Christina Parks, Ph.D. Cellular and Molecular Biology
The Science Behind the Power
Christina Parks, Ph.D. Cellular and Molecular Biology.
Intellectual Power combines herbs that are well-known for their healing powers with lesser-known exotic herbs whose healing potentials have none-the-less been known in the islands and among traditional healers for centuries.
To this, the mineral and vitamin rich sea-foods, bladderwrack and sea moss, have been added. While science has yet to catch up to what traditional healers already know about these more exotic herbs, a growing number of studies now reveal that the “everyday” herbs in Intellectual Power are much more potent than we have been taught to believe.
New research confirms that they may reduce inflammation, balance immune function, and reduce anxiety and depression. Of course, all of these actions are key to optimizing brain function.
"Of course, all of these actions are key to optimizing brain function."
Basil, oregano, rosemary, soursop and turmeric act very powerfully in the body because they activate the body’s main healing pathway, known as the Nrf2 pathway.[2-13] Activation of this pathway reduces inflammation and detoxifies tissues at the cellular level.
[1] Anti-oxidants such as vitamin C reduce inflammation by binding and neutralizing substances in a 1:1 ratio.
[1]However, activation of the Nrf2 pathway results in the production of two of the most powerful enzymes in the body, Catalase and Super Oxide Dismutase (SOD).
[1] These amazing enzymes neutralize MILLIONS of damaging free-radicals per SECOND!!
That’s the awesome power of activating the healing pathways that God already designed into you! Activation of the Nrf-2 pathway also increases expression of the body’s master anti-oxidant, glutathione.
[1]Glutathione not only reduces inflammation by mopping-up damaging free radicals, it binds to foreign substances (such as toxins, medications and heavy metals) in the body and facilitates their removal.
[1] It is highly likely that the herbs in Intellectual Power will synergize together in their activation of the Nrf2 pathway, optimizing their ability to reduce inflammation and detoxify the body.
Carnosic acid, a major component of rosemary, exerts neuro-protective properties because it crosses the blood-brain barrier and accumulates in the brain.
[13] Once in the brain, most of the neuro-protective mechanisms of carnosic acid appear to be NRF-2 mediated, including upregulation of glutathione production, cancer prevention, downregulation of inflammatory cytokines, and increases in Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF).
[13] Oregano also increases the activity of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which is associated with brain health and appears to be clinically relevant to the improvement of anxiety symptoms in rats.
[14,15] Bladderwrack and sea moss support the activation of the anti- inflammatory Nrf2 pathway by providing key minerals, such as iron and manganese.
Herbs such as oregano, basil, rosemary, Gullyroot and Carpenter’s Bush are
immunomodulatory, which means they act to bring the immune response back into balance.[6,13,17-20] Specifically, oregano supplementation was found to reduce aberrant immune activation in the brain. Toxins, pathogens, and even immunization can lead to the over-expression of certain immune receptors in the brain (TLR2/4). Increased expression of these receptors indicates that the immune system in the brain is hyperactivated and is
associated with anxiety, memory deficits, autoimmune encephalopathy, and autoimmune demyelination. Oregano downregulates the expression of these immune receptors, suggesting that it may have a therapeutic effect on autoimmune disorders that affect the brain and immune system as well as on immunization-induced brain inflammation.[14,15,16]
The herbs in Intellectual Power may have adaptogenic properties well beyond what I have explained above through which they help restore balance and health to the body.
These include their potential ability to eliminate pathogens in the body [21-23], restore proper gut function [2], balance glucose metabolism [24, 25], relieve pain [26], and even help inhibit tumor growth [27, 28].
Many people suffer from compromised thyroid and adrenal function. Sea moss and bladderwrack contain iodine, magnesium and potassium that are known to support the function of these critical glands.
Soursop contains high levels of vitamin C, which also supports the optimal function of the adrenal glands as well as supporting the proper functioning of the gut and immune systems.
There is overwhelming scientific evidence for the positive effects these herbs have on the body.
Considering the fact that many of their historically known healing properties have not yet been submitted to deep scientific analysis, it is awesome to consider the many, many ways they are likely contributing to the healing of our bodies.
