It’s earth day so we are giving thanks to the earth by celebrating all the great plants, herbals and botanicals it grows to nourish our bodies. Today’s article will discuss plant medicine while celebrating herbal and botanical based Vytaliving products and discussing ways you can give back to the earth.
Homeopathy, Ayurvedic & Plant Medicine
Plant medicine is a form of complementary medicine that uses natural extracts from plants and the environment to cure or treat ailments and illnesses. Ayurvedic medicine is one of the most popular forms of this using natural and holistic preparations from plants, as well as trace elements, and animal products in combination with a balanced diet and exercise routine. Whereas Homeopathy is a form of alternative medicine in which ailments are treated by minute doses of natural substances that in larger amounts would produce symptoms of the ailment.
Research has shown that plant medicine dates as far back as 60,000 years. Even today, 11 percent of the 252 drugs considered essential by the World Health Organization are exclusively derived from flowering plants. For example, the Ancient Egyptians regularly used plants such as garlic, castor bean, aloe and juniper. Whereas Chinese herbalism has been tried and tested for over 3000 years, which uses Chinese herbs and plants to treat disease. So, the world of herbals and botanical based practices is well established.
Products Using Herbals and Botanicals
Every day we give thanks to mother earth for providing us with such wonderful and nutritious ingredients to help to improve the well-being of the nation. Featured below are some of our Biovit products bursting with natural extracts:
Cranberry
Cranberry is extracted from vaccinium macrocarpon. This has long been favoured as a natural remedy to combat the symptoms of urinary tract infections. At first it may have started out as an old wife's tale has amounted to a genuine remedy with scientific evidence to support it. Studies demonstrate that cranberries and cranberry juice contain an ingredient called D-mannose this is believed to prevent the adhesion of bacteria to the walls of the urinary tract. Reducing inflammation and most importantly reducing the symptoms of urinary tract infections.
Vytaliving features Cranberry extract in our Cranberry 5000mg Tablets and our Cranberry Relief Tablets. Biovit Cranberry Relief Tablets also contain D-mannose, Green tea and Vitamin C.
Baobab
Baobab is extracted from the Adansonia digitata. Outside of Western culture, Baobab is highly valued as a commodity for medicinal, feed, and cosmetics. The most common uses for baobab are nutrition and medicine. The leaves and bark are often used to treat a host of ailments such as constipation, diarrhoea, dysentery, fever, intestinal inflammation, coughs, asthmas, blood pressure and many more. More recent research has identified the fibres in baobab to act as a prebiotic. Meaning that consuming baobab can increase the growth and biodiversity of gut bacteria. Which has been shown to improve overall wellbeing and digestive health.
Vytaliving features Baobab extract in our Baobab cleanse tablets which also contain baobab, Ginger, Fennel, Prune and Calcium.
Turmeric
Turmeric is extracted from the Curcuma longa. Arguably, turmeric is one of the most commonly taken plant extracts, and dietary supplements. Made popular by ayurvedic medicine, turmeric has made its place in the wellbeing world by acting as an anti-inflammatory. Study after study has highlighted the ingredient ‘curcumin’ as the active to minimise inflammatory factors around the body and particularly in the joints. Turmeric and its wonder compound Curcumin are extremely popular within the supplement market for its anti-inflammatory properties. In fact, one study comparing traditional pain medication and turmeric concluded that ‘scientific evidence supports the efficacy of turmeric extract (about 1000 mg/day of curcumin) in the treatment of arthritis.’ Whereas a 2014 study noted that 1500mg of turmeric extract per day is as effective as ibuprofen for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis when measuring for pain, stiffness, and function on the WOMAC index.
Vytaliving features Turmeric extract in our Turmeric, Honey and Vitamin C Tablets, Supplejoint and Turmeric and Black Pepper Tablets
Red Yeast Rice
Fascinatingly, red yeast rice and its active Monacolin K has been shown to reduce cholesterol. Studies demonstrate that 10 mg of Monacolin K from red yeast rice. One study compared the use of red yeast rice capsules vs dietary changes alone in participants with high cholesterol levels. The supplemental group took 10mg of monacolin K a day, vs the control group who made dietary changes. There was a significant difference between the supplemental and non-supplemental groups LDL (bad) cholesterol levels by the end of the trial period, 9.19% and 12.29% respectively. HDL (good) cholesterol remained unchanged in both groups.
You can find Red Yeast Rice in Vytaliving Cholesterol Buster, featuring 10mg of Monacolin K.
Quercetin
Quercetin is a flavonoid extracted from plant material. Studies have shown that quercetin may act as a natural anti-histamine. In studies, it inhibits the production and release of histamine and other allergic/inflammatory substances.
Quercetin can be found in Vytaliving’s pollen-ease capsules. Perfect for seasonal allergies and hay fever.
Sage
Sage is extracted from the Salvia officinalis. Sage is the dominant supplement used in the menopausal market. Sage is what is known as a Phyto-oestrogen - ‘Phyto’ meaning plant. This means that sage is capable of mimicking the action of oestrogen in the body. When women go through menopause, the natural level of oestrogen decreases which brings about uncomfortable symptoms. Evidence demonstrates that taking a daily sage dietary supplement can significantly improve symptoms such as excessive sweating and hot flashes.
Sage extract is championed in the Vytaliving Sage 500mg Tablets.
5-HTP
Finally, there’s 5-HTP which is a truly remarkable plant extract. 5-HTP or 5-hydroxytryptophan is extract from the endemic African plant Griffonia simplicifolia. Remarkably the plant extract is the exact same structure as 5-HTP found in the human body. 5-Hydroxytryptophan in the human body is used in the production of serotonin and melatonin, the happy and sleepy hormones respectively. 5-HTP in dietary supplement is most commonly taken for sleep and mood disorders.
You can find the 5-HTP extract in the Biovit Calm and sleepeazzze tablets.
What can you do to give back to the earth?
We could all do more to keep our environment healthy, and it doesn’t cost the earth:
- Shop locally. The fewer miles your food travels the less it is contributing to environmental decline.
- Find a local refill shop and minimise packaging waste.
- Look for marks of sustainability. Such as the Marine Stewardship Council which provides sustainable fish to the market and combats overfishing.
- Try growing your own.
- Take part in local litter picking groups.
- Minimise animal-product intake. If you cannot commit to going fully vegan or vegetarian, why not try 1-2 days a week without animal products.
- Be mindful to correctly recycle packaging.
- Plant wildflowers to conserve the bee population.
- Source animal products sustainably.
*Please note Vytaliving does not claim to treat or cure using its supplements.
References