Habbatus-sauda

Habbatus-sauda ia a medicinal herb which dates back its use to more than 3000 years. Habbatus-sauda is also called as black seed, black cumin and botanically known as Nigella Sativa. Research on this seeds has proven that the cold pressed oil of this seed has valuable nutritional value as well as immune boosting properties.

The oil is obtained by cold pressing at very low temperature to maintain the chemical composition in this oil. No chemicals or catalysts are used in this process. The process is 100% natural. The oil is then double filtered to get pure oil of black seed.

Tongkat Ali

Eurycoma longifolia has become popular for its alleged testosterone-enhancing properties. It has therefore been included in some herbal supplements for bodybuilders. Historically, South East Asia has utilised the herb for its suggested antimalarial, antipyretic, antiulcer, cytotoxic and aphrodisiac properties.

Some scientific studies suggest that it enhances sexual characteristics and performance in animals.However, most of these studies were conducted by the same researchers, so more research is needed.

In other studies, fractions of Eurycoma longifolia Jack extract have been shown to induce apoptosis in breast-cancer cells and to be cytotoxic to lung-cancer cells.

The British Journal of Sports Medicine published the results of a scientific study in 2003, which showed that Eurycoma longifolia caused increased muscle strength and size when compared to a placebo. This may demonstrate the anabolic properties of Tongkat Ali but again more research is needed. Some athletes and body builders now use Tongkat Ali extract in the hope that it will act as a testosterone-booster, to improve muscle size, strength, and performance without drugs.

This testosterone-enhancing herb can be used to build libido, as well as combating fatigue. Tongkat Ali has been shown in studies to increase testosterone levels in males up to 93%. In a study from the Reproductive Research Center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, men between the ages of 31-52 regularly took Tongkat Ali. Results indicated increased testosterone levels; thus improving libido, energy as well as muscle mass.

Tongkat ali is sold in various extract ratios, with 1:50, 1:100, and 1:200 being most common. It should be noted that a higher extract ratio does not necessarily mean that an extract is more potent. At a higher extraction ratio, some of the active ingredients may even be lost, as the focus if often reflective of a pursuit of patent rights than achieving efficacious end product.

On the other hand, some products on the market do not state any specific extract ratio, and then it may be anything between 1:2 and 1:10. Furthermore, buyers should be aware that tongkat ali is one of the most expensive herbals sold internationally. Thus, capsules or tablets that combine tongkat ali with other ingredients and do not indicate definite quantities of each ingredient may contain just minuscule amounts of tongkat ali. The market demand for Tongkat Ali is growing, and even though plantations are being created every year, demand still outweighs supplies. Trees in their native habitat are rather scarce, and are further endangered by the common practice of wild harvesting.

Ginseng

Ginseng refers to species within Panax, a genus of 11 species of slow-growing perennial plants with fleshy roots, in the family Araliaceae. They grow in the Northern Hemisphere in eastern Asia (mostly northern China, Korea, and eastern Siberia), typically in cooler climates; Panax vietnamensis, discovered in Vietnam, is the southernmost ginseng found. This article focuses on the Series Panax ginsengs, which are the adaptogenic herbs, principally Panax ginseng and P. quinquefolius. Ginseng is characterized by the presence of ginsenosides.

Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus) is not a true ginseng at all, but a different plant that was renamed as "Siberian ginseng" as a marketing ploy; instead of a fleshy root, it has a woody root; instead of ginsenosides, eleutherosides are present. It is another adaptogen.

Ginseng produced in the United States and Canada is particularly prized in Chinese societies. Many ginseng packages are prominently colored red, white, and blue, the colors of the Flag of the United States and the United Kingdom.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, American Ginseng promotes Yin energy, cleans excess Yang in the body, calms the body. The reason it has been claimed that American ginseng promotes Yin (shadow, cold, negative, female) while East Asian ginseng promotes Yang (sunshine, hot, positive, male) is that, according to traditional Chinese medicine, things living in cold places or northern side of mountains or southern side of rivers are strong in Yang and vice versa, so that the two are balanced. Chinese/Korean ginseng grows in northeast China and Korea, the coldest area known to many Koreans in traditional times. Thus, ginseng from there is supposed to be very Yang. Originally, American ginseng was imported into China via subtropical Guangzhou, the seaport next to Hong Kong, so Chinese doctors believed that American ginseng must be good for Yin, because it came from a hot area. However they did not know that American ginseng can only grow in temperate regions. Nonetheless the root is legitimately classified as more Yin because it generates fluids.[20]

The two main components of ginseng are in different proportions in the Asian and American varieties, and may well be the cause of the excitatory versus tonic natures.

The ginseng is sliced and a few slices are simmered in hot water to make a decoction.
Most North American ginseng is produced in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and British Columbia and the American state of Wisconsin, according to Agri-food Canada. P. quinquefolius is now also grown in northern China.
A randomized, double-blind study shows that an extract of American ginseng reduces influenza cases in the elderly when compared to placebo.

The treasured aromatic root resembles a small parsnip that forks as it matures. The plant grows 6 to 18 inches tall, usually bearing three leaves, each with three to five leaflets 2 to 5 inches long.