Nature's medicine

The herb: Crataegue Monogyna (hawthorn extract). A herbal remedy watchdog agency has approved hawthorn leaf and flower extracts as safe and effective for improving heart function in people whose cardiovascular disease has progressed enough to cause them fatigue and angina when they exercise. The research on hawthorn for heart disease is very good.

The herb: Silybum Marianum (milk thistle). When you are inhaling secondhand smoke or recovering from a night of boozing, your liver is among the initial lines of defense against toxins. Milk thistle’s active ingredient silybin modifies existing liver cells to create a protective barrier against these toxins. It also helps form new liver cells. Milk thistle has been shown in various clinical trials to be safe and effective in protecting liver cells from the toxicity of drugs.

The herb: Paullinia Cupana (guarana seed extract). Sure, caffeine accounts for much of the ‘pop’ in this elixir. But another active ingredient, theophylline, makes it a high-octane energy booster.

The herb: Griffonia Simplifica seed (5 HTP). This is a chemical that boosts serotonin, the sleepytime hormone. Unlike tryptophan, however, 5 HTP has no trouble crossing the blood-brain barrier. For centuries this has been used clinically to treat insomnia.

The herb: Toothed clubmoss. This plant’s active ingredient, huperzine A, inhibits production of an enzyme that, in turn, reduces the amount of an important chemical of the central nervous system called acetylcholine.