As you can see from the title, “Ancient wisdom meets modern ailment” – the general idea of the publication is to highlight the fact that ancient practitioners of traditional medicine used natural approaches to solving health problems – and that we can use that ancient wisdom about herbs and nutrients to counteract some of today’s most debilitating conditions (such as chronic stress, Burnout, low mood, fatigue, mental fog, and many others).

The scientific journal, Progress in Nutrition, is a peer-reviewed journal from an Italian publisher that specializes in producing “proceedings” from scientific meetings. I was asked to submit this one on Vigor after delivering an invited presentation on “Traditional Medicine as Modern Dietary Supplements” that I gave at a scientific conference in Hong Kong.

This issue of the Progress in Nutrition journal features the proceedings from the 4th International Symposium on Functional Foods entitled, “New Horizons in Chinese Medicines & Health Foods” that took place at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (sort of like China’s version of MIT) on October 29-30, 2009.

It was interesting to participate in the Symposium with a broad range of Western scientists and Eastern herbalists. Just as I was speaking about the Western concept of “Vigor” – other scientists were speaking about the Eastern concept of Qi (“life force” – pronounced “Chee”) – and we were both speaking about the SAME concept and using some of the SAME natural approaches to restore Vigor/Qi in the face of various types of stress.

In my presentation and in the Progress in Nutrition manuscript, I outlined some of the early studies on the herbal formula that would eventually become Eleviv – so you will see the very same blend of Eurycoma, Citrus peel, and Green tea noted in the Methods section of the paper.

The text of the summary/abstract appears below and a color reprint of the Progress in Nutrition article can be purchased at www.X1Tools.com.

If you’re looking for more information about psychological Vigor, my new book entitled, “Vigor – 7 days to Unlimited Energy, Focus, and Well-Being” (400 pages, including dozens of individual experiences) is available at www.VigorBook.com (all profits to support Operation Smile charity).

I hope you enjoy the manuscript and I hope you will share it with others so that more of us can enjoy the high state of Vigor that we all want.

Summary/Abstract (Progress in Nutrition, Volume 12 (April 2010)
Background: Chronic stress plays a major role in the pathophysiology of many unhealthy states. These stress-related changes in psychology may be due to both endocrine and behavioral factors – and may be mediated or attenuated by lifestyle factors including diet, exercise, and dietary supplements. Vigor is defined as a 3-tiered sustained mood-state that is characterized by (1) physical energy, (2) mental acuity, and (3) cognitive liveliness. Vigor can also be described as the opposite of “Burnout” (physical fatigue, mental exhaustion, and cognitive weariness).

Objective: Our objective was to assess changes in Vigor, Mood State, and Metabolic Hormone Profile (cortisol and testosterone balance) in response to a modest lifestyle intervention including a dietary supplement based on traditional Asian medicine and including Eurycoma longifolia root, Citrus sinensis peel, and Camellia sinensis leaf – each of which is used in traditional Asian medicine to improve “life force” and well-being in fatigued individuals.

Methods: We report on 82 subjects – all displaying moderate levels of psychological stress. We measured endocrine parameters [salivary cortisol to testosterone, (C:T) ratio)], and Global Mood State (MOOD) and related subscales: Vigor (V), Fatigue (F), and Depression (D), using the Profile of Mood States (POMS) psychological survey before and after the supplementation intervention. Subjects followed a supplementation periods of either 8-weeks or 12-weeks. Each intervention included recommendations to follow a balanced diet, moderate exercise, and daily supplementation.

Results: Compared to pre-supplementation values, post-supplementation measurements indicated significant changes for C:T ratio (-15-19%), MOOD (+20-22%), Vigor (+27-29%), Fatigue (-41-48%), and Depression (-40-52%).
Conclusion: These data indicate that factors that are typically disrupted during periods of chronic stress (metabolic hormone profile and psychological mood state) may be positively and significantly impacted by modest changes in diet, exercise and supplementation patterns that mirror those commonly used in traditional Asian medicine.

Improving Vigor (Maintaining Metabolic Balance)

Over the past 6 years, our group has conducted a series of human clinical studies (LINK TO http://www.XANGO.com/science/eleviv-clinical-results) in “stressed” volunteers, as short as 1-week and as long as 12 weeks, where we have been able to significantly improve Vigor by 25-30% (following a maintenance of metabolic balance). This means that although chronic stress disrupts metabolic balance, we now know that maintaining metabolic balance helps to improve feelings of Vigor quickly (within 1 week) and that those changes persist for months thereafter – indicating a unique and lasting improvement in overall well-being that is far superior to the fleeting and temporary effects of energy drinks and related products.

Typically, we will see very rapid improvements in indices of mental energy when the balance of neurotransmitters is maintained (which tend to respond faster to metabolic interventions) – followed soon thereafter by improvements in physical energy as hormone balance is maintained (which takes longer depending on the degree and duration of stress that the individual has been exposed to).

I feel very strongly—in fact, I am certain—that once you understand the relationship between modern stressors, your metabolic balance, and its effects on your long-term health, you will be motivated to do something about keeping your metabolism in balance. The bottom line is that living in the twenty-first century brings with it a certain amount of unavoidable stress—and with that stress comes a certain degree of disrupted metabolism. It is how we deal with that stress and what we do to control those hormone levels that can make all the difference when it comes to our long-term health and how we feel on a daily basis.

Shawn M Talbott, Ph.D. is the author of “Vigor – 7 Days to Unlimited Energy, Focus, and Well-Being” (www.VigorBook.com)

If you’re reading this blog, then it’s likely that you have already heard of Eleviv™ – the natural dietary supplement for improving “Vigor” from XANGO. If this is your first exposure to Eleviv, then you may be wondering what exactly “Vigor” refers to – or if you’ve been using Eleviv for a period of time, you may be wondering how to best explain Eleviv to people you may want to share it with.

As the formulator of Eleviv, the way that I typically describe the product to people is that it is the BEST and ONLY dietary supplement that I know of for significantly improving psychological Vigor in people with stress. I then tell them that researchers define “Vigor” as “a 3-tiered sustained mood state characterized by physical energy, mental acuity, and emotional well-being.”

As such, Vigor is a true measure of wellness because it encompasses much more than simply feeling “energetic” or being in a “good mood” or having a “sharp” mind. People with high Vigor scores are those “can-do” individuals who feel like getting things done – they’re motivated – they have a certain “momentum” in their daily lives – and for lots of people, “Vigor” is a state that they have not experienced in many years. Feelings of low Vigor are common in our modern stress-filled world. Millions of us succumb to chronic stress and end up feeling “tired, stressed and depressed” because of specific metabolic imbalances (specifically, disruptions in hormones like cortisol and testosterone, and neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine) that lead to feelings of reduced Vigor.

When hormones like cortisol and testosterone are out of balance – we lack physical energy, so we often feel constantly fatigued and depressed. When neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine are out of balance – we lack mental energy, so we often feel unfocused and irritable. When we can maintain balance between our hormones and neurotransmitters, we also maintain our feelings of physical and mental energy (the combination of which is what we refer to as Vigor) – and Eleviv is a novel and effective approach to doing just that.*

Can You Restore Vigor? Yes! However, very few people outside of the research community have ever even heard of “Vigor” or have any idea that you can achieve it naturally by maintaining metabolic balance (the balance between hormones and enzymes and neurotransmitters that have become disrupted by chronic stress). We can attempt to temporarily “reduce” fatigue with an energy drink or other stimulant, but that approach does not restore Vigor. Instead, energy drinks and related options are inadequate solutions because they do not address the underlying cause of low Vigor (metabolic imbalance). In fact, not only do energy drinks not restore Vigor, they are more likely to increase tension and anxiety (two other indications of “mood state” that we can measure in our studies). True Vigor goes much beyond what most people associate with energy/fatigue—it really gets to the heart of how people want to feel.

Shawn M Talbott, Ph.D. is the author of “Vigor – 7 Days to Unlimited Energy, Focus, and Well-Being” (www.VigorBook.com)

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

The supplement Eleviv is a scientifically studied blend of four proven ingredients precisely formulated to restore your body’s natural balance, helping you feel cheerful, alert, resilient, vigorous and youthful. Our unique and exclusive botanical ingredient blend of Eurycoma longifolia, citrus peel extract, green tea extract, and pharmaceutical-grade L-Theanine helps to provide the much-needed balance our bodies need and the feelings of wellbeing we crave. What’s more, it does so without unnecessary caffeine, sugars and other stimulants already so common in our everyday lives. Once you try it, you may be tempted to term it the “feel great” supplement.

At a recommended dosage of just two capsules a day, Eleviv has been shown to:

Boost energy levels and reduce fatigue
Promote vigor through mental and physical stamina
Improve coping abilities while stressed
Enhance mood and a feeling of well-being
Restore concentration and mental alertness
Maintain metabolic balance*