocampal neurons. J Ethnopharmacol. 2017 Sep 14;209:100-107.
  • Borgwardt S, Hammann F, Scheffler K, Kreuter M, Drewe J, Beglinger C. Neural effects of green tea extract on dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2012 Nov;66(11):1187-92.
  • Chang HY, Tang FY, Chen DY, Chih HM, Huang ST, Cheng HD, Lan JL, Chiang EP. Clinical use of cyclooxygenase inhibitors impairs vitamin B-6 metabolism. Am J Clin Nutr. 2013 Dec;98(6):1440-9. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.113.064477. Epub 2013 Oct 23. PMID: 24153347.
  • Cui Y, Yan Z, Hou S, Chang Z. [Effect of radix Rehmanniae preparata on the expression of c-fos and NGF in hippocampi and learning and memory in rats with damaged thalamic arcuate nucleus]. Zhong Yao Cai. 2004 Aug;27(8):589-92. Chinese. PubMed PMID: 15658822.
  • Cui Y, Yan ZH, Hou SL, Chang ZF. [Effect of shu di-huang on the transmitter and receptor of amino acid in brain and learning and memory of dementia model]. Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2003 Sep;28(9):862-6. Chinese. PubMed PMID: 15015384.
  • Ishrat T, Khan MB, Hoda MN, Yousuf S, Ahmad M, Ansari MA, Ahmad AS, Islam F. Coenzyme Q10 modulates cognitive impairment against intracerebroventricular injection of streptozotocin in rats. Behav Brain Res. 2006 Jul 15;171(1):9-16.
  • Kennedy D, Wightman E, Khan J, Grothe T, Jackson P. The Acute and Chronic Cognitive and Cerebral Blood-Flow Effects of Nepalese Pepper (Zanthoxylum armatum DC.) Extract-A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study in Healthy Humans. Nutrients. 2019 Dec 10;11(12):3022. doi: 10.3390/nu11123022. PMID: 31835620; PMCID: PMC6950039.
  • Kim BW, Koppula S, Kumar H, Park JY, Kim IW, More SV, Kim IS, Han SD, Kim SK, Yoon SH, Choi DK. α- Asarone attenuates microglia-mediated neuroinflammation by inhibiting NF kappa B activation and mitigates MPTP- induced behavioral deficits in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease. Neuropharmacology. 2015 Oct;97:46-57.
  • Kong X, Zhong M, Su X, Qin Q, Su H, Wan H, Liu C, Wu J, Shang H, Zhang Y, Lin N. Tetramethylpyrazine Promotes Migration of Neural Precursor Cells via Activating the Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase Pathway. Mol Neurobiol. 2016 Nov;53(9):6526-6539.
  • Lam CS, Tipoe GL, So KF, Fung ML. Neuroprotective mechanism of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides against hippocampal-dependent spatial memory deficits in a rat model of obstructive sleep apnea. PLoS One. 2015 Feb 25;10(2):e0117990.
  • Lekha G, Mohan K, Samy IA. Effect of Celastrus paniculatus seed oil (Jyothismati oil) on acute and chronic immobilization stress induced in swiss albino mice. Pharmacognosy Res. 2010 May;2(3):169-74. doi: 10.4103/0974- 8490.65512. PMID: 21808561; PMCID: PMC3141309.
  • Liu J, He QJ, Zou W, Wang HX, Bao YM, Liu YX, An LJ. Catalpol increases hippocampal neuroplasticity and up- regulates PKC and BDNF in the aged rats. Brain Res. 2006 Dec 6;1123(1):68-79. Epub 2006 Oct 31. PubMed PMID: 17078935.
  • Li DQ, Li Y, Liu Y, Bao YM, Hu B, An LJ. Catalpol prevents the loss of CA1 hippocampal neurons and reduces working errors in gerbils after ischemia-reperfusion injury. Toxicon. 2005 Dec 15;46(8):845-51. Epub 2005 Nov 2. PubMed PMID: 16269165.
  • Nafar F, Clarke JP, Mearow KM. Coconut oil protects cortical neurons from amyloid beta toxicity by enhancing signaling of cell survival pathways. Neurochem Int. 2017 May;105:64-79.
  • Nonaka Y, Takagi T, Inai M, Nishimura S, Urashima S, Honda K, Aoyama T, Terada S. Lauric Acid Stimulates Ketone Body Production in the KT-5 Astrocyte Cell Line. J Oleo Sci. 2016 Aug 1;65(8):693-9.
  • Park SK, Jung IC, Lee WK, Lee YS, Park HK, Go HJ, Kim K, Lim NK, Hong JT, Ly SY, Rho SS. A combination of green tea extract and l-theanine improves memory and attention in subjects with mild cognitive impairment: a double- blind placebo-controlled study. J Med Food. 2011 Apr;14(4):334-43.
  • Okello EJ, Abadi AM, Abadi SA. Effects of green and black tea consumption on brain wave activities in healthy volunteers as measured by a simplified Electroencephalogram (EEG): A feasibility study. Nutr Neurosci. 2016 Jun;19(5):196-205.
  • Qiu G, Chen S, Guo J, Wu J, Yi YH. Alpha-asarone improves striatal cholinergic function and locomotor hyperactivity in Fmr1 knockout mice. Behav Brain Res. 2016 Oct 1;312:212-8.
  • Sabelli HC, Javaid JI. Phenylethylamine modulation of affect: therapeutic and diagnostic implications. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 1995 Winter;7(1):6-14. Review.
  • Sabelli H, Fink P, Fawcett J, Tom C. Sustained antidepressant effect of PEA replacement. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 1996 Spring;8(2):168-71.
  • Schalinske K, Smazal A. Oral S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) Administration Increases Whole Brain Concentrations of Dopamine and Norepinephrine in Rats. The FASEB Journal 2015 29:1
  • Shetty RA, Forster MJ, Sumien N. Coenzyme Q(10) supplementation reverses age-related impairments in spatial learning and lowers protein oxidation. Age (Dordr). 2013 Oct;35(5):1821-34. doi: 10.1007/s11357-012-9484-9. Epub 2012 Nov
  • Sun YR, Wang XY, Li SS, Dong HY, Zhang XJ. β-asarone from Acorus gramineus alleviates depression by modulating MKP-1. Genet Mol Res. 2015 May 4;14(2):4495-504. doi: 10.4238/2015.May.4.7. PubMed PMID: 25966222.
  • Tayebati SK, Tomassoni D, Nwankwo IE, Di Stefano A, Sozio P, Cerasa LS, Amenta F. Modulation of monoaminergic transporters by choline-containing phospholipids in rat brain. CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets. 2013 Feb 1;12(1):94-103.
  • Tian Y, Liu Y, Chen X, Zhang H, Shi Q, Zhang J, Yang P. Tetramethylpyrazine promotes proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells from rat brain in hypoxic condition via mitogen-activated protein kinases pathway in vitro. Neurosci Lett. 2010 Apr 19;474(1):26-31.
  • Wan D, Zhu HF, Luo Y, Xie P, Xu XY. [Study of catalpol promoting axonal growth for cultured cortical neurons from rats]. Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2007 Sep;32(17):1771-4. Chinese. PubMed PMID: 17992998.
  • Wang Z, Liu Q, Zhang R, Liu S, Xia Z, Hu Y. Catalpol ameliorates beta amyloid-induced degeneration of cholinergic neurons by elevating brain-derived neurotrophic factors. Neuroscience. 2009 Nov 10;163(4):1363-72.
  • Wang R, Tang XC. Neuroprotective effects of huperzine A. A natural cholinesterase inhibitor for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Neurosignals. 2005;14(1-2):71-82.
  • Wightman EL, Haskell CF, Forster JS, Veasey RC, Kennedy DO. Epigallocatechin gallate, cerebral blood flow parameters, cognitive performance and mood in healthy humans: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover investigation. Hum Psychopharmacol. 2012 Mar;27(2):177-86. doi: 10.1002/hup.1263. PubMed
  • Wu X, Sun J, Zhang X, Li X, Liu Z, Yang Q, Li L. Epigenetic signature of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion and beneficial effects of S-adenosylmethionine in rats. Mol Neurobiol. 2014 Dec;50(3):839-51.
  • Xing X, Liu F, Xiao J, So KF. Neuro-protective Mechanisms of Lycium barbarum. Neuromolecular Med. 2016 Sep;18(3):253-63.
  • Yang QQ, Xue WZ, Zou RX, Xu Y, Du Y, Wang S, Xu L, Chen YZ, Wang HL, Chen XT. β-Asarone Rescues Pb- Induced Impairments of Spatial Memory and Synaptogenesis in Rats. PLoS One. 2016 Dec 9;11(12):e0167401. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0167401.
  • Yu ZH, Zhang CY, Pu BH, Xiao SY, Dong ZH, Li YM. [Ginkgo leaves tablet improved the memory quotient of patients with mild cognitive impairment: a clinical observation]. Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie HeZa Zhi. 2014 Mar;34(3):287-91.
  • Zhang E, Yau SY, Lau BW, Ma H, Lee TM, Chang RC, So KF. Synaptic plasticity, but not hippocampal neurogenesis, mediated the counteractive effect of wolfberry on depression in rats(1). Cell Transplant. 2012;21(12):2635-49.
  • Zhang XZ, Qian SS, Zhang YJ, Wang RQ. Salvia miltiorrhiza: A source for anti-Alzheimer's disease drugs. Pharm Biol. 2016;54(1):18-24.
  • Zhang XL, An LJ, Bao YM, Wang JY, Jiang B. d-galactose administration induces memory loss and energy metabolism disturbance in mice: protective effects of catalpol. Food Chem Toxicol. 2008 Aug;46(8):2888-94.
  • Zhang H. New insights into huperzine A for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Acta Pharmacologica Sinica. 2012;33(9):1170-1175. doi:10.1038/aps.2012.128.
  • Zhou ZQ, Xiao J, Fan HX, Yu Y, He RR, Feng XL, Kurihara H, So KF, Yao XS, Gao H. Polyphenols from wolfberry and their bioactivities. Food Chem. 2017 Jan 1;214:644-654. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2016.07.105. Epub 2016 Jul 19. PubMed PMID: 27507521.
  • Zhou Y, Li W, Xu L, Chen L. In Salvia miltiorrhiza, phenolic acids possess protective properties against amyloid β- induced cytotoxicity, and tanshinones act as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol. 2011 May;31(3):443-52.
  • Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Xue Bao. 2012 Jun;10(6):628-34. [Effects of Ginkgo biloba extract in improving episodic memory of patients with mild cognitive impairment: a randomized controlled trial]. Zhao MX1, Dong ZH, Yu ZH, Xiao SY, Li YM.
  • Zhu XD, Giacobini E. Second generation cholinesterase inhibitors: effect of (L)-huperzine-A on cortical biogenic amines. J Neurosci Res. 1995 Aug 15;41(6):828-35.

The information contained within this article is for reference purposes only and is not intended to substitute for the advice given by a pharmacist, physician, or any other licensed health-care professional.

The statements in this article and ACUITOL® have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.