A thorny vine from the Amazon rainforest, named for the curved hooks on its stems, that Peruvian peoples have boiled into a bitter bark tea for generations. Here’s what tradition and research say about it, and who should be careful.
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Milk Thistle
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Berberine
ByClifBerberine is the bright-yellow compound behind some of the oldest bitter remedies in Ayurveda and Chinese medicine, from Indian barberry to Chinese goldthread. Today it is one of the most-studied plant compounds for metabolic health, and one of the most interaction-prone, so it is worth reading the safety section first.
Rhodiola
ByClifA hardy Arctic and mountain root that Scandinavian, Siberian and Russian folk medicine have long used for endurance, cold winters and recovering strength. Today it's one of the best-known "adaptogens" for everyday stress and tiredness.
Cleavers
ByClifThe sticky, climbing "goosegrass" weed that clings to your socks is one of herbalism's classic lymph herbs, usually taken as a gentle tea or fresh juice in spring. Members can see how people use it, what little research exists, and who should skip it.
Saw Palmetto
ByClifA small Florida palm whose dark berries were food for the Seminole and Ais peoples and became the best-known men's herb in Europe and North America. Here's what tradition and research say about it, and who should be careful.
Horsetail
ByClifAn ancient, jointed plant that looks like a little green bottle brush, horsetail is so rich in silica that people once used it to scrub pots and sand canoes. Here's what tradition and research say about it, and why it should be used carefully.