The funny thing about people who reject natural supplements, saying they are a waste of money and do little or nothing for your body is that the synthetic drugs that they may turn to are primarily the result of using herbs for medicinal purposes for thousands of years.
That’s right. It all began with nature, and the hundreds of thousands of plant species that it provides to search among for medicinal use. In the end, modern medicine grew into the promotion of unnatural drugs, effective or otherwise.
Herbal Past and Present
Ancient times called for ancient measures when it came to dealing with medical problems. The earliest records of medical prescriptions were carved on clay tablets found in Sumer in the southern region of Mesopotamia, dating back to the seventh century BCE. Over 250 plants were referenced. Human instinct and beliefs initially guided the use of plants as medicine.
In spite of the total mystery of the human body and illnesses that affected it, over time somehow the experience of effective medicinal herbs created a body of global knowledge that remains in use in modern times. For example, Indian Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine are still being practiced because they come from thriving societies that keep this knowledge alive.
The cultures that have little or no power in the modern world receive little or no attention regarding their traditional herbal remedies. Much ancient knowledge still exists today among the rare people who continue to live in isolated, wild lands far from both modern life and diseases. The awareness of medicinal plants to treat their communities has been invaluable to their survival. And they have never even taken an aspirin.
Herbal Release
Introduced to AIM Members back in 1993, Herbal Release brought together a variety of herbs with a history of beneficial properties that greatly contribute to inner cleansing of the body. The combination of ingredients is slightly different in the U.S. formula and the Canadian formula, but they share eight effective herbs:
Barberry
North American Indians introduced early settlers to the benefits of barberry, which was believed to be effective for treating ailments such as ulcers, heartburn and stomach upset. Recent herbal knowledge recommends barberry for the liver, the blood-filtering, detoxifying and drug-metabolizing organ. Alkaloids such as berberine and berbamine are the primary active compounds of this herb.
Buckthorn
Native to western Asia, northern Africa and Europe, alder buckthorn is both an ornamental and medicinal plant that was introduced to North America in the 18th century. Since the middle ages, buckthorn has been used as a very gentle laxative. Its bile stimulating properties also make it a cholagogue, supporting liver and digestive health. The key active compounds are glucofrangulin A and B.
Cascara Sagrada
The bark of the cascara sagrada tree was originally used to treat constipation and upset stomachs by Native American Indians. They introduced this herb to Spanish explorers who gave it a name in their own language that translates as sacred bark. According to Nutrition Review, a free online resource devoted to the science of nutritional supplementation, “Cascara sagrada is considered one of the safest laxatives and can be used to restore tone to the colon, as well as being useful in detoxifying and cleansing programs.” The key active compounds in this herb are anthraquinone glycosides.
Chickweed
This herb got its common name back in the 1400s when it was first used as food for chickens, and its Latin name, Stellaria media, came from the heavens, named after its tiny, star-shaped white blossoms. For centuries, chickweed has been used as a remedy for a variety of ailments, including blood disorders, constipation and inflammation. Along with flavonoids, the presence of the anti-inflammatory glycosides rutin and saponin promote the medicinal benefits of this herb.
Dandelion
The presence of dandelions on groomed lawns indicates another weed in most people’s eyes, but this herb has been used medicinally for thousands of years. Its name originates from the French word that translates as lion’s tooth: dent-de-lion. Acting as a detoxifier, dandelion is particularly efficient for cleansing the liver. It has also been classified as a lymphatic herb, which cleanses the system that keeps the body detoxified. Dandelions contain a variety of nutrients and phytochemicals that promote detoxification and good health.
Echinacea
One of the herbs that is best known for fighting the common cold is echinacea, which boosts the immune system by producing more white blood cells. Many herbalists refer to echinacea as an effective lymphagogue that increases the flow of fluid in the lymphatic system. Compared to most other medicinal plants, echinacea has a relatively short history of use that began with the indigenous Indians of North America. Alkamides and polysaccharides are just two of the compounds in echinacea that contribute to its efficacy.
Parsley
Originating from the Mediterranean region, this herb seems to be ever-present as a garnish or ingredient for food. Long before it was consumed as part of a meal, parsley was used medicinally, most notably as a diuretic and a laxative. The high concentration of a flavonoid in parsley known as myricetin provides antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.
Sarsaparilla
Cowboys in the Old West used to sidle up in saloon bars for a sarsaparilla drink to quench their thirsts. The medicinal side of this herb stems from its root, which has been used for hundreds of years in Asia and the Americas as a diuretic, sudorific (sweat-inducer) and tonic and in Europe as a blood purifier. Sarsaparilla’s toxin-removing properties make it particularly beneficial for cleansing the body, having high concentrations of phenolic compounds with antioxidant activity, including quercetin, phytosterols and saponins.
Combining all these botanicals into an AIM supplement created an herbal release that cleanses and supports the body and its systems in a natural way. And they are available on both sides of the US-Canada border.
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