One of the more teachable aspects of searching for herbs, supplements, and nutrients that suit your needs and tastes is discovering the unique names that make some products stand out from the rest. In this regard, the world of nutritional supplements has a “name game” all its own, and in this blog we take a look at five of the more, dare we say, descriptive or “entertaining” names that grace our inventory among the hundreds of products we offer at Wonder Labs. These should be easy to remember.
Stinging Nettle
Just as the name implies, stinging nettle has some bite to it. It has hairs, also referred to as spines, on its leaves and stems, and they release aggravating chemicals and can be painful to the touch. But that can be a good thing because when those hairs/spines come in contact with a painful area of your body, they can reduce pain originating from that area. Stinging nettle can apparently obstruct the body's transmission of pain signals while also alleviating the levels of your body's inflammatory chemicals, per
mountsinai.org.
Stinging nettle has been in medicinal use for many centuries, dating back to at least medieval Europe, where and when it was commonly used as a diuretic as well as a treatment aimed at tamping down pain in the joints. Its other long-term uses includes treating eczema, gout, arthritis, and anemia. More contemporary medically-related uses include treating urinary issues in the early stages of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), urinary tract infections, hay fever, sprains and strains, and insect bites.
Horny Goat Weed
There's nothing mysterious or ironic about how horny goat weed got its name – it's a supplement known to treat erectile dysfunction (ED), per
healthline.com. This is a condition that becomes more frequent among men as they age, with 30 percent of American males past the age of 70 experiencing ED on a regular basis, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
The health-related use of horny goat weed dates back many years in traditional Eastern medicine, with legend claiming it got its name when a goat herder noticed that his flock was stimulated sexually from its consumption of the plant. In this regard, horny goat weed's active ingredient is icariin, which curtails the activity of the PDE5 that blocks dilation of the arteries located within the penis.
Holy Basil
Holy basil is an herb that has been used in treating people dating back about 3,000 years. Writings in Ayurvedic medical text made around 1000 B.C. make mention of “the incomparable one,” per
gaiaherbs.com, in that it “is considered a symbol of fidelity and helpful in attaining spiritual enlightenment.” Holy basil's main use over the years has been as a perceived antidote to stress while also regulating blood sugar levels, inducing longevity, and supporting the apparent enhancement of the mind and one's spirit (attitude). Classified as both a rasayana (an Ayurvedic term for lengthening lifespans and invigorating the body) and adaptogen, holy basil essentially keeps a balance among the body's stress-related biochemicals.
Knotweed
Knotweed's legacy as a health-inducing herb has its roots in Japanese medicine, where it has long been known for its effectiveness in treating an assortment of conditions, to include cognitive disorders, heart-related issues, gastrointestinal discomfort, hypertension, and unhealthy insulin levels, per
organicfacts.net. Experts pinpoint knotweed's multifaceted capacity for health benefits to the presence of ample amounts of resveratrol, which is linked to a positive effect on cognitive issues, such as those related to various forms of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. As organicfacts.net puts it, “Resveratrol has shown a measurable preventative effect against
neurodegenerative processes that can affect neural pathways . . . (that) can keep brain pathways energized and in use.”
Milk Thistle
Milk thistle's active ingredient is silymarin, which seemingly aids in the treatment of liver problems while also reducing unhealthy cholesterol and assisting in the management of type 2 diabetes. Per medicalnewstoday.com, milk thistle is a flowering plant that grows in Mediterranean countries and belongs to the same family of plants as the daisy. Pertinent to its capacity for supporting liver health, milk thistle has shown anecdotal success in treating liver-related conditions such as cirrhosis, jaundice, hepatitis, and disorders of the gallbladder. Milk thistle oil may be used topically to improve skin health as well.
