What is Shatavari? Shatavari is the popular term for a plant classified as asparagus racemosus. Even though it is also informally known as Indian asparagus, it grows in tropical areas all throughout Asia and Africa. However, it is most likely that it acquired the term “Indian” asparagus due to the fact that it is most […]

Mormon tea is a caffeine-free herbal beverage brewed from the stems of Ephedra nevadensis, a leafless desert shrub native to the American Southwest and northern Mexico. If you’ve spent any time around herbal supplements, you’ve probably also heard warnings about “ephedra” being risky or even banned — and that mix-up is honestly the most important

What is Chaga Mushroom? Chaga (Inonotus obliquus), Inonotus means “fibrous” and “earlike”, while obliquus means “slanted.” Common vernacular names include chaga/tchaga/gaga (Russia); hua jie kong jun/bai hua rong (China); kabanoanatake (Japan); pakuri (Finland), clinker polypore, birch conk, birch fungus, birch lip, and birch canker polypore. For the sake of simplicity, this article will use the term

What is Ashitaba? Ashitaba is a specific species in the angelica family. Its Latin name is angelica keiskei. Its name references the ability to prolifically grow in less than ideal areas with little to no intervention from any cultivator or gardener. It is noted for its hardiness, fecundity and ability to regrow quickly after being

What is Damiana? Damiana (Turnera diffusa) is a herb that grows wild in the climates of the West Indies, Mexico, Central America, Southern California, and Texas. Historically, it was sought out for anxiety, nervousness, depression, digestive issues and as treatment for sexual withdrawal. The aromatic leaves and stems of the small shrub were gathered for

What is Apple Pectin? Apple Pectin is historically used primarily as a gelling agent for the making of jams, jellies and preserves. It is also a well-liked ingredient in the manufacturing of food. It is known to have “a smooth, creamy texture and great flavor release”. Within recent years, the medicinal properties have been more

What is Trimethylglycine (TMG)? Trimethylglycine, or TMG, is simply a form of the amino acid glycine. Any amateur chemist can tell you that it has three methyl groups attached to it. In the supplement industry, TMG is more commonly referred to as Betaine. It is often simply referred to as Betaine because trimethylglycine was the

What is AMPK? AMPK is an ancient biological mechanism that has been maintained over evolutionary history. It is used by single-celled organisms like yeast, and by complex multicellular life forms like humans. AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase) in an enzyme involved in cellular energy homeostasis. Let’s break that down: The “A/AMP” in AMPK stands for adenosine