Will Power

Will Power

It is said in the Far East that “will power” is the fourth Treasure – the first three Treasures being Jing (Essence and Life Force), Qi (Vitality and Protection), and Shen (Spirit and Mind). This ranking as a “Treasure” is of profound importance to those of us who desire to evolve. With will power, we can achieve even superhuman power. With will power, we can resist the temptations that drag us down and slow down or block our progress to enlightenment.

The understanding of will power as a superior human trait goes back to the dawn of mankind. The development of will power has been made part of the Taoist and Buddhist practices for over two thousand years. Long, long ago, Taoists incorporated herbs into their Taoist Path programs. Herbs, primarily tonic herbs, play a key role in the promotion of radiant health and clear state of mind required for Taoist training. Certain herbs became known to promote different mental capabilities. Several herbs specifically became known to promote a sense of purpose and to be able to foster will power. Thus formulations composed of these herbs were created and passed on from teacher to student over hundreds and thousands of years. Dragon Herbs Will Power is one of these ancient formulas.

Will Power is based on a wonderful tonic herb now called Polygala. This herb was traditionally known as the "Will Strengthener." Polygala is combined with herbs that strengthen Qi and Shen, helping us to remain "centered" during stress and thus allowing us to persevere through difficulties. Will Power can be used by anyone wishing to build will power in order to achieve new heights and to break old habits, no matter how deeply engrained. *

Will Power opens the Penetrating Vessel, also known as the Central Channel or Chong Mei. The Penetrating Vessel is an energy channel that runs inside the body from the perineum (a point between the legs) to the crown of the head, in front of the spine and through the brain. All of the major energy centers of the body are located along its route. These are known in Chinese as the Dantian (and in India as the Chakras). All in all, there are ten Dantian. Three of the Dantian are considered so major that they are the primary fields of energy focused upon by adepts to attain enlightenment and “immortality.”

Will Power opens the Penetrating Vessel and helps to connect the various energy centers. In particular, it helps to connect the lower Dantian in the abdomen, associated with the Kidneys, with the Middle Dantian associated with the Heart. This opening helps to reconnect primordial healthy union of Heart and Kidney, uniting physical love with emotional love and helping to regulate Heart and Kidney, Water and Fire.

A similar formula was traditionally used in Chinese Taoist and Buddhist monasteries. When new monks entered the monastery they were given this formula to help them let go of old habits, attachments and addictions. It also provided the energy and focus necessary to take on the many new disciplines and challenges associated with spiritual practice. This is a very effective and practical formula.

Will Power is one of the most useful “tools” in all of herbalism. All spiritual practice centers around the ability to “let go” and to form healthy, natural, harmonious patterns. This formula dramatically supports this process.

Some individuals may notice significant attitude and habit-related changes immediately, while others may need up to several weeks or even months. Eventually, when the energy centers are reconnected, the individual will begin to notice that they have eliminated bad habits.

This formula may cause abundant dreaming in some individual at the beginning or when it really starts working. These dreams will always prove valuable in the individual’s growth and are not to be feared or overlooked.  Will Power should always be used with other tonic herbs to build and regulate the Three Treasures, and may be used with remedial herbs to correct overt imbalances. This formula is a “Shen stabilizing” formula and may be used by those experiencing emotional upheaval.

The Herbs in Will Power

Polygala Root

Polygala is one of the truly extraordinary tonic herbs in the entire Asian tonic herbal system. This herb first attained wide use in Taoist circles because it was believed to have powerful mind and spirit-developing power. In fact, Polygala root was believed to be an empowering substance in the class with wild Ginseng and Ganoderma in this regard. This root is traditionally used as a Shen tonic to relax the mind, and calm the emotions. However, it does not relax the mind in entirely the same manner as many Shen stabilizing herbs --- Dragon Bone and Polygonum stem for example. 

Instead, many people claim that it enhances dreaming and aids in creative thinking. And it not only aids creative thinking, but the ability to manifest our ideas. The “Will Strengthener” is believed to have the ability to support that part of the psyche which we call the “Will.” Taoists have long recommended using Polygala to support the focusing of the mind and to empower our thoughts so that they may be made real. The Taoists taught that our creative visualization, which they call Yi, could be brought to reality by the Will. Thus the Will had to be strengthened. In fact, the Will is considered to by the fourth Treasure in what otherwise is called the Three Treasures system. Thus Polygala, as a Will-strengthening herb, ranked extremely highly on the list of important herbs in the Taoist pharmacopoeia. 

It supports our Will to do new things, to achieve new heights. It supports our Will so that we can start to work on a new project, to start exercising, to start and continue whatever we need to do to grow, to become a great human being. That is the magic of Polygala, the “Will Strengthener.”   

The Love Herb

Polygala has another unique quality that sets it apart from most other herbs, including the tonic herbs. It has the ability to connect the Kidney (sexual) energy with the Heart (love) energy. It does this by opening the energy flow between the Heart and Kidney known as the Penetrating Vessel. The Penetrating Vessel is one of the energy channels that regulate the functions of the body-mind. It is called a “psychic channel” by the Taoists. It is called a psychic channel because the flow of energy in this channel can be controlled by those who are adept in “inner alchemy” (the yogic and tantric arts).

Commonly, this vessel is blocked, resulting in a de-linking of our sexual power and our emotional feelings. It is essential for our true health and well being that feelings of love and the functions of sex are united. Consuming Polygala for a period of time will have this result. Polygala, the main ingredient in Dragon Herbs Will Power, is provides a unique power to deepen our experience and our feelings, and to bring new levels of happiness into our lives. 

Spirit Poria

Spirit Poria is a very powerful Shen stabilizing herb that calms the mind and heart. It is the mycelium of a fungus known as Poria cocos that grows on the deep roots of old pine trees. Spirit Poria is specifically the center of the fungal mass, where the host wood root runs. The pine root is allowed to remain and represents about 20% of each slice of Spirit Poria. The chemistry and the energy of the wood is changed by the mushroom and is no longer simply pine root.

This ancient fungus is used to stabilize Shen and calm the mind, to support the Spleen and transform dampness. It is tonic to Shen and Qi associated with the Heart, Spleen and Kidney functions. Spirit Poria is a very good Shen tonic herb. It was used by Taoists and has been held in the highest esteem by spiritual seekers in Asia. It is believed by the Taoists to have a very special power to lift Shen and to help develop the Spirit. It has acquired a special reputation for its overall emotional balancing benefits.

By stabilizing the emotions, the true mind is able to develop fully, unhindered by emotional distraction. Spirit Poria has the ability to move water and support the immune functions.

Dragon Bone

Dragon Bone is the fossilized bones of prehistoric animals such as mastodon, wooly rhinoceros, hipparion, deer, oxen, etc. Most Dragon Bone is chunks of white mineralized vertebral or extremities bone. We believe that most of the Dragon Bone obtained by Dragon Herbs is derived from hairy rhinoceros, and its authenticity as fossilized bone has been determined by laboratories specializing in this analysis in China. This is NOT an animal product. It is a mineral supplement.

Dragon Bone is an extremely useful "herbal" substance. Dragon Bone, being a mineral, is rich in calcium and other trace minerals that can benefit the body in many ways. It is used to relieve irritability, anger, tension and dizziness caused by hyperactivity of Yang. Dragon Bone has wonderful benefits for those experiencing mental and emotional agitation and anxiety.  

Taoists practitioners and Chinese Buddhists often used Dragon Bone at the initial stages of their training in order to calm the mind so that they could make quick progress in their meditation practices. Since agitation was considered to be anathema to a Taoist, Dragon Bone provided a powerful tool in gaining a grip on one’s emotions. Of course, the Taoists combined the consumption of Shen stabilizing herbs with mind training, and the results were quick and profound.

Dragon Bone's calming effect can be just as useful in our modern, generally hectic society. In fact, Dragon Bone is one of the most useful and effective substances in Chinese herbalism. This rich source of minerals has excellent relaxing effects on the nerves and muscles.

Astragalus Root, Codonopsis Root, Eleuthero Root (Siberian Ginseng) and Licorice Root are very powerful Qi tonic herbs. Dragon Bone is extremely effective at restraining night sweats in weakened individuals, especially when taken with Jing and Qi tonic herbs such as Codonopsis Root, Eleuthero Root (Siberian Ginseng), Licorice Root and Astragalus Root – as it is in Will Power.  Because Will Power contains these four powerful adaptogenic tonic herbs, it has long term anti-stress activity and is a powerful protector. It is very beneficial to the digestive system and to the production of energy from the food we eat. It supports our capacity to breathe deeply and to extract Qi from the air we inhale.

Aged Citrus Peel and Licorice Root are Qi regulators that aid in the digestion and assimilation of these herbs.

Ophiopogon Tuber moistens the lungs and cools the Heart. Asparagus Root (Tuber) nurtures the lungs, Stomach and Kidney and provides Yin. Asparagus Root is an excellent heart tonic that allows Shen to flourish. It does this by cooling the Heart in the same manner that Ophiopogon does.

Schizandra Berry is a powerful tonic herb. It is a staple in tonic formulations used by those who are trying to transform their lives on mental, psychic and emotional levels. Schizandra has been found to support memory and mental processes. Ophiopogon, Asparagus Root and Schizandra all support to the Lungs. They support deep breathing. They also improve the absorption of Qi from the air we breathe.

White Peony Root cools and purifies the blood.

Conclusion

All together, these herbs open all eight “psychic channels,” especially the Central Channel, fortify Shen, build Jing and Qi, and adjust the bodily and psychic energy, resulting in more focused Will Power.*

Who can use it? Anyone

Concentration: 10:1

Specifications: 100 Capsules 500 mg each

Ingredients

Polygala root, Dragon bone, Eleuthero root, Ophiopogon tuber, Chinese Asparagus root, Schisandra fruit, Spirit Poria sclerotium, Astragalus root, Codonopsis root, Chinese White Peony root, Chinese Licorice root, Aged Tangerine rind

Other Ingredients: Vegetarian capsules (Pullulan caps 100% natural, water- soluble polysacharide produced through a fermentation process; vegetable origin; non-GMO; no starch, preservatives or chemical modifications; gluten free.), rice powder

Usage: Take 3 capsules, 2 times per day or as directed by a healthcare professional

Remember Ron Teeguarden’s “First Rule of Tonic Herbalism,” summed up in a single word – Compliance. If you don’t take the herbs, they won’t work.”