Herbal Ingredients Encyclopedia
Detailed reference articles on the botanicals in our formulas — origins, traditional use, phytochemistry and how each ingredient is used today.
Artichoke
Cynara scolymus · Asteraceae
Complete reference on artichoke (Cynara scolymus) — leaf vs flower head, cynarin and chlorogenic acid, ancient Mediterranean use, Bulgarian cultivation on the Thracian plain, and how it is used in modern herbal supplements.
Burdock Root
Arctium lappa · Asteraceae
Complete reference on burdock root (Arctium lappa) — its native range across Europe, the inulin and polyphenol profile, traditional European use as a blood purifier and digestive bitter, the Velcro invention story, and how it is used today.
Cascara Sagrada
Frangula purshiana · Rhamnaceae
Complete reference on cascara sagrada (Frangula purshiana) — the sacred bark of the Pacific Northwest, cascaroside phytochemistry, indigenous and Eclectic use since the 1870s, bark aging, and safety guidance.
Dandelion
Taraxacum officinale · Asteraceae
Complete reference on dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) — the world's most widespread medicinal herb. Native range, sesquiterpene lactones and inulin, centuries of European folk use as a digestive bitter and liver tonic, and how it is used today.
Licorice Root
Glycyrrhiza glabra · Fabaceae
Complete reference on licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) — one of the oldest medicinal plants on record, its active compounds glycyrrhizin and flavonoids, traditional use across Egyptian, Greek and European herbalism, and important safety considerations.
Marshmallow Root
Althaea officinalis · Malvaceae
Complete reference on marshmallow root (Althaea officinalis) -- its native range across Europe and the Balkans, mucilage-rich phytochemistry, traditional respiratory use since Hippocrates, and how it is used today.
Psyllium Husk
Plantago ovata · Plantaginaceae
Complete reference on psyllium husk (Plantago ovata) — its origins on the Indian subcontinent, the arabinoxylan soluble fibre complex, over 2,000 years of Ayurvedic use, and how it is used in modern supplements.
Senna Leaf
Senna alexandrina · Fabaceae
Complete reference on senna leaf (Senna alexandrina) — its origins in Egypt and the Arabian peninsula, sennoside phytochemistry, the Arabic-to-European herbal tradition, and important safety considerations for responsible use.
Vitex (Chaste Tree)
Vitex agnus-castus · Lamiaceae
Complete reference on vitex / chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus) — its Mediterranean origins, key active compounds including casticin and agnuside, 2,400 years of use in European women's herbalism since Hippocrates, and modern safety considerations.
Ashwagandha
Withania somnifera · Solanaceae
Complete reference on ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) — its native range across the Indian subcontinent, the withanolide phytochemistry, the 3,000-year Ayurvedic tradition as a rasayana, and how the modern KSM-66 standardised extract is sourced.
Lungwort
Pulmonaria officinalis · Boraginaceae
Complete reference on lungwort (Pulmonaria officinalis) — its native range in European deciduous forests including the Rhodope mountains, the silica and mucilage profile, and traditional European use since the doctrine of signatures.
Milk Thistle
Silybum marianum · Asteraceae
Complete reference on milk thistle (Silybum marianum) — its native range across the Mediterranean and Balkans, the silymarin complex, traditional European use since Pliny the Elder, and how to take it.