***This listing is for 1oz of bark***
GMP-certified, Lab-tested
Country of origin: China
Ku Shen, or Sophora flavescens, is an herb used in traditional Chinese medicine that possesses and extremely wide range of benefits. It has a number of benefits that are currently being researched further.
Ku Shen contains matrine, oxymatrine, sophoraflavanones, allomatrine, kurarinone, maackiain, sophoramine, and sophoranol. A wide variety of its constituents are active, and many have been approved for use as medication in other countries outside the US.
Ku Shen works best boiled into tea. A good starting dose seems to be between 0.5-4 grams, though the amount used traditionally ranges widely.
Note: In higher quantities this herb develops a somewhat bitter taste in tea, I suggest starting with lower doses to gauge taste and sweetening with honey. For higher doses or those that especially dislike the taste, steep a larger amount (something like 0.25-1oz) of the bark for 10-15 minutes in 2-3 cup of water and drink small amounts of the decoction quickly like taking a shot. Add other herbs if desired, and follow the shot with something sweet to mask the taste. Make sure to keep the decoction refrigerated, I find a mason jar works best for this purpose.