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Herbs
Agnus castus,   Astragalus,   Bilberry,   Butcher's Broom,   Cascara Sagrada,   Dong Quai,   Echinacea,   Ephedra   Feverfew,   Garlic, Gingseng   (Siberian), Ginseng (Korean),   Ginkgo Biloba,   Ginger, Goldenseal,   Gotu Kola,   Grape Seed, Hawthorne, Hops,   Horsetail,  Kava Kava,   Licorice,   Milk Thistle,   Nettles,   Passion Flower, Pygeum,   Saw Palmetto, Schisandra,   St. John's Wart,   Suma,   Valerian Root,   Willow Bark

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Agnus castus

Latin name: Vitex Agnus-Castus

Common name: Chasteberry tree, chaste tree

Active ingredients: Glycosides and flavonoids

Medicinal uses

• Menstrual problems (amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea)
• Painful menstruation
• Irregular menstruation
• PMS, tension, anxiety, mood swings, insomnia
• Menopause
• Help in birth process

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Astragalus

Latin name: Astragalus membranaceus

Active substances: Isoflavones, polysaccharides

Medicinal uses

• General tonic
• Promotion of health
• Stimulates immune system
• Increase resistance to infections
• Improve circulation
• Peripheral vascular disease

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Bilberry

Latin name: Vaccinium myrtillus L.

Active substances: Flavonoids, anthocyanosides

Medicinal uses

• Bilberry is used for circulation, arterial and venous disorders and for eye problems.
• Varicose veins
• Phlebitis
• High blood pressure
• Fragile capillaries
• Vascular complications of diabetes
• Decreased circulation
• Bleeding gums
• Hardening of the arteries
• Decreased platelet aggregation (similar to aspirin)
• Cataracts, especially secondary to diabetes
• Dark adaptation
• Day and night blindness
• Eye strain
• Myopia
• Retinal problems
• Visual acuity

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Butcher. s broom

Latin name: Ruscus aculeatus L.

Active substances: Glycosides

Medicinal uses

• Retinopathy, especially secondary to diabetes
• Retinal bleeding
• Menstrual problems
• Varicose veins
• Problems with venous circulation
• Hemorrhoids
• Anal inflammation and itching
• Anal fissures

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Cascara sagrada

Latin name: Rhamnus purshiana

Active substances: Hydroxy anthracene derivatives

Medicinal uses

• Laxative
• Liver tonic
• Increase activity of large intestine
• Cleansing and detoxifying

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Dong Quai

Latin name: Angelica sinensis

Common name: Chinese Agnelica

Active substances: Polysaccharides, ligustilide, ferulic acid

Medicinal uses

To promote normal menstruation and improve menstrual symptoms

• Amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, PMS)
• Anemia
• Anti-inilainmatory, analgesic, sedative, anti-spasmodic,
• Convalescence in women
• Debility
• Decrased immunity
• Helpful in atherosclerosis, high cholesterol
• Liver tonic, protects liver against toxins, stimulates liver metabolism
• Lowers blood pressure
• Menopausal symptoms
• Menstrual cramps
• Poor peripheral blood flow
• Relieves pain and swelling
• Stimulates immune system
• Tiredness, poor vitality

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Echinacea

Latin name: Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea angustifolia

Active substances: Many (polysaccharides, oils, esters)

Medicinal uses

• Allergies
• Antibiotic
• Anti-inflammatory
• Anti-spasmodic
• Anti-viral
• As an analgesic, to relieve pain and swelling
• Boils, abscesses, gangrene, ulceration, sores
• Help with infections (sore throats, urinary tract, strep throat; eye and ear infections)
• Immune stimulator (colds and flu, generally sluggish immune systems)
• Sedative
• Snake and insect bites, scratches
• Stimulation of adrenal cortex, increase production and release of cortisol
• To relieve edema, water retention
• Tonsillitis, inflamed gums, mucus problems
• Wound healing and cleansing

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Ephedra

Latin name: Ehedra sinica

Common name: Ma Huang

Active substances: Ephedrine, pseudo-ephedrine

Medicinal uses

• Anti-allergic
• Appetite reducer
• Bronchial Asthma
• Bronchodilator, improves breathing
• Circulatory system stimulant
• Cough
• Diuretic
• Fevers and chills
• Hypotension
• Nasal congestion
• Upper respiratory tract infection with congestion

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Feverfew

Latin name: Tanacetum parthenium

Active substances: Lactones, camphor, tannins

Medicinal uses:

• Acute fever
• Arthritis, inflammations, swellings
• As a liver tonic
• Asthma
• Decrease "stickiness" of platelets
• Depression
• Menstrual difficulties, poor flow
• Migraines, tension headaches
• Nausea, vomiting
• To aid digestion
• To promote restful sleep
• Vertigo

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Garlic

Latin name: Allium sativum

Active substances: Alliin, Allicin

Medicinal uses

• A natural "antibiotic"
• Aid in gastritis, irritation of the bowels
• Anti-cancer
• Anti-fungal, antiviral, anti-candida, anti-parasitic
• Bronchitis, asthma, pneumonia
• Digestive tonic
• Expectorant, reduce sputum production
• Internal cleanser (toxic metals, drugs, poisons)
• Lower blood sugar levels
• Protect the circulation, lower cholesterol and fat levels
• Protect wounds from infection, treat abscesses, cuts
• Stimulate and protect the liver
• Thin the blood, reduce blood clotting
• To help fight infections, colds and flu
• Last, but not least, to ward off vampires and protect from black magic. J

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Gingseng, Siberian

Latin name: Eleutherococcus senticosus

Active substances: Glycosides, pectin, anthocyanin

Medicinal uses

• Adaptogen, general tonic, helps handle stressful conditions
• Allergies, hay fever
• Chronic fatigue, restore vigor
• Increase concentration, improve performance
• Increase fertility, for sterility
• Increase mental and physical work capacity
• Normalize hypo- and hyperglycemia
• Promote appetite
• Protect against environmental toxins and pollution
• Reduce convalescence time
• Regulates and stimulates immune system
• Resistance to infections
• Stress
• Weakness, debility, depression, nervous breakdown

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Ginseng, Korean

Latin name: Panax ginseng

Common name: Ginseng

Active substances: Glycosides, phytosterols, saponins

Medicinal uses

• General tonic
• Adaptogen, helps the body handle stressful conditions
• Anti-fatigue, helps restore vigor
• Anti-oxidant
• Anti-stress
• Decrease blood cholesterol
• Enhance physical performance
• Improve intellectual performance
• Increase mental activity and concentration
• Increase mental and physical work capacity
• Increase resistance to infections
• Promote appetite
• Protection against radiation damage
• Regulate adrenal glands, helps prevent exhaustion
• Slight stimulant of the central nervous system
• To stimulate the immune system

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Ginkgo Biloba

Latin name: Ginkgo biloba

Active ingredients: Ginkgolides, ginkgoflavoclycosides

Medicinal uses

• Improves circulation, especially to the head
• Allergies
• Alzheimer's disease
• Asthma
• Cerebral vascular insufficiency, tendency toward a stroke
• Decreased circulation
• Decreased oxygen delivery to the tissues
• Edema
• Headaches
• Hemorrhoids
• Impotence and erectile dysfunction
• Improve brain function
• Inflammation
• Inflammation
• Mental performance, concentration problems
• Migraine
• Peripheral arterial insufficiency
• Peripheral vascular diseases, Raynaud's syndrome, numbness, tingling
• Senility, memory loss, dementia,
• Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
• Vertigo (dizziness)

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Ginger

Latin name: Zingiber officinale

Active substances: Various

Medicinal uses

• Stomach ache, gas, flatulence, indigestion
• As an antioxidant
• Colds, coughs, flu, fever
• High cholesterol
• Loss of appetite
• Morning sickness
• Motion sickness, vertigo, dizziness
• Nausea and vomiting
• To promote bile flow
• To thin the blood (as an anti-coagulant)

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Goldenseal

Latin name: Hydrastis canadensis

Active substances: Hydrastin and other alkaloids

Medicinal uses

• Anti-bacterial, anti-viral
• As a sedative
• Congestion in the nose, throat or chest
• Disturbances of endocrine function
• Douche for Candida and thrush
• Excessive menstrual bleeding
• Eye inflammations
• Flatulence, diarrhea, dyspepsia
• Inflammation of digestive system and mucous membranes
• Liver and gall bladder problems
• Ringworm
• Skin infections, impetigo, eczema
• Stomach ulcers, gastritis
• To lower blood pressure
• Vaginitis, urethritis and rectal inflammations

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Gotu Kola

Latin name: Centella asiatica

Active substances: Triterpenes, asiaticosides

Medicinal uses

• Gotu Kola is helpful in various skin problems
• Ulcers, cuts, wounds, sores
• Skin infections
• Varicose veins and phlebitis
• Calming and sedative
• Improved memory and better retention

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Grape Seed Extract

Latin name: Vitis vinifera

Active substances: Proanthocyanidins (PCO or OPC)

Medicinal uses

Oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPC), the active substance in grape seed extract, is a potent anti-oxidant and has a therapeutic effect on the health of blood vessels, especially capillaries. It is used for:

• improvement of microcirculation
• improvement of capillary fragility and permeability
• decrease of "stickiness" of platelets
• improvement of blood flow in the capillaries
• reduction of breakdown of elastic tissue and collagen
• reduction of degenerative effect of aging
• improvement of retina
• strengthening of veins and lymphatic vessels

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Hawthorne

Latin name: Crategus oxyacantha

Active substances: Glycosides, spaonins, procyanidins, tannins

Medicinal uses

• Cardiovascular tonic
• Spasms in the arteries
• High blood pressure
• Angina
• Irregular heart beats (arrhythmia)
• Vascular problems in old age
• Aid in digestion
• Nervousness and anxiety
• Insomnia

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Hops

Latin name: Humulus lupulus

Active substances: Various oils and resins

Medicinal uses

• As a calming and sedating supplement
• Insomnia
• Anxiety, restlessness
• Spasms, especially intestinal
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Inflammation
• Menopause
• As a mild aphrodisiac

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Horsetail

Latin name: Equisetum arvense

Active substances: Silica, magnesium, potassium, flavoglucosides

Medicinal uses

• Bone, hair and nail health
• General debilitation and malaise
• Mild diuretic
• Prostate enlargement or inflammation
• Urinary stones
• To improve immune system
• Anemia

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Kava Kava

Latin name: Piper methysticum

Active substances: Kavalactones

Medicinal uses

• Anxiety, restlessness,
• Nervous tension
• For relaxation without drowsiness
• Sleeping aid
• Headaches

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Licorice

Latin name: Glycyrrhiza glabra

Active substances: Glycyrrhizin, flavonoids, iso-flavonoids

Medicinal uses

• General tonic, especially for women
• Weakness of the adrenal glands
• Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
• Stomach and duodenal ulcers (rivals Tagamet)
• Constipation
• Inflammation
• Arthritis
• Liver support
• Rashes and other skin problems
• Infections and bronchial weakness

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Milk Thistle

Latin name: Silybum marianum

Active substances: Flavonoids, Silymarin

Medicinal uses

• Improve health of the liver
• Any liver disease
• Acute or chronic hepatitis
• Fatty liver
• Jaundice
• Protection of liver from toxins, such as alcohol and drugs
• Gall bladder tonic
• Varicose veins
• Uterine tonic
• Menstrual difficulties
• Psoriasis

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Nettles or Stinging Nettles

Latin name: Urtica dioica

Active substances: Vitamins, minerals, chlorophyll, histamine, glucoquinones

Medicinal uses

Because of the high content of various nutrients, Stinging Nettles are used in a variety of conditions.

• Anti-inflammatory
• Gout, arthritis, sciatica and other rheumatic conditions
• Eczema and other skin problems
• Healthy hair and nails
• Faster healing of wounds
• General debility, exhaustion, to speed up recovery
• Prostatic enlargement
• Mild diuretic
• Allergy, sinus problems
• Heavy menstrual bleeding
• To encourage lactation

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Passion Flower

Latin name: Passiflora incarnata

Active substances: Flavonoids, alkaloids and glycosides

Medicinal uses

• As a mild sedative, to encourage relaxation
• Sleeping aid
• Anxiety, nervousness
• Hyperactivity in children
• Problems with concentration
• Relief of spasms
• For pain relief
• Menopause
• Bronchial asthma

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Pygeum

Latin name: Pygeum africanum

Active substances: Sitosterols

Medicinal uses

Pygeum is used as an aid with prostate problems.

• Prostatitis
• Prostate enlargement
• Frequent urination
• Urinary incontinence
• Painful urination
• Night time urination

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Saw Palmetto

Latin name: Serenoa repens or Serenoa serrulata

Active substances:Fatty acids, phytosterols, saponins, tannins

Medicinal uses

• Enlargement of prostate
• Prostatitis
• Frequent urination
• Night time urination
• Urinary infections
• Low libido
• Erectile dysfunction (impotence)
• Testicular atrophy
• Infertility in females
• Ovarian tonic
• To improve lactation
• Anti-inflammatory
• Pain during the menstrual period
• Colds, bronchitis, bronchial asthma
• Mild sedative
• Mild stimulant of appetite

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Schisandra

Latin name: Schisandra chinensis

Active ingredients: Lignans and vitamins

Medicinal uses

• Aphrodisiac, effective for men and women
• To increase resistance to stress
• General tonic
• Anti-oxidant
• To improve digestion
• Depression
• Eye problems
• Liver tonic, to protect the liver against toxins
• Memory improvement
• Improved cognitive functions

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St. John. s Wart

Latin name: Hypericum perforatum

Active substances: Hypericin, flavonoids

Medicinal uses

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Insomnia
• Inflammation
• Anti-viral and anti-bacterial
• Stomach ulcers and gastritis
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Mild diuretic
• Anti-spasmodic, especially menstrual cramps
• Healing of wounds and burns (has to be applied externally)

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Suma

Latin name: Pffafia paniculata

Active substances: Pffafosides and pffafic acid

Medicinal uses

• General tonic, adaptogen
• Increases resistance to stress
• Anti-inflammatory
• Pain relief

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Valerian Root

Latin name: Valeriana officinalis

Active substances: Valeric acid, glycosides, oils, valepotriates

Medicinal uses

• Nervousness, anxiety, restlessness
• Hyperactivity in children
• Insomnia
• Cramps (menstrual, stomach)
• Headaches
• Palpitations
• High blood pressure

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Willow bark

Latin name: Salax alba or Salax purpurea

Active substances: Glycosides (salicin), flavonoids

Medicinal uses

• Pain relief
• Arthritis and rheumatoid conditions
• Anti-inflammatory
• Fever
• Headache
• Muscle ache and cramps