What is Bitter Melon? Bitter melon (Momordica charantia L.) is a tropical and subtropical climbing vine belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family (the same family as cucumbers, squash, and gourds). The plant produces a distinctive warty, oblong fruit that is one of the most bitter foods in the human diet, hence
What is Bee Propolis? Bee propolis, often called "bee glue," is a resinous, sticky substance that honeybees create by combining plant resins and saps with their own beeswax and saliva. Bees use propolis to seal cracks in the hive, smooth interior surfaces, embalm intruders, and protect the colony
What is Bee Pollen? Bee pollen is a hive product made up of flower pollen grains, nectar, and bee salivary secretions, collected by foraging honeybees and packed into small granules for transport back to the hive. Beekeepers gather it using specialized traps placed at hive entrances, harvesting it without damaging
What is Bamboo Extract? Bamboo extract is a concentrated supplement derived primarily from the leaves and stems of Bambusa vulgaris and related bamboo species (Bambusa bambos, Phyllostachys edulis, and others). Bamboo is the fastest-growing plant on earth, with some species growing up to three feet per day, a feat largely
What is Baical Skullcap? Baical Skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi) is a perennial flowering herb belonging to the Lamiaceae (mint) family, native to East Asia, Russia, and Mongolia. It grows at elevations of 60-2,000 meters in sandy, sun-exposed hillside soil. The dried root of this plant, known as "Huang-Qin&
What is Annatto? Annatto (Bixa orellana) is a tropical shrub native to Central and South America, best known for its vibrant brick-red seeds that have been used for centuries as a natural food colorant, spice, body paint, and traditional medicine. Also called achiote, achiotillo, bija, or urucum, the plant produces
What is Angelica Root? Angelica Root refers to the roots of plants in the Angelica genus, a group of roughly 60-90 aromatic biennial and perennial herbs belonging to the Apiaceae (carrot/parsley) family. Two species dominate the supplement market: Angelica archangelica (European angelica) and Angelica sinensis (dong quai or Chinese
What is Amla? Amla (Phyllanthus emblica L.), also known as Indian gooseberry, is a small, sour, pale green fruit from an ephemeral tree belonging to the Phyllanthaceae family (formerly classified under Euphorbiaceae). Native to South Asia and widely cultivated throughout India, Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia, amla has been one
What is Agrimony? Agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria L.) is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the Rosaceae (rose) family, native to Europe, temperate Asia, and North America. It grows commonly in grasslands, hedge-banks, field edges, and dry thickets, producing slender spikes of small, star-shaped yellow flowers from June through early September.
What is Agaricus Blazei? Agaricus blazei Murill (ABM) is a medicinal mushroom native to the Piedade region of the Atlantic Forest in southeastern Brazil, where it has been used traditionally as a remedy for longevity and disease prevention. Scientifically also classified as Agaricus subrufescens and Agaricus brasiliensis, this mushroom belongs
What is Zeaxanthin? Zeaxanthin (pronounced zee-uh-ZAN-thin) is a yellow-orange carotenoid pigment found naturally in many fruits, vegetables, and egg yolks. It belongs to the xanthophyll family, a subclass of carotenoids that contain oxygen in their molecular structure. Along with its closely related isomer lutein, zeaxanthin is one of only two
What is Yohimbe? Yohimbe (Pausinystalia yohimbe) is an evergreen tree native to the tropical forests of central and western Africa, primarily found in Cameroon, Gabon, and the Republic of Congo. The bark of this tree contains over 55 different indole alkaloids, the most notable and pharmacologically active being yohimbine, which
