There is a human energy crisis. Environmental toxins, hectic modern lifestyles, pathological nutrition and lack of physical activity have combined to create a nation of people hungry for energy at any cost. This is evident in the huge sales increases in energy drinks that deliver blasts of synthetic caffeine, along with other substances like sugar and sweeteners. One of the biggest complaints from people seeking herbal remedies is that they feel their natural energy is dwindling and they need help—fast.
There are two ways to get energy: borrow it or make it. Borrowed energy comes from a stimulant like caffeine. The downside to borrowing is that there is always a payback, usually with interest. An hour of increased energy may result in a four-hour let-down. Excessive use of stimulants stresses the heart and blood pressure, and can make one jittery and irritable. While moderate amounts of coffee and tea are just fine, sometimes people become so dependent on the caffeine content that they increase their consumption to unhealthy levels.
A better, safer, healthier way to obtain more energy is to make it. People make energy in a variety of ways. Every time a person exercises, whether it is running 5 miles or walking to the water cooler, he makes more energy. The only way the body can judge how much energy to make is to monitor how much energy it uses. With a very sedentary life style, the body learns that not much energy is needed, so it cooperates and doesn’t bother to produce much. But if a person moves every day, all day, the body learns that it needs greater amounts of energy, so it kicks the energy creation machinery into gear.
In addition to increasing the level of physical activity, dietary supplements can make a big difference—not because they are stimulants, but because they help the energy machinery function in a healthier and more efficient manner. Three ingredients that have recently gained in popularity are the chemotyped oils of Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris), Black Spruce (Picea mariana) and Thyme (Thymus saturoides).
Chemotyped plant oils are much better known in Europe than in the United States, but they have a long history of use as effective plant medicines. These oils are extremely concentrated. In some instances, it can require up to 8 tons of plant material to obtain one liter of plant oil. This makes them up to 100-times more concentrated than herbal extracts. “Chemotyped” means they are examined and certified to be the correct plant species and the correct key active compounds every time.
These three chemotyped oils are particularly effective in helping the body create more energy. Traditionally, oils from the needles of the Scots Pine are used as a natural energy promoter. The effects are believed to be due to the ability of compounds in the oil to influence the body’s stress response.1 Like Scots Pine, the Black spruce contains plant compounds in its oils which support the HPA axis.2 The HPA axis aids in regulation of mood, sexuality, alertness and energy use. Thyme (Thymus satureioides) is a plant from North Africa, which grows in rocky, dry soil. The flowering part is distilled for the plant oils, which are often recommended in aromatherapy as a general tonic to improve physical, mental and sexual health.3