Herbal Supplements Info You Need to Know

More than 80 million Americans turn to herbal medicine, complementary and alternative medicine, herbal remedies, and homeopathic interventions every year not to mention tens of millions of Europeans, Britons, New Zealanders, and Australians.

Indeed herbals and the nutritional supplements market has, since 1994, grown 35% annually to $16 billion a year.

According to Information Resources, Inc., herbal products or supplements in US sales totaled $591 million in the year 2000 alone.

The largest herb supplement sales were ginkgo biloba with $99 million in sales, followed by Echinacea and St. John's Wort.

Sales of herbal remedies, herb supplement products, and other nutrition supplements totaled $491 million in 2000 with Calcium making up $357 million.

Currently, consumers aged 35 and older account for 75% of nutritional supplement sales.

Clearly, many are very familiar with vitamin, mineral and herb supplements and use them frequently, with over 80% taking them at least occasionally.

Moreover, the demand shows no signs of abating.

My Mission Regarding Herb Supplements

The rising popularity of supplements and herbal remedies has sadly given rise to scam artists who sell inferior products. In addition, the nutritional supplements industry is largely self-regulated. Click here for more information.

In the U.S., and elsewhere around the world, consumers need to educate themselves as to the benefits of herbals as well as to possible side effects.

It is my mission and purpose to assist you in this.

I've been studying medicinal herbs, herbal remedies, and herbal medicine for over 26 years and feel I can offer to you information that will assist you in making educated choices as to which herbs products you and your family should take.

One Way to Choose Herb Supplement Extracts

1.The raw ingredients used should be pharmaceutical grade and supported by scientific clinical studies. Herbal should ideally be produced at pharmaceutical standard GMP registered facilities.

Facilities that are GMP registered comply with the most rigid standards so as to minimize the possibility of product contaminants. (These are the same standards pharmaceutical companies in the United States are required to operate under as mandated by the FDA.)

2. Ensure the herbal supplement manufacturer has a Certificate of Analysis (COA) on file for review by you the customer thus confirming the potency of the herbal ingredients listed on the label.

3. Check that the herbals contain only standardized herbal extracts thus preserving the therapeutic benefit of the herb's constituent compounds. These are the ingredients in the herb that provide a specific benefit. Most herbal supplement companies don't use standardized herbal extracts as it's too expensive to do so.

4. Make sure the supplement does not contain any fillers or additives such as sucrose (sugar), starch, gluten, silica or any other artificial colors or flavors.

5. Ensure the herb supplement extracts are scientifically formulated for optimum efficacy in your system as well as for your safety. Some supplement ingredients aren't compatible with one another and could undermine your health even resulting in some kind of reaction.

Ideally, the herb supplements you choose should be formulated by certified professionals who understand the organic chemistry involved with the herbal compounds and design a delivery system for ultimate optimization in your system.

To be honest, finding a dietary supplement company that adheres to all the above standards is almost impossible, but after years of research I've found one that does.

This company is based in New Zealand where government regulations for the manufacture of herbs or herbsls in general actually exceeds FDA standards for pharmaceutical-grade medications!

If you are looking for a "all-in-one" herbal supplement to augment your dietary intake, their flagship nutritional supplement product contains many potent herbal extracts, in addition to 70 vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, all of which are documented in this website.

Furthermore, this supplement has been proven in rigorous pharmacological studies to:

1. Increase energy and youthful vitality
2. Improve the body's immune system
3. Help maintain a healthy heart
4. Enhance skin tone texture and radiance
5. Increase blood flow to the brain
6. Improve blood health
7. Boost one's emotional well being
8. ...and much, much more

This vitamin supplement in addition to this New Zealand company's bee pollen supplement or energy supplement is one of the nutritional supplements we take and can report to you firsthand of its potency.

I've noticed greater emotional well being, greater energy, increased libido, and more restful sleep.

Supplements & Herbal Remedies

The following are herbs you will find in the products we use from a New Zealand company.

Aloe Vera: Even before the reign of Queen Cleopatra, Egyptians used aloe vera. It is emollient used to soothe and heal skin conditions, such as wounds, insect bites, burns and may even help to clear up warts. If taken internally, it helps to soothe ulcers, indigestion, and other stomach complaints.

Black Cohosh (aka Black Snake Root): A cardiac stimulant; black cohosh root slightly depresses the heart rate while it increases the force of the pulse and equalizes circulation. In the process of child birth, it is a valuable emenagogue (menstrual discharge) in pelvic disturbances and uterine troubles as it effectively contracts the uterus and increases the menstrual flow; has a strong effect on the muscular system and is used for various forms of rheumatism, arthritis, and neuralgia. It is a viable expectorant for acute chronic pulmonary and bronchial affections. Black cohosh exerts a tonic influence over the mucuous and serous tissues, stimulating the secretions of the liver, kidneys and lymph. It also aids digestion, In childbirth, black cohosh is helpful in initiating uterine contractions, checking hemorrhage and allaying the nervousness and after pains of childbirth. Sometimes used in conjunction with the herb

Dong Quai, it is helpful in treating the symptoms of menopause. Black cohosh is not in the male or unisex version of this supplement but is in the female version. This "version" of this multivitamin is formulated especially for women.

Bilberry: Certain compounds in the berry appear to reduce the retinal bleeding and scarring. In addition, chromium in the herb helps to keep high diabetic sugar levels under control. Tannins in the plant have antidiarrheal action, and is beneficial on wounds and burns, gout, diabetes, kidney and urinary problems, etc. It also has cholesterol-lowering properties and at least some ability to prevent stomach ulcers.

Black Cumin: Has positive effects on the respiratory, immune, circulatory, digestive, and urinary systems. Effective against asthma, stomach ailments, acne and psoriasis. Strengthens the immune system and is beneficial in the treatment of allergies. Helps alleviate physiology-caused impotence. Chasteberry: Helps with hormonal balance (as does Dong Quai); helps to alleviate symptoms of PMS; eases menopausal hot flashes; famed ancient doctor Hippocrates, recommended chasteberry for the treatment of a variety of female conditions. Cranberry: Helps eliminate urinary tract infections; helps deodorize urine; a popular fruit that is related botanically to the blueberry.

Damiana: Helps to combat male impotence; increases blood flow; used to combat depression and sexual anxiety. May help in mitigating symptoms of menopause.

Echinacea: An herb that helps reduce susceptibility to colds, flus, and other cleansing symptoms; limits durability of infections; Helps fight respiratory, middle-ear, and urinary tract infections as well. Ephedra: an herb that boosts metabolism; Ephedra contains a chemical called ephedrine. Ephedrine stimulates the heart, the lungs, and the nervous system; may decrease the symptoms of asthma, bronchitis, and other breathing problems.

Ginger: Reduces nausea and digestion problems; good for combating sea and air sickness; reduces flatulence, muscle aches, and helps relieve cold and flu (cleanse) symptoms.

Gingko Biloba: stimulates brain function thus improving memory and emotional well being by increasing blood flow to the brain. May help alleviate Alzheimer symptoms, lessen depression and anxiety; alleviates coldness in the extremities; helps sharpen concentration; helps relieve headaches, tinnitus, and dizziness.

Gotu Kola: Helps soothe burns and wounds; strengthens veins; improves memory; helps to build connective tissue; Women shouldn't use it during pregnancy;

Grape Seed Extract: Powerful antioxidant more powerful than Vitamin C or Vitamin E; improves cardiovascular health; reduces risk of cancer; reduces rate of collagen breakdown in skin (a key anti-aging component); helps repair blood vessel disorders;

Green Tea Extract: Possesses anti-cancer properties; protects against heart disease; inhibits tooth decay; promotes energy and longevity.

Hawthorne Berry: Possesses powerful health-promoting for the heart with its cardioprotective compound properties; helps relieve chest pain of angina, helps to lower blood pressure, helps regulate heart beat for those with heart disease; helps corrects irregular heart beat. Also helpful in regenerating renal and urinary areas; helps eliminate fevers and pulmonary complaints. Mahonia Grape: An antibacterial agent; used for to alleviate stomach problems such as ulcers and heartburn; in low doses, it is a cardiac and respiratory stimulant; Milk Thistle: It's medicinal uses can be traced to ancient Greece and Rome. Powerful in treatment of liver ailments; protects liver from toxins; helpful in treatment of cirrhosis and hepatitis; reduces liver damage due to alcohol use; helps to prevent gallstones and helps to clear psoriasis.

Myrrh (Guggulipid): Strong anti-oxidant properties; stimulates flow of blood to the capillaries; increases circulation up to four times the original number of white corpuscles; an excellent tonic for diseased mucous surfaces; proven to prevent oxidation of bad cholesterol (LDL) and increases production of good (HDL) cholesterol; decreases triglycerides thus useful in treatment of heart disease and staving off same; helps prevent placque from sticking to arterial walls.

Olive Leaf Extract: A potent anti-oxidant and immune system enhancer; helps the body battle viruses, bacteria, and fungi; stimultes healthy cell production; provides anti-oxidant protection in support of cardiovascular health; in clinical studies has been shown to protect RNA structure. Huang Bai: botanical name Phellodendron Amurense Bark: Possesses properties that reduces swelling, redness, and heat in joints; helps mitigate diseases caused by damp-heat or heat-toxin, including jaundice, diarrhea, dysentery, urinary tract inflamation, and skin eruptions.

Piperine: Used in everything from the treatment of snake venom poison to anti-epileptic conditions, Piperine is an anti-inflammatory; Piperine also increases the body's natural thermogenic (production of heat) activities thus useful in weight loss; also enables efficient absorption of targeted nutrients during digestion. Piperine is an extract that comes from the fruit of the black pepper plant of "Piper Nigrum" and "Piper Longum."

Policosanol: Lowers cholesterol -- especially when combined with COQ10; raises good cholesterol level (HDL) while lowering bad cholesterol (LDL); policosanol seems to be a promising phytochemical alternative to classic lipid-lowering agents such as the statin; is a mixture of higher primary aliphatic alcohols isolated from sugar cane wax.

Red Clover: anti-cholesterol properties; a blood cleaner; possesss potent healing properties; one of the richest sources of isoflavones (isoflavones prevent the proliferation of cancer cells and may even destroy cancer cells).

Saw Palmetto: Eases symptoms of enlarged prostate such as frequent urination; relieves prostate inflammation; boost immunity in treatment of urinary tract infections. Rich in steriodal saponins thus its nourishing qualities extend to the male sexual organs; known to also increase supply of mother's milk and is effective in eliminating infertility in women; mildly sedative to the nervous system.

Tumeric Root (98% Curcumin): Reduces inflammation in joints; helps relieve inflammation and pain of rheumatoid arthritis; helps reduce cholesterol levels and reduce thrombosis; possesses anti-carcinogenic properties; is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. The main ingredient in curry powder.

I hope this web page has been helpful to you.

Yours in health,
Nutritional-Supplement-Bible.com