Passion flower is the common name of any one of the approximately 400 species of the plant genus Passiflora. Native to warm climates in North and South America, many species are now cultivated around the world for their colorful flowers and tasty fruit. Passion flower is also known for its therapeutic benefits. For hundreds of years, people used it as an herbal sedative, stress reducer, sleep aid, and many other applications. (more…)
Sore throats are one of the most common reasons people go to the doctor and they tend to affect children the most.[1, 2] A sore throat is usually considered a minor complaint until you have one and every swallow induces pain — pain that may seem unbearable. Unfortunately, the only option is to treat the symptoms and rest until you recover. Fortunately, there are many natural remedies that can soothe a sore throat and there’s a good chance you already have many of them in your home. (more…)
Almost everyone has experienced muscle or joint discomfort at some point in their life. The entire human body contains muscles and joints that are constantly in motion, making it easy for discomfort to appear anywhere, anytime. The most common type of muscle discomfort affects the lower back; an estimated 80% of the adult population in the United States has this condition. It's one of the top reasons why people see a doctor. It is also a leading cause of disability in Americans under the age of 45.[1] (more…)
Nattokinase is a powerful proteolytic, or protein-digesting enzyme, and is most well known for its benefits to cardiovascular health. Traditionally, nattokinase was extracted from natto, a fermented soybean dish from Japanese cuisine and culture. The organism that produces nattokinase is made by a fermentation process which incorporates the bacteria Bacillus subtilis. It was discovered in Japan by research scientist Dr. Hiroyuki Sumi who was looking for a natural remedy for dissolving blood clots related to heart attacks and stroke. (more…)
Papain is a powerful digestive enzyme commonly found and extracted not only from the papaya fruit (Carica papaya) latex but also from papaya leaves and stems. It is also referred to as papaya proteinase. The papaya enzyme papain plays a key role in digestive processes involving breaking down tough protein fibers. For this reason, it has been commonly used in its native South America for digestive support when eating meat and even to tenderize meat before cooking. (more…)
