Ephedra/Ma-Huang
Plant Part Used Stem Introduction Warning:Not intended for use by anyone under the age of 18. Do not use this product if you are pregnant or nursing. Consult a health care professional before using this product if you have heart disease, thyroid disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, psychiatric condition, difficulty in urinating, prostate enlargement, […]
Astragalus
Plant Part Used Root. Introduction Astragalus has been valued by the Chinese for centuries for its ability to enhance our immune system and its stress-fighting properties. Scientists commonly refer to astragalus as an adaptogen, meaning it can actually modify the body’s response to stress and infections. The root of this plant is used to make […]
Green Tea
Plant Part Used Leaf. Introduction Green tea has long been used in much of the world as a popular beverage and a respected medicinal agent. (1) Early Chinese medical literature lists green tea as an agent to promote digestion, improve mental faculties, decrease flatulence and regulate body temperature. The earliest known record of use dates […]
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 […]
