Gotu Kola
A small creeping plant from the carrot family, prized in Ayurveda as a "medhya rasayana", a tonic for the mind, and across Asia for skin, wounds and longevity. Sri Lankan tradition held that eating the leaves helped people live longer.
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Berberine
Berberine 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.
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Lion’s Mane Mushroom
Lion's mane is the shaggy white "monkey head" mushroom of Chinese and Japanese tradition, eaten as a delicacy and used for centuries to support the stomach and, more recently, memory and mood. Here's what tradition says, what the early research shows, and who should be careful with it.
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Reishi Mushroom
Reishi is the glossy "mushroom of immortality" of Chinese and Japanese tradition, prized for over 2,000 years as a calming, strengthening tonic. Here's what traditional medicine uses it for, what the research says so far, and who should be careful with it.
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Valerian
Valerian has been the classic "sleep root" since the days of Hippocrates and Galen, and it's still one of the most-used herbs for restless nights and nervous tension. Here's how tradition uses it, what the research on sleep really shows, why it can take a few weeks to work, and who should skip it.
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Lemon Balm
For more than two thousand years, lemon balm has been the herb people reach for to “gladden the heart” and calm a racing mind. Here's how tradition uses it for nerves, sleep, digestion and cold sores, what the research shows, and why people with thyroid conditions should check first.
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Chamomile
One of the oldest and gentlest herbs in the world, with more than a million cups of its tea drunk every day. Here's how tradition uses chamomile for nerves, sleep, digestion, mouth and skin, what the research shows, and the one allergy to watch for.
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Moringa
Called the "miracle tree" across Asia and Africa, moringa is both a food and a traditional medicine, and its leaves are packed with plant nutrients. Here's what tradition uses it for, what the studies show, and who should be careful with it.
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Hawthorn
For nearly 2,000 years hawthorn has been Europe's best-known heart herb, and in Chinese medicine its tart red fruit is a classic digestive. Here's what tradition uses it for, what the studies show, and why anyone on heart medicine needs to check before taking it.
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Holy Basil (Tulsi)
Sacred in Hindu tradition and called the "elixir of life" in Ayurveda, tulsi has been a daily tonic in India for thousands of years. Here's what tradition uses it for, what the modern studies show, and who should be careful with it.
