Deficiencies in Vitamin B9 (Folate) and B12: Miscarriages and Birth Defects
Low plasma B6 and B12 are associated with increased risk of early spontaneous abortion. Studies have shown that women with low folate levels are at...
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NuHerbs® USDA National Organic Program (NOP) certified organic Chinese herbs.
Be forewarned that this carries a potentially acquired bitter note and distinct herbal scent.
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Long Dan Cao (gentian root)*, Huang Qin (skullcap root)*, Dang Gui (dong quai root)*, Chuan Lian Zi (melia)*, Bai Shao (peony root)*, Jiang Huang (curcuma wenyujin rhizome)*, Xiang Fu (cyperus rhizome)*, Chai Hu (bupleurum root)*, Ze Xie (Asian water plantain rhizome)*, Zhi Gan Cao (Chinese licorice root and rhizome)*, Che Qian Zi (Asian plantain seed)*, Fu Ling (poria)*, Chen Pi (dried tangerine rind)*, Mu Xiang (costus root)*, Yan Hu Suo (corydalis yanhusuo)*, Bai Dou Kou (round cardamom)*, Huo Po (magnolia bark)*, Shu Di Huang (rehmannia root)*, Zhi Ke (bitter orange)*, Zhi Zi (gardenia fruit)* (*Organic)
Long Dan Cao
Other Names: gentian root, bitter wort, bitter root
Organ: liver, spleen, stomach
Use: clearing heat and dampness, inflammation and swelling, sinus infection, arthritis, digestion, migraines, scalp eczema, high blood pressure, psoriasis, hepatitis, antifungal, anti inflammatory, spasms
Peer-Reviewed Findings: “Gentiana is one of the medicinal plants that relive the hepatic obstruction. Long-dan-xie-gan-tang is the most commonly prescribed Chinese herbal formula for chronic hepatitis which was recorded in ancient Chinese medicine as having inhibitive effects on inflammatory diseases of liver or gall bladder and other inflammatory conditions. Root and leaves of G. scabra and Gentiana macrophylla has been used in Chinese herbalism for over 2000 years as an excellent tonic for digestive system, work on stomach, liver and gall bladder. The effectiveness of different Gentiana's species in treatment of hepatic disorders and inflammatory diseases are significantly obvious in almost all of the traditional medicines.”
Huang Qin
Other Names: skullcap root,
Organ: Liver
Use: clear heat and dampness, antibacterial, antiviral, insomnia, pneumonia, anticancer, GI disease, hemorrhage, respiratory infections, diarrhea
Peer-Reviewed Findings: “These flavones have been reported to have various pharmacological functions, including anti-cancer, hepatoprotection, antibacterial and antiviral, antioxidant, anticonvulsant and neuroprotective effects. A study of the effects of SST on hepatitis was reported by a Japanese group in 1994. Ninety-eight hepatitis patients were treated with SST and followed up for 5 years. Liver function was improved in 78 % of the hepatitis B patients and in 67 % patients with non-A non-B type hepatitis, with significantly reduced serum levels of aminotransferase AST, ALT, and rGTP. Scutellaria baicalensis is the main component in the herbal remedy SST used for liver problems such as hepatitis, hepatic fibrosis and carcinoma. Yang-Gan-Wan (YGW) is another prescription containing baicalin, which has long been known for its protective effects on the liver.”
Dang Gui
Other Names: dong quai, angelica sinensis
Organ: Liver
Use: fatty liver, strengthen bones, reduce blood sugar, tonifying/nourishing blood, anemia, dizziness, numbness, palpitations, PMS (mood swings, bloating, headache), high blood pressure
Peer-Reviewed Findings: “In addition, ASP markedly alleviated serum and liver lipid disorders and fatty liver via the upregulation of PPARγ expression and the activation of adiponectin-SIRT1-AMPK signaling. Furthermore, ASP also significantly relieved severe oxidative stress, demonstrating that ASP might attenuate nonalcoholic fatty liver disease via a "two-hit" mechanism.”
Chuan Lian Zi
Other Names: melia, chinaberry
Organ: liver, heart, stomach, intestines
Use: clear heat and dampness, restores qi, lowers blood glucose, anticancer, kills parasites, antifungal, alleviate pain
Peer-Reviewed Findings: “Oral administration of chloroform extracts of Melia leaf (250 and 500mg/kg body weight) for 30 days resulted in significant decrease of blood glucose from 298.62±22.32 to 80.52 ± 04.71 and decrease in the activities of enzymes of liver.”
Bai Shao
Other Names: peony root
Organ: liver, kidney
Use: autoimmune conditions, liver disease, kidney disease, inflammation, arthritis, blood flow, hyperpigmentation, mood disorders
Peer-Reviewed Findings: “The liver expression of NF-κB and IL-1β were repressed and the hepatocyte transporters such as Na+/taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP), bile salt export pump (BSEP), multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (MRP2) were reduced by Pae treatment. The alleviating effect of Pae on the liver seems to be closely associated with down-regulation of activated NF-κB pathway.The elevated IL-8 is positively related to inflammatory liver diseases, implying that IL-8 inhibition may be a potential treatment of inflammatory liver diseases. Pae ameliorated IL-8-induced liver damage by exerting anti-inflammatory effects on primary human hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells (HHSECs) through inhibiting IL-8 via repression of ERK1/2 and Akt pathway.”
Jiang Huang
Other Names: curcuma wenyujin rhizome, e zhu
Organ: liver, spleen, heart
Uses: stimulates blood flow, liver fibrosis, remove liver stagnation, anti inflammatory, antioxidant, amenorrhea, arthritis, depression, heart disease
Peer-Reviewed Findings: “CWP also significantly reduced the levels of liver TC, liver triglycerides, aspartate transaminase, and alanine transaminase. Histological examination revealed that CWP dose-dependently reduced steatosis in liver tissue, significantly downregulated the expression of lipogenesis genes, and increased the β-oxidation of fatty acids.”
Xiang Fu
Other Names: cyperus rhizome, cyperi
Organ: liver, spleen, heart
Use: remove liver stagnation, chest pain, pain in abdomen, pain due to hernia, menstruation pain
Peer-Reviewed Findings: “CR could promote the flow of Qi in the Liver and Sanjiao channels, regulate menstruation and alleviate pain. It has the effect of soothing the liver and relieving depression, regulating qi, regulating meridian and relieving pain. It can be used to treat liver qi stagnation, chest pain, spleen and stomach qi stagnation, hernia pain, irregular menstruation and other diseases.”
Chai Hu
Other Names: bupleurum root, shosaiko to
Organ: liver, adrenal glands, ovaries
Use: disperse qi, clear heat, cirrhosis, hepatitis B, cleanse/detox, fatigue, indigestion, anti inflammatory, hyperpigmentation
Peer-Reviewed Findings: “Chaihu’s function in resolving gan qi stagnation might arise through its supportive roles in protecting organs, preventing damage to cells and organs, and restoring visceral and cellular metabolic conditions. All of these protective pharmacological effects of Chaihu might be attributed to its autophagy induction. TJ-9 helped to prevent the development of HCC in patients with cirrhosis, particularly in patients without HBs antigen.”
Ze Xie
Other Names: Asian water plantain rhizome
Organ: liver
Use: fatty liver, clear heat and dampness, dizziness, phlegm, neuropathy, UTI, diabetes, high blood pressure
Peer-Reviewed Findings: “In conclusion, the data showed that DZD can reduce lipid accumulation, alleviate oxidative stress and inflammation, and inhibit pyroptosis in NAFLD rats, which might be ascribed to suppression of the ROS/NLRP3/IL-1β signaling pathway by activation of Nrf2. Overall, these results indicated that DZD is expected to be a therapeutic drug for NAFLD.”
Zhi Gan Cao
Other Names: Chinese licorice root and rhizome, glycyrrhiza uralensis
Organ: liver, heart, stomach
Use: restore + regulating pulse, nourish heart, sooth stomach, regulate glucose, antitumor, anticancer, anti inflammatory, ulcer, hepatitis C
Peer-Reviewed Findings: “F-G could protect hepatocytes by promoting the binding of free bile acids to glycine and taurine, and reducing the accumulation of free bile acids in the liver. F-G could also regulate the compensatory degree of taurine, decreasing the content of taurine-conjugated bile acids to protect hepatocytes.”
Che Qian Zi
Other Names: Asian plantain seed, alisma orientale
Organ: liver, gall bladder, kidneys, lungs
Use: reduce thickness of bile, clear heat and dampness, stomach ulcer, pghlem, regulate liver lipid, sugar metabolism
Peer-Reviewed Findings: “A. orientale prevented hepatic triglyceride accumulation through suppressing de novo lipogenesis and increasing lipid export. In addition, it controlled oxidative stress markers, lipoapoptosis, liver injury panels, and inflammatory and fibrotic mediators, eventually influencing steatohepatitis and liver fibrosis. Moreover, it exhibited pharmacological activities against hyperlipidemia, obesity, and hyperglycemia as well as appetite. A. orientale might be an effective candidate agent for the treatment of NAFLD and its comorbidities. The results showed that Alismatis rhizoma extract mainly reduces the synthesis of glycerophospholipid and ceramide and improves the secretion of bile acid. This study shows that the Alismatis rhizoma extract can treat metabolic syndrome mainly by inhibiting energy metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and regulating bile acid to reduce phospholipid content.”
Fu Ling
Other Names: poria, matsuhodo, hoelen, china root, china tuckahoe, wolf
Organ: liver, spleen, kidneys
Use: fatty liver, insomnia, hyperpigmentation, oxidative stress, diabetes, anti tumor, heart disease, hemmorhage
Peer-Reviewed Findings: “Fu Ling can regulate immune cells and increase antibody levels in serum, which is expected to be an emerging therapy to prevent cholestatic liver fibrosis to cirrhosis.”
Chen Pi
Other Names: dried tangerine rind, citrus reticulata, aged citrus peel
Organ: liver, stomach, lungs, heart
Use: fatty liver, dispel dampness, phlegm, nauseous, lung inflammation, blood pressure, diabetes
Peer-Reviewed Findings: “The data showed that the ethanolic extract of CRP normalized blood pressure and the plasma lipid profile as well as the plasma levels of liver enzymes in diabetic rats. Impaired endothelium-dependent relaxations in aortas, carotid arteries and renal arteries were improved. CRP extract suppressed vascular inflammatory markers and induced AMPK activation in aortas of diabetic rats. Exposure to high glucose impaired vasodilation in aortas of rats and mice, and this impairment was prevented by co-incubation with CRP extract. In conclusion, our findings suggest that CRP extract protects endothelial function by inhibiting the vascular inflammatory state on activation of AMPK in diabetic rats.”
Mu Xiang
Other Names: costus root
Organ: liver, spleen, stomach, thyroid
Use: clear heat and dampness, liver stagnation, spasm, digestion, bloating, ulcer, chest pain
Peer-Reviewed Findings: “The results demonstrated that Costus root extract exhibited a protective effect by decreasing the toxic pathological changes caused by MA in the liver of albino rats.”
Yan Hu Suo
Other Names: corydalis yanhusuo
Organ: liver
Use: blood circulation, pain relief, anticancer, energy
Peer-Reviewed Findings: “L-THP (active ingredients in yan hu suo) has been shown to have analgesic effects and may be beneficial for the treatment of heart disease, as well as liver damage.”
Bai Dou Kou
Other Names: round cardamom
Organ: liver
Use: fatty liver, diabetes, high blood pressure, anti cancer, anti inflammatory, ulcer, bad breath, cavities, increase air flow and improve breathing, anxiety
Peer-Reviewed Findings: “Cardamom powder supplementation improved the glucose intolerance significantly (p > 0.05) and prevented the abdominal fat deposition in HCHF diet fed rats. HCHF diet feeding in rats also developed dyslipidemia, increased fat deposition and inflammation in liver compared to control rats. Cardamom powder supplementation significantly prevented the rise of lipid parameters (p > 0.05) in HCHF diet fed rats. Cardamom powder supplementation improved the glucose intolerance significantly (p > 0.05) and prevented the abdominal fat deposition in HCHF diet fed rats. HCHF diet feeding in rats also developed dyslipidemia, increased fat deposition and inflammation in liver compared to control rats. Cardamom powder supplementation significantly prevented the rise of lipid parameters (p > 0.05) in HCHF diet fed rats. This study suggests that, cardamom powder supplementation can prevent dyslipidemia, oxidative stress and hepatic damage in HCHF diet fed rats.”
Huo Po
Other Names: magnolia bark
Organ: liver, stomach
Use: anti tumor, oxidative stress, bile acids metabolism, liver stagnation
Peer-Reviewed Findings: “These results show that magnolia bark extract protects hepatocytes against oxidative stress via the upregulation of an Nrf2-dependent antioxidant pathway.”
Shu Di Huang
Other Names: rehmannia root
Organ: liver, kidney
Use: tonify blood, calms liver
Peer-Reviewed Findings: “It can tonify the blood and Kidney-essence so as to treat the cause of Yin-type Yong Yang syndrome. Having a similar function to that of Shu Di Huang, Dang Gui can also tonify the blood.”
Zhi Ke
Other Names: bitter orange, zhi qiao, citrus aurantium
Organ: liver
Use: stagnation, gallbladder congestion
Peer-Reviewed Findings: “The histopathological observation showed that TFCH attenuated hepatic lesions with significantly decreased NAFLD activity scores. The biochemical data showed that TFCH significantly suppressed both systemic and intrahepatic inflammation by inhibiting IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12, TNF-α, and IFN-γ, and the qPCR analysis revealed a Th1/Th2 related anti-inflammatory mechanism of TFCH. Western blot results clarified that TFCH exerted hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory effects by suppression of phosphorylated NF-κB and MAPKs, indicating a mechanism associated with NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways.”
Zhi Zi
Other Names: gardenia fruit, Gardenia jasminoides
Organ: liver, heart, stomach
Use: clear heat and dampness, reduce inflammation
Peer-Reviewed Findings: “Fat metabolism in the Zhi Zi group significantly reduced, as shown by a drop in marker levels. Serum ALT and AST activities, and expression of TNF-alpha, P-IkB proteins in liver tissue were also significantly decreased in this group.”
Alhassen, L., Dabbous, T., Ha, A., Dang, L. H., & Civelli, O. (2021). The analgesic properties of Corydalis Yanhusuo. Molecules, 26(24), 7498. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26247498
Biao, Y., Chen, J., Liu, C., Wang, R., Han, X., Li, L., & Zhang, Y. (2022). Protective effect of Danshen Zexie decoction against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease through inhibition of ROS/NLRP3/IL-1β pathway by Nrf2 signaling activation. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2022.877924
CHEN, S., LI, J., ZHOU, H., LIN, M., LIU, Y., ZHANG, Y., ZHAO, Z., LI, G., & LIU, J. (2012). Study on effects of Zhi Zi (fructus gardeniae) on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in the rat. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 32(1), 82–86. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0254-6272(12)60037-5
Choi, E., Jang, E., & Lee, J.-H. (2019). Pharmacological activities of alisma orientale against nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and metabolic syndrome: Literature review. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2019, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/2943162
Hassan, K. (2022). Possible Protective Effect of Costus Root Extract on Liver of Rat Prior Exposure with Melamine: The Hematology, Biochemistry, Histopathology and Ultrastructure Study. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-1552127/v1
Jeon, S. H., Jang, E., Park, G., Lee, Y., Jang, Y. P., Lee, K.-T., Inn, K.-S., Lee, J. K., & Lee, J.-H. (2022). Beneficial activities of Alisma orientale extract in a western diet-induced murine non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and related fibrosis model via regulation of the hepatic adiponectin and Farnesoid X receptor pathways. Nutrients, 14(3), 695. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14030695
Jiang, J., Yan, L., Shi, Z., Wang, L., Shan, L., & Efferth, T. (2019). Hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory effects of total flavonoids of Qu Zhi Ke (peel of Citrus Changshan-Huyou) on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in rats via modulation of NF-ΚB and mapks. Phytomedicine, 64, 153082. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2019.153082
Kong, D. Z., Liang, N., Liu, J. P., Nikolova, D., Jakobsen, J. C., & Gluud, C. (2018). Xiao Chai Hu Tang, a Chinese herbal medicine formula, for chronic hepatitis B. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd013090
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If you are experiencing a stressful time in your life, chugging alcohol in vegas, eating too much sugar laden foods, feeling angry easily, having painful or heavy menstruation, then consider the healing benefits Foie may provide.
In TCM, all emotions are rooted in the liver and the liver regulates our “qi,” in English meaning “energy.” Our liver qi-energy serves a critical role in our life force throughout our entire body. These emotions include anger, frustration, resentment, irritability, bitterness, rage. If we have excess heat in the liver due to stress, sugar, alcohol, lack of enough restful sleep, and/or other elements in life, this may cause stagnation. These hepatoprotective, powerful herbs are notorious for clearing heat, smoothing the flow of qi, harmonizing the stomach, cleansing and supporting the liver and gallbladder integrity.
Low plasma B6 and B12 are associated with increased risk of early spontaneous abortion. Studies have shown that women with low folate levels are at...
Read moreBioavailability is a measure of how much a substance can access circulation for utilization. Bioavailable forms ensures that the body can absorb op...
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