Produced from the fruit of Vaccinium myrtillus—a shrub closely related to blueberry. Bilberries are rich in anthocyanosides—flavonoid pigments responsible for the fruit’s deep blue/violet color. Berry anthocyanins have been shown to have anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic activities. Bilberry extracts specifically have been shown to have vasoprotective, myeloprotective and possible chemopreventive effects.

There is limited evidence bilberry could help relieve diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, cataracts and macular degeneration—however, more work needs to be done before it can be recommended to treat any of these conditions.

For more information, see “Bilberry Extract and its Benefits“

The inner bark of the tree, Ulnus umbra.  The bark was used by Native Americans and early European settlers to the US as a laxative, antiseptic, analgesic and emollient.  It’s high in mucilage, a sticky, gelatinous substance containing polysaccharides and glycoproteins that coat and sooth irritated tissues.  This property of Slippery Elm accounts for its medicinal uses as a treatment for sore throats, colitis and wounds.  It also contains oligomeric procyanidins, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity.

Slippery Elm bark powder or extracts are sold as standalone supplements, or as ingredients in “cleansing”/”detox” supps.  It’s also a component of the unproven alternative cancer “cures” Essiac and FlorEssence.

Also known as Cascara Sagrada (”sacred bark”). An extract of the bark of Rhamnus purshiana, a species of Buckthorn native to North America. Cascara is used as an herbal laxative: the active compounds (”cascarosides”) stimulate the lower intestine and promote contractions.  Although Cascara is used in a number of over-the-counter “cleansing” and “detox” supplements, the FDA does not consider Cascara safe for use as a laxative, due to the lack of data on safety.

Cascara is also a source of emodin and aloe-emodin, anthraquinones with possible anti-cancer activity.

A proteolytic (protein-digesting) enzyme found in pineapple.  Bromelain has a variety of medicinal uses.  When taken with food, it can assist with digestion.  When taken on an empty stomach, however, bromelain can help accelerate wound healing and reduce inflammation.

See “Bromelain Benefits and Side Effects” for more information.

See Curcuma longa Extract.

A perennial plant belonging to the ginger family.  Dried Curcuma longa is used as a spice: turmeric.  Turmeric is also used in Asian folk medicine as an anti-inflammatory agent, as well as for “indigestion, hepatitis, jaundice, diabetes, atherosclerosis and bacterial infections“.  The best-researched component of turmeric is curcumin, which has therapeutic potential for treating/preventing cancer, Alzheimer’s and inflammatory diseases.  Turmeric has also shown hypoglycemic and anti-obesity effects in animal experiments.

Botanical name(s): Cimicifuga racemosa or Actaea racemosa.  Black cohosh is a perennial plant that is a member of the buttercup family.  Rhizome extracts are used to treat symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness, anxiety and depression. Clinical studies, however, are conflicting: some demonstrate benefits, while others don’t.

For more information, see: “Black Cohosh, Benefits and Side Effects“.

A polyphenolic compound (”curcuminoid”) found in the spice turmeric.  Curcumin has antioxidant activity in-vivo, as well as anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects.  Curcumin is viewed as a promising compound for the prevention/treatment of various diseases (including CVD and Alzheimer’s disease), but its therapeutic potential may be limited by poor oral bioavailability. Methods to improve delivery are currently being sought.

For more information, see the Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center.

An herbal laxative used in a range of “detox” and “cleansing” products, as well as over-the-counter commercial preparations (such as Ex-Lax).  There are several related species of plants used, but Cassia angustifolia and Cassia acutifolia are the most common.  The active ingredients are known as sennosides, which induce laxation via ”stimulation of propulsive activity” in the colon.

An isomer of fructose marketed as a low-calorie sweetener under the trade name Naturlose.  Tagatose is a monosaccharide that’s approx. 92% sweet as table sugar (sucrose), but is poorly digested and absorbed.  Despite its potential, tagatose is still not widely used in the US, although that may change in the future – especially since it may have therapeutic applications for diabetes and digestive health.