Proze-Smoke

Designed for daily mental strengthening

I first purchased Proze smoke at the local Head Shop in Cedar, I wasn't into spice yet and it was before I got really into smoking anything I could roll in a joint. To be honest the main thing that caught my attention to this herbal smoke was the packaging. Im not sure what that thing on the front is but it looks cool as all hell.

The back of the package states:

"Proze-Smoke is a mellow blend used to calm and cleanse the mind. The effects of smoking St. John's Wort vary with each person but will generally induce a mental calming. New Users should smoke one or two bowls a day for two weeks to experiance the true effects.

This holistic blend contains: St. John's Wort, Turnera Diffusa, Organic Sage, Ground Cardomom Seeds, and a touch of Spearment for flavor."

Then of course you have your warnings you know don't smoke and drive, the usual don't do too much. Just common sense stuff. So first I will look at the ingredients list.

St. John's Wort aka Hypericum perforatu

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_John's_wort

Things I have learned about St. Johns Wort are:

1. It is an Herbal treatment for Depression so does it really clarify and calm the mind...yes that is why you have to use it for two weeks for it to take full effect, anyone who has ever taken an antidepressant knows when you first start taking it, it won't kick in for at least 2-3 weeks, then for the next couple of monthes you are constantly happy, if it works properly on you that is, but eventually you start to get immune and either up the dose, or realize you don't really need it to feel happy. Most American's just up the dose and start a life long dependancy on perscreption drugs.

2. Hyperforin is a drug that was created to treat alcoholism, but studies have so far been unconclusive and more studies are being done.

3. In some cultures St. John's Wort was used to ward off evil spirits by hanging the plant near your door on St. John's Day June 24.

Turnera Diffusa aka Damiana

Ah yes my old friend Damiana, this herb is a natural aphrodisiac, and is known to give users an uplifting feeling to users

Organic Sage is used for a great many things cooking, magick, incense to name a few. so more than likely the organic sage is thrown in here for smell, to make it smell good when it burns.

Ground Cardamom Seeds

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardamom

Cardamom is used as both a cooking item and in some medacines. It is said that cardamom can sooth your throat and lungs when you have turberculosis, and it helps with digestion when eaten.

So the Cardamom seeds are added to this mixter as a soothant to play down some of the other herbs when smoked and to give it a unique smoky flavor.

Spearmint for flavor it says, but I had a friend years ago that would smoke spearment to get a euphoric high. This is something I will have to test as soon as I can get my hands on some spearmint leaves.  Recent research has shown that spearmint tea may be used as a treatment for mild hirsutism in women. Its anti-androgenic properties reduce the level of free testosterone in the blood, while leaving total testosterone and DHEA unaffected.[7]

Spearmint has been studied for antifungal activity; its essential oil was found to have some antifungal activity, although less than Oregano.[8] Its essential oil did not show any evidence of mutagenicity in the Ames test.[8] Spearmint has also been described as having excellent antioxidant activity; its antioxidant activity was found to be comparable to the synthetic BHT.[9] Due both to its antioxidant activity and its common use to season lamb in Indian cuisine, it has been studied as an additive to radiation-processed lamb meat, and was found effective in delaying oxidation of fats and reducing formation of harmful substances, which can be detected using thiobarbituric acid as a reage. Ok note to self maybe I shouldn't let Duece smoke any spearmint.

Effects of Smoking Proze-smoke:

I smoked this blend in a joint, I would probably rate this herb at a 4 for harshness. It only took about 2 hits to start feeling the effects. I had a euphoric high, it was a head change where I felt enlightened and just happy. This high lasted about 30 mins because it took me about 15 mins to finish the whole joint, I was at work see so, I had to put it out at one point in time to deal with a costumer. I got a light headache after the herb had worn off completely but nothing too serious. If I were to smoke this herbal blend everyday for the next two weeks I doubt I would get any more headaches from smoking it. I did not like this herbal blend, because to me it didn't do what I wanted it to do. i would not call this herb a substitute for cannabis, but I would say that anyone feeling down should smoke this herb, its effectiveness against the mid-day "blues" works really well, and doesn't taste or smell as bad as tobacco. I might smoke this herb if ever I just need a pick me up, but I would not consider it something to relax with. When I was smoking it I got really motivated to clean things.