In the world of herbal supplement companies, Gaia Herbs emerges as a leader. Gaia Herbs is a company located in Brevard, on a 250-acre farm within the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. What makes the Gaia Herbs products unique is that most herbs used to create the Gaia botanical products are grown, harvested, studied and processed at the same location. Gaia Herbs offers several botanical products that promote detoxification of the body by supporting healthy liver function. As with any supplements, it is important to consult a holistically trained medical doctor before starting any new product.
Milk Thistle
Milk thistle, also known as Silybum marianum, is a plant rich in antioxidants that has been traditionally used for its therapeutic effect on the liver, spleen and kidneys. According to a study published in the "Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology" journal, the active ingredient in milk thistle, silymarin, helps protect and heal damaged liver cells by lowering lipoperoxidative damage and by increasing the cells' membrane resistance to toxins that normally enter the liver. The part of the plant used medicinally is the seed, and Gaia Herbs has it available as a single botanical extract or in combination with other synergistic herbs to help detox and heal the liver. Consult your doctor before taking milk thistle.
Dandelion
One of the most common "weeds" in people's yards, the dandelion may be one of the most effective detoxification medicinal plants available. Known by its botanical name as Taraxacum officinalis, dandelion is medicinally used for high blood pressure, arthritis, high cholesterol, edema and abnormal blood sugar levels. In her book, "Herbal Medicine from the Heart of the Earth," Sharol Tilgner, N.D., points out that due to its action on the liver, dandelion may also be recommended for many female problems and skin conditions. The whole dandelion plant can be used medicinally, or it can be found as a single botanical extract or in combination with other herbs form Gaia Herbs in products that promote liver detoxification, healthy digestion and cholesterol maintenance. As with any new supplement, consult your doctor before taking it.
Burdock
The root of burdock, aslo known as Arctium lappa, is used in botanical products from Gaia Herbs as a single or combination extract. Traditionally used for its ability to stimulate the natural flow of lymphatic fluid, burdock shows an affinity for the liver and may promote elimination of toxic cell byproducts according to Tilgner, N.D.. Polysaccharides found in burdock have also shown anti-tumor effects in certain cancers, increasing hope that it may soon be used as part of cancer treatment. Gaia Herbs also offers burdock in a detox tea containing several other medicinal plants. For best results, consult a holistically trained physician before taking burdock.
Other Gaia Detox Herbs
Several other medicinal herbal extracts are available from Gaia Herbs that promote healthy detoxification of the liver. These include yellow dock, artichoke, black radish, celandine, fenugreek, gentian root, ginger and turmeric and some are found in combination medicines while others are available as single extracts. It is important to consult your doctor before starting any new supplements including herbs.
References
- Gaia Herbs
- "Herbal Medicine from the Heart of the Earth"; Sharol Tilgner, N.D.; 1999
- "Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology"; Silymarin Protection Against Major Reactive Oxygen Species Released by Environmental Toxins: Exogenous H2O2 Exposure in Erythrocytes.; Kiruthiga PV; Shafreen RB; Pandian SK; Devi KP; June 2007
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