Reishi Mushroom
Plant Part Used Fruiting body. Introduction Reishi mushroom is called the “mushroom of immortality” in China and has been used as a tonic and strengthening medicine for thousands of years. Uses in traditional healing include increasing intellectual capacity and memory, promoting agility and lengthening the life span. Interactions and Depletions Interactions Anticoagulant medications Antiplatelet medications […]
Bromelain
Plant Part Used Proteolytic enzymes derived from pineapple stem. Introduction The supplement scientists refer to as bromelain is actually comprised of enzymes derived from the stem of the pineapple plant. These enzymes have been used for years as a meat tenderizer, among other things, in the food industry. Meanwhile, bromelain may offer a wide array […]
Bilberry
Plant Part Used Berry/leaf. Introduction Bilberry is one of the most popular herbs on the market today. During World War II when British air pilots ate bilberries, they reported an improved ability to adjust to glare and an increase in their visual acuity and nighttime vision. (1) These days, people still use bilberry to support […]
Guggul
Plant Part Used Resin Introduction Guggul has been used in the Indian (Ayurvedic) medical system for centuries to treat a wide range of disorders. In the early 1960s, researchers began to explore the ancient Sanskrit description of guggul’s use by Ayurvedic physicians in the management of lipid disorders. After years of research and scientific studies, […]
Saw Palmetto
Plant Part Used Berry Introduction Many middle age men contend with benign enlargement of the prostate. While conventional drugs can offer treatment of the disorder, one natural remedy, saw palmetto, may rival them in effectiveness. A standardized extract is derived from the berry of the saw palmetto. Interactions and Depletions Interactions Alpha-1-adrenergic blocking agents Dosage […]
Grapefruit Seed
Plant Part Used Seed and pulp extract. Introduction Grapefruit seed extract is used widely in the industrial, agricultural and cosmetic industries. Most of these uses center on grapefruit seed’s disinfectant properties. As a dietary supplement, grapefruit seed has been used as an antifungal and as an antibacterial. It may also be useful for restoring the […]
Bitter Melon
Plant Part Used Fruit Introduction While bitter melon or karela fruit has long been used in South America and the Orient as a food source, it also serves many medicinal purposes. Scientists have turned their focus on the beneficial properties of the fruit in diabetes and conditions related to diabetes, as well as HIV and […]
Gymnema
Plant Part Used Leaf Introduction Gymnema is a rain forest vine found in Central and Southern India and has a long tradition in the treatment and management of type 2 diabetes. The Indian name is Gurmar, which means, “sugar destroyer.” Its use has been documented in Ayurvedic medical texts for over 2000 years in the […]
Schisandra
Plant Part Used Berry Introduction Use of the schisandra berry dates back centuries when Chinese medical practitioners found it useful for support of the kidneys and as a sedative. In Russia, schisandra has been used to increase the body’s natural ability to fight off disease and stresses from chemical, physical, mental and environmental sources. Interactions […]
Lemon Balm/Melissa
Plant Part Used Leaf Introduction Melissa is commonly used in Europe as a tea, liquid extract, and topical preparation. Ancient Greeks and Romans used melissa in surgical dressings for wounds and in preparations to treat venomous or infectious bites and stings such as with dogs and scorpions. Today, melissa’s primary use involves the treatment of […]
